Joseph Luster
December 8, 2024 
Kazuki Yao has been the SUUUU-PER voice of Franky in One Piece since 2005, but his time as the beloved Straw Hat member is coming to an end. The 65-year-old actor announced that he will be stepping down from the role ahead of the main anime’s return in April 2025, adding that a replacement is already being prepared.
Yao—who also voiced Mr. 2 Bon Clay and Mounblutain—will take part in a graduation ceremony at this year’s Jump Festa event on December 22. Here’s what he had to say about the retirement from Franky, as translated by Crunchyroll News:
The time has come for me to say a tearful farewell to a guy I’ve spent nearly a quarter of a century with. It’s like an out-of-body experience, but I feel a gap has formed between me and my ideal Franky, so I’ve decided to disembark Sunny for now. It’s frustrating! It’s sad!! I can only apologize… however! We’re preparing for a suuuuppeeerr successor to be revealed at Jump Festa on December 22. Look forward to it~♬
悲しい別れが来てしまった
四半世紀近く共に人生を歩んで
きたヤツとの別れが…
幽体離脱とでも云うのか、俺の
理想としてるフランキーとの
間に溝が出来てしまった…ので
俺が一旦サニー号を降りる事に
した。悔しい！哀しい！！
マジでゴメン️で
ス〜パ〜な後釜を用意した！
12/22のJFを楽しみに♬— 矢尾一樹 (@yaochan_defu) December 8, 2024
Crunchyroll is currently streaming the retooled One Piece Log: Fish-Man Island Saga arc, describing the overall series like so:
Embark on a voyage of a lifetime with One Piece. The epic anime series created by renowned mangaka Eiichiro Oda is a global phenomenon, captivating the hearts of fans across generations throughout its 25-year span. This thrilling high seas adventure is filled with unwavering friendship, epic battles for freedom, and the relentless pursuit of dreams. Join Monkey D. Luffy and his lovable pirate crew as they discover the true meaning of power and justice in this great pirate era.
Monkey D. Luffy refuses to let anyone or anything stand in the way of his quest to become King of the Pirates. With his rubber-like stretching powers granted by the supernatural Devil Fruit, the spirited young pirate seeks the legendary treasure known as the One Piece. He’ll chart a course for the treacherous waters of the Grand Line and recruit a motley crew to build his Straw Hat Pirates one bond at a time. This is one captain who’ll never drop anchor until he and his friends all reach their dreams!
One Piece boasts more than 1100 episodes. Currently in the Egghead Arc, the Straw Hats finally meet the long awaited Dr. Vegapunk on Egghead Island. Crunchyroll is home to every subbed episode and also every English dubbed episode, with over 1000 and counting. In addition, One Piece has 13 television specials and 15 movies, with the latest, One Piece Film Red, being the highest-grossing film in the franchise. One Piece is produced by Toei Animation.
Source: Crunchyroll News
Related Posts
