The recent One Piece anniversary special episode included a satirical scene that poked fun at discussions among some fans about character strength in the series. In the special, characters at a bar debated passionately over who is the most powerful in the One Piece world. Their arguments mirrored common debates found online between fans.
One character expressed a preference for discussing the development of main character Monkey D. Luffy instead of just his fighting abilities. The show’s two popular swordsmen, Roronoa Zoro and Sanji, also briefly broke up the most intense debates between the bar patrons.
Specifically, the special parodied an ongoing debate about whether characters who use weapons similar to swords should be called “swordsmen.” This discussion frequently comes up when fans argue about manga character Dracule “Hawk Eye” Mihawk’s official title as the “World’s Strongest Swordsman.”
The special pointed out that fights in One Piece seem to be driven more by how the plot develops than strict rankings of each fighter. This challenges the very premise of detailed analyses that try to compare all characters’ strength levels.
By directly addressing and gently mocking controversial power scaling debates, the special demonstrated self-awareness about discussions within its own fan community. However, it maintained an affectionate tone toward passionate fans. Its approach showed how anime franchises can engage thoughtfully with their following while still encouraging diverse ways of interacting with the story.