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Every member of the Straw Hat crew is indispensable, and imagining the crew without even one of them describes fans’ worst nightmares. After going through thousands of chapters and episodes, fans have forged a precious bond withOne Piececharacters. Their mere mention can light up our days, and we all have those inside jokes that warm up our hearts.
This heartwarming dynamic wouldn’t have been possible if it wasn’t for the voice actors who brought our favorite characters to life with their charming voices. As heartbreaking as it is, it’s time for fans to bid goodbye to their Franky, as Kazuki Yao’s retirement has been officially announced. And, Eiichiro Oda has a perfect send-off gift for the actor in the upcoming chapter of the series.
Kazuki Yao beyond Franky inOne Piece
Kazuki Yao brought Franky to life inOne Piece, in a way no one else could have pulled off. Franky’s ‘Superrrr’ is the definition of iconic andeven made its way to the Olympics. Yao does justice to the eccentricities and vibrant personality of Franky in the most memorable way possible. However, Franky was not the only top-tierOne Piececharacter Yao voiced.
The fan-favorite Bon Chan and Jango from the early days ofOne Piecewere also voiced by Yao. Both Franky and Bon Chan are colorful and over-the-top in their ways, but there’s a softer, more delicate aspect of them that is in stark contrast to their general demeanor. Yao portrayed both aspects of these characters with utmost dedication and it’s hard to imagine anyone replacing his eternal voice.
‘This is most likely something terminal’: Franky VA’s Recent Look Has Left One Piece Fans Concerned as He Announces Retirement
However, the voice actor’s health has been on a concerning decline for quite some time.Fans noticed how the worsening healthwas also reflected in his work, and even though it was expected that the actor would eventually step down from his role, the official announcement was still heart-shattering.
Nearly a week ago, the voice actor announced his retirement and promised that he had chosen a great successor for Franky. He expressed his sadness over the fact that he could no longer reach the ideal vision of Franky due to the gap he felt between himself and the character.
Eiichiro Oda’s heartwarming tribute to our Franky, Kazuki Yao
After the official announcement,Eiichiro Odaseems to be preparing a send-off illustration for the actor. The upcoming chapter of the manga will feature a colored page featuring Robo-Franky. It’s his farewell gift to the actor who was an integral part ofOne Piecefor more than two decades.
#ONEPIECE1134#OPSPOILERSTHIS WEEK COLOR SPREAD !!pic.twitter.com/ZxROHmOGvb
THIS COLOR SPREAD!! 🥹pic.twitter.com/WQmr45FoNo
I KNEW ITOda is such a goat for this
WE ARE ETERNAL, Salute Mr. Kazuki Yao🫡
One Piecehas been a journey of a lifetime and nobody can deny it. There have been countless moments that gave fans something to look forward to, something they could hold dear. However, the worst part about the series’ length is these goodbyes, as the actors who completed our vision of our favorite characters find it physically difficult to carry on.
Awful News For One Piece Fans as Episode 1121 Will Lose Franky’s Voice Actor Kazuki Yao After Health Concerns
But, as Oda said in his message ‘We are eternal’, and that’s true, Kazuki Yao’s voice has been eternally etched in our hearts and hopefully, his health experiences a ‘Superrrr’ recovery while the chosen one carries on his legacy.
One Piece Chapter 1134will be released on December 22nd, 2024 on the MangaPlus app and website.
Laveena Joshi
Anime Writer
Articles Published :926
Laveena is an anime content writer at FandomWire. Having written more than 800 articles, she’s an expert in mainstream shonen series, ranging from the bizarre world of JoJo’s to the expansive worldbuilding of One Piece.With her formal education in Journalism and Mass Communication, she explores entertainment journalism through the lens of anime and manga, from mainstream and classic titles to niche and obscure ones.
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Eiichiro OdaOne Piece
