One Piece Anime Denies AI Use After Six-Finger Character Sparks Controversy

Fans of One Piece were thrown into debate after the latest episode revealed Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro, one of the five elders, with six fingers during a fight scene. This unexpected detail led many to speculate that the animation team might have used AI in the production. However, the episode’s animation director has publicly denied these claims, clarifying that it was simply a human error and not the work of artificial intelligence.

The incident occurred in episode 1149 during Nusjuro’s battle with the Straw Hat Pirates, Bonney, and the giants trying to escape Egghead Island. In one shot, fans noticed Nusjuro’s right hand clearly had six fingers, sparking widespread discussion online on platforms like X and Reddit. Some even theorized this might hint at a hidden plot point, but many assumed AI was involved in the animation process.

Tatsuya Miki, the director responsible for the episode, apologized to the public and reassured fans that AI was not used in creating the scene. He explained that the error occurred during the hand-drawing process when a finger was miscounted. The frames went through multiple checks but were not corrected before release. Miki emphasized that the episode remains entirely hand-drawn, with no AI-assisted tools used at any stage.

Despite being a minor mistake, the global popularity of One Piece amplified the issue, turning it into a major discussion point in the anime community. While some fans speculated on the six fingers as a symbolic detail for Nusjuro’s character, the production team confirmed it was purely a technical oversight.

This incident highlights the meticulous attention of One Piece’s fanbase, where even the smallest deviations attract scrutiny. At the same time, the transparent response from the animation team underscores Toei Animation’s commitment to traditional hand-drawn production standards, maintaining the authenticity of the beloved series.