The landscape of shonen media underwent a fundamental transformation between 2023 and 2025. It signaled a permanent departure from traditional voyeurism in favor of character-centric magnetism. This shift reached a critical flashpoint during the “Egghead Arc” of One Piece, where the series was widely criticized for “crossing a line” by s*xualizing Jewelry Bonney. The character in question is revealed to be only twelve years old.
This ethical controversy coincided with the meteoric rise of Jujutsu Kaisen, which dismantled the genre’s long-standing reliance on the “male gaze.” By redirecting visual appeal towards the aura and professional stoicism of male leads like Gojo and Nanami, Jujutsu Kaisen effectively validated a massive, modern audience that prioritizes emotional depth over skin-deep titillation.
Bonney’s True Age Sparked an Ethical Reckoning in One Piece
The revelation of Jewelry Bonney’s true age in One Piece Chapter 1098 transformed what was previously seen as standard shonen fan service into a significant ethical crisis for the franchise. For years, Bonney was presented as a member of the Worst Generation Supernova Pirate, with an apparent age estimated by fans to be in her early twenties.
However, the “Egghead Arc” dismantled this assumption by detailing her tragic origins as the daughter of Ginny and a Celestial Dragon. Furthermore, it revealed that she is only twelve years old. The controversy “crossed a line” because of the dissonance between her biological childhood and the hyper-s*xualized way she has been depicted throughout the series.
The Toshi Toshi no Mi (Age-Age Fruit) serves as the narrative mechanism that allowed this s*xualization to persist for years without scrutiny. This is a Paramecia-type Devil Fruit that gives Bonney the power to manipulate her age and body, and look older. She can also manipulate anyone’s age, for that matter.
While Oda utilizes the devil fruit to explore themes of “vivid imagination” and the desire to grow up quickly, the visual execution often defaults to the “hourglass” trope synonymous with adult female characters like Nami and Robin.
The ethical controversy of Bonney’s depiction extended beyond the manga panels into the anime production at Toei Animation. Episode 1090 featured a scene of Bonney sitting topless in a bath, which ignited a firestorm on social media after the episode’s key animator posted the image on X/Twitter.
Participated as a key animator in #ONEPIECE1090 I hope you enjoyed Bonney’s scenes! pic.twitter.com/rEK9ThJ59a— KDA (@kda_artist) January 14, 2024
The subsequent backlash highlighted a profound disconnect between character design and long-term narrative reveals. The animator, known as KDA, noted that they were genuinely unaware of Bonney’s real age during the production of Episode 1090, as those plot details had not yet been reached in the anime’s timeline.
Jujutsu Kaisen Has Been Rewriting the Rules of Fan Service
While One Piece struggled with the fallout of its traditional tropes, Jujutsu Kaisen (JJK) pioneered a counter-narrative that rebranded fan service for a more sophisticated, gender-diverse audience.
Gege Akutami’s approach is defined by a lack of unnecessary female objectification, a choice driven by his personal disdain for “shallow” female archetypes. The critical difference in JJK’s fan service lies in the “visual framing” and “agency” of the characters.
Unlike traditional tropes where women are often sold off as an eye-candy and as objects through “accidents” or clumsiness, JJK’s characters are framed as visually appealing through their competence, confidence, and deliberate aesthetic choices. This allows the audience to admire the characters without the embarrassment typically associated with more exploitative media.
Nanami (left) and Gojo (right) from Jujutsu Kaisen. [Credit: MAPPA]
Satoru Gojo represents the ultimate evolution of the “personality-first” fan service model. His appeal is not merely aesthetic. It is rooted in his status as the “strongest” and the profound loneliness that accompanies that title.
Gojo is frequently described as a “walking motif” of the ego, born with immeasurable talent but branded with an identity that requires immense sacrifice. His “Unlimited Void” is interpreted by fans as a metaphorical representation of the internal void he feels due to the isolation of his strength.
Kento Nanami serves as the pragmatic counterpart to Gojo’s flashy charisma, offering a form of fan service rooted in the “salaryman” aesthetic and mature reliability. Nanami’s appeal stems from his deeply relatable struggle with “soul-crushing” work. His stoic demeanor, exemplified by his signature move of rolling up his sleeves or adjusting his tie before “overtime,” has become a hallmark of “man service.”
Nanami’s dream of retiring to a beach in Kuantan (Malaysia) became so iconic that after his death in the Shibuya Incident arc, fans created real-world memorials and landmarks in Malaysia to honor him. This level of emotional investment is rarely seen for characters who are purely s*xualized.
Someone created a “Kento Nanami Memorial Shrine” located in Kuantan, Malaysia. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/S5NmDlm1ya— Jujutsu Kaisen (@JJKcontents) November 26, 2023
One of the most significant ways Jujutsu Kaisen changed fan service forever was by reimagining the main female cast. Characters like Nobara Kugisaki and Maki Zenin are written to be self-actualized and entirely devoid of the male gaze. Unlike many shonen heroines who serve as “passive” plot devices or are motivated solely by their relationships with men, JJK’s women have their own ambitions, flaws, and strengths.
In JJK, fight sequences are given “equal importance” regardless of gender. The camera angles emphasize stances and individual fighting strengths rather than “typical anime assets” like a woman’s bosom or waistline.
Akutami has admitted that he “sucks at drawing women” and thus “put the brakes” on creating seductive female characters. This limitation forced him to focus on “strong and charismatic” characters whose value is not determined by their looks (via CBR).
Business Shift Due to the Changing Face of Fan Service
Jujutsu High’s first-years (L-R) Panda, Toge Inumaki, Maki Zenin, Nobara Kugisaki, Megumi Fushiguro, and Yuji Itadori from Jujutsu Kaisen. [Credit: MAPPA]
As of 2025, the anime market is valued at approximately $41.11 billion, with North America being the fastest-growing region. It is estimated to grow to over $85.58 billion by 2033 (via SkyQuest). The “JJK model” has proven to be highly lucrative in this demographic.
In 2024, Jujutsu Kaisen accounted for seven of the top-20 manga bestsellers in the United States, representing 32% of all books sold in that segment (via The PopVerse). The series has surpassed classics like Hunter x Hunter and Fullmetal Alchemist in total sales.
The comparison between One Piece’s “Bonney controversy” and Jujutsu Kaisen’s “man service” reveals a fundamental truth about modern entertainment: authenticity is the new attraction. As the anime market continues its explosive growth toward 2033, the “JJK model” will likely be the blueprint for new series.
The industry is moving away from accidental nudity and toward a more respectful and nuanced approach to visual attraction. Whether it is Nanami rolling his sleeves in a Malaysian sunset or Gojo’s “snarky” smile, the message is clear: the future of shonen fan service is grounded in the depth of its characters.
One Piece crossed a line not because it included fan service, but because it applied that service to a character whose backstory demanded the opposite. Bonney deserves decency and protection. Meanwhile, Gege Akutami has not only “quietly” rebranded shonen fan service but has also ensured that Jujutsu Kaisen remains a cultural powerhouse for generations of fans who want to be moved as much as they are entertained.
One Piece and Jujutsu Kaisen are globally streaming on Netflix and Crunchyroll.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
