Kazuki Yao is officially stepping down from the role of Franky in the ONE PIECE anime, with the successor to be announced at Jump Festa 2025 on December 22. The news were made on the official X for the anime, with a comment from Kazuki Yao saying that a gap has formed between him and the Franky he envisions as ideal. A graduation ceremony for Yao will also be held during the Jump Festa event.
The official statement says that the decision was made after extensive discussions over a long period. The voice actor has previously been replaced by Wataru Takagi for episode 1121 due to his poor health. He was also the only Straw Hat Pirates voice actor absent from the ONE PIECE ’24 event.
Yao voiced Franky since the character’s debut in Episode 233, which aired in Japan on May 22, 2005. He also voiced Bon Clay and Jango in the anime. You can read his own statement below.
A heartbreaking farewell has come.
I’m parting ways with someone I’ve walked alongside for nearly a quarter of a century…
It feels like an out-of-body experience. A gap has formed between me and the Franky I envision as ideal…
So, I’ve decided to disembark the Sunny for now.
Frustrating! Heartbreaking!!
I’m truly sorry 🕴️ but we’ve prepared a su-per successor!
Look forward to Jump Festa on December 22!
- Kazuki Yao on stepping down as Franky in ONE PIECE
The ONE PIECE anime is a special recap video, among many others.
There is also the a new message from the creator Eiichiro Oda.
Source: Official X
© Eiichiro Oda / Shueisha, Toei Animation
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