One Piece Reveals Perfect Choice for Franky’s New Voice Actor Announcement

Jump Festa 2024 has captivated audiences with a series of exciting announcements, prominently featuring the news that Franky, a beloved character from One Piece, has a new Japanese voice actor. Fans were taken aback when Kazuki Yao, the actor behind Franky, announced his retirement. While his portrayal of the charismatic Straw Hat will surely be missed, the newly appointed voice actor brings considerable talent and enthusiasm to the role, promising to honor the essence of this larger-than-life character.

During the Jump Festa 2024 event, it was officially confirmed that Kimura Subaru will succeed Yao as the voice of Franky. The transition was marked by an emotional highlight reel showcasing Franky’s most memorable moments in the series, culminating in a heartfelt reveal of Subaru’s involvement in future One Piece projects. Subaru shared a touching moment on stage with Yao, embracing him in a symbolic gesture of passing the torch to a new generation of voice talent. Yao remained vivacious and spirited throughout the earlier portions of the panel, donning matching vacation attire alongside fellow voice actors portraying the Straw Hat crew.

Who is Kimura Subaru, Franky’s New Voice Actor in One Piece?

Franky smiling mischievously in One Piece

Kimura Subaru is not new to the voice acting landscape. He is recognized for his role as Aoi Todo in the animated series Jujutsu Kaisen. His impressive portfolio also includes key characters such as Pesci in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind, Sakuragi in The First Slam Dunk, and Tendo in Haikyu!!, demonstrating his versatility and skill as a voice actor.

On December 7th, Yao announced his retirement from playing Franky via a post on his X account. Yao, known for voicing multiple characters in respected anime, previously stepped back from his role as Jango, transferring that responsibility to voice actor Wataru Takagi. The official X account for One Piece cited health issues as a contributing factor for Yao’s decision, making it understandable that he would also choose to retire from voicing Franky. Having voiced Franky since 2005 at the age of 46, Yao’s connection to the character has undoubtedly evolved over the years.

A Year of Transition for One Piece’s Voice Actors

Yao Isn’t the First One Piece Voice Actor to Resign in 2024

Akazaya lined up for revenge in One Piece

Tragically, Yao is not the only voice actor to exit One Piece in 2024. Tesshō Genda, the voice of Kaido, resigned in July due to health concerns shortly after Kaido’s dramatic demise in the Wano arc. Although Genda’s departure has not required immediate replacement—since Kaido’s appearances in future content remain uncertain—his exit is part of a wider trend affecting the series’ voice cast.

Another notable departure was that of Toru Furuya, who voiced Sabo, Luffy’s brother, and also gained fame for voicing Yamcha in the Dragon Ball series. Following a scandal regarding allegations of an affair, Furuya opted to resign from his role, leading to Junko Takeuchi, renowned for her work on Naruto, taking over the character.

While fans may react differently to these transitions, it’s notable that three prominent voice actor changes have occurred in 2024 alone. Nevertheless, One Piece has consistently boasted an exceptional voice cast, and while Kazuki Yao’s absence will be felt deeply, Kimura Subaru and the other new voice actors are poised to keep the legendary series thriving.

Source & Images