Taz Skylar was handpicked by Netflix to portray the role of Vinsmoke Sanji in the One Piece live-action. After rigorous training and many muscle pulls on his leg, fans were left amazed by his acting. The series captured every detail about the cook of the Straw Hat Pirates beautifully while Skylar supported their efforts with top-notch action scenes and characteristic chivalry.
Here are five ways in which Taz Skylar’s Sanji is better than Eiichiro Oda’s original version of the anime.
Also Read: Taz Skylar Proved He Was Born to Play Sanji After His Selfless Act for One Piece Co-star Iñaki Godoy
#1. Unkempt hair that covers one eye
Vinsmoke’s signature look includes yellow-blonde hair which he keeps brushed over at one side of the face. Not to mention the cigarette he keeps at the left side of his mouth. Taz Skylar’s Sanji replicated Eiichiro Oda’s original version in One Piece and brought out more meaning with it.
Before being a member of the Straw Hat Crew, Vinsmoke worked as a Sous-chef in the Baratie. He felt nobody acknowledged his skills and that his dreams of taking over Zeff’s mantle would never be fulfilled. Thus, he kept practicing new recipes and aiming for consumer satisfaction such that he didn’t have much time to take care of his hair or get a haircut.
While the anime Sanji hinted at that fact, Taz Skylar’s character confirmed it with his unkempt look.
#2. Black Leg Style
Sanji avoids using fists as it could damage his ability to cook. As such, he uses a martial arts technique strictly limited to kicks called the ‘Black Leg Style’ which he learned from Red-Legged Zeff. Eiichiro Oda’s Sanji had unnaturally long legs during fight scenes, even for an augmented human, such that it hampered his human-ness.
Obviously, the One Piece live-action has stuck to a realistic approach. Taz Skylar’s moves are a hybrid between karate and kickboxing as of Season 1 and there is no lengthening of his limbs. Instead, multiple camera angles are used to show the reach of the live-action Sanji’s legs.
Also Read: Sanji Actor Taz Skylar Was Forced to Train For 10 Hours a Day
#3. Sanji’s encounter with Gin in the One Piece live-action
One Piece fans may remember Gin, the Combat Commander of the Krieg Pirates. He was the first enemy of Vinsmoke Sanji after his Black Leg Style was revealed. The Demon almost killed Sanji after besting him in combat even though the latter saved his life by feeding him free food.
No such fight was seen in the live-action series. Instead, Gin acknowledged Sanji’s help and revealed information about the One Piece treasure. It did reduce the Commander’s role significantly but it highlighted the kind side of the cook, a characteristic quickly caught upon by Luffy, which would have been destroyed for the viewers if both Sanji and Gin drew swords at each other.
Also Read: 7 Strongest Naruto Characters That ‘Black Leg’ Sanji Can Beat to a Pulp
#4. Taz Skylar’s Sanji is less perverted
In the One Piece manga Sanji lusts, dreams, and favors women up to the point that it becomes creepy for the readers. Thankfully, Netflix has done away with that aspect to feature a more chivalrous role of the chef. This makes the series family-friendly and adds more meaning to his relationships with the other gender.
#5. Sanji’s love for Nami being acknowledged
We have heard Sanji showering affection on his beloved “Nami-Swan” in the manga numerous times. While the love cook does have a tendency to fall head-over-heels for almost every beautiful woman, Oda has given hints in his texts that his primary love/lust is Nami. Unfortunately, the One Piece manga is aimed at younger audiences so there is little scope for romance.
That may not be the case for the One Piece live adaptation. The series has specifically highlighted a possible relationship between Taz Skylar’s Sanji and Emily Rudd’s Nami: be it giving Nami the finest glasses at the Baratie, flexing his arms open only for Nami to run across to Luffy and Zoro, and notably, not simping on Nojiko. Eiichiro Oda’s Sanji couldn’t stop drooling after seeing Nami’s sister.
Netflix has a tendency to explore romance in almost each of its series. If Usopp and Kaya can get the green light, why can’t Sanji and Nami?
Also Read: One Piece Star Taz Skylar Addresses How Sanji’s Fondness for Women in Show Differs from the Anime
