#Franky’s voice actor retires after 24 years

Kazuki Yao, the proficient voice actor who voices Franky (and lots of different characters) within the Japanese model of One Piece, lately introduced on his private Twitter/X account that he’s stepping down from his most iconic position after a few years.

On this bittersweet announcement (which @newworldartur translated into English), Yao explains that it’s lastly time to say goodbye to Franky after spending over 1 / 4 of a century with him and that he “determined to get off the (Thousand) Sunny.” He additionally revealed that, although he feels pissed off and unhappy over this determination, Toei Animation has already discovered a “SUPER” alternative who will likely be revealed on December 22, in the course of the upcoming Bounce Festa 2025. The official One Piece account additionally revealed that this was a choice that Yao made after “prolonged discussions” and that Shueisha would maintain a commencement ceremony for him throughout stated occasion.

It is a very unhappy announcement for One Piece followers, who flooded Yao’s social media with photos of his characters and thanks messages, however this wasn’t a lot of a shock for many of them. Again in October, the official One Piece accounts introduced that the anime was recasting the character of Jango for one episode attributable to issues concerning Yao’s well being.

Whereas he didn’t specify why he determined to step down from the position of Franky, it’s probably that he needed to do it attributable to these aforementioned well being issues, particularly after many followers seen that the character’s voice had been sounding extra strained prior to now few years. It’s necessary to needless to say the One Piece anime is at the moment airing a remastered model of the Fish-Man Island Arc whereas the present Egghead Arc is on hiatus, so we gained’t get to listen to Franky’s new voice till April 2025.

Kazuki Yao’s departure from One Piece is extra necessary than you suppose

Whereas it’s good that Kazuki Yao is ready to retire with out straining his voice any additional, his departure from the present is sort of unhappy. In any case, One Piece followers have been hoping that each one the members of the primary forged would be capable to attain the present’s long-awaited conclusion collectively. This example is particularly unlucky for Yao as a result of, in contrast to most different Japanese voice actors, the collection’ creator, Eiichiro Oda, created Franky particularly for him to voice.

Yao started working in One Piece again in 2000 when he portrayed the hypnotist Jango in the course of the Syrup Village Arc. He later went to voice probably the most weird and beloved One Piece characters, Bon Clay, who debuted in the course of the Arabasta Arc and made a number of subsequent appearances after that. However, when it was time to design the long run shipwright of the Straw Hat Pirates, Oda created Franky with Yao’s distinctive voice in thoughts, which is a testomony to his expertise and the way completely he matches the collection’ goofy and lighthearted tone.

Franky was created particularly for Yao, to not point out that he additionally introduced two different iconic characters to life, so his departure from One Piece is much more unlucky and necessary than chances are you’ll initially suppose. Whereas his alternative is probably going to do an excellent job within the position, this present gained’t be the identical with out Kazuki Yao, and all followers will definitely miss him.