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Most anime don’t last ten years, so the fact that One Piece is now in its 25th year is something remarkable. However, that kind of longevity comes with risks. Not only do you have to keep the quality of the animation up and avoid overtaking the source material from the manga, but occasionally you have to change the voices of some beloved characters. After twenty years in the role, the voice of Franky in One Piece is finally retiring and letting someone else step into his bionic shoes.

Kazuki Yao, who has been playing for nearly two decades, is stepping down from the role due to his health becoming an issue. On social media, he confirmed that there was now too great a gap between the performance he was able to give and his “ideal Franky.” Yao has had health issues in the past and recently turned 65, so the news isn’t completely surprising. Franky is a big, high-energy character that takes a lot of effort to bring to life, after all. 

However, fans won’t have to wait long to find out who will be his replacement. According to the One Piece Twitter/X account, the next Franky will be announced at Jump Fiesta 2025, which takes place December 21-22, 2024. The new Franky has a lot to live up to as Yao has certainly made his mark on the character, but they will have several months to find their rhythm as the anime isn’t due to come back from its current hiatus until April 2025. 

One thing that remains up in the air is whether this retirement will extend to the other characters that Kazuki Yao plays in One Piece. Currently, he is the voice of Jango and Bon Clay in the One Piece anime.

THE ONE PIECE IS REAL...ly important to Popverse! That's why we've put together the key articles to keep your fandom of the manga-turned-anime-turned-live-action-show alive:

• How to watch One Piece One Piece in chronological and release order (All 1,100+ episodes plus the movies!)
• When the next episode of One Piece is coming
• Netflix almost missed casting Superman star Mikaela Hoover as Tony Tony Chopper because the audition materials were too vague
• Netflix enlists a Bridgerton star to show off the first big set piece of One Piece season 2, with a Loguetown that is full of easter eggs from the manga
• Why One Piece's Monkey D. Luffy is the perfect hero for the dark times ahead
• Every difference between the live-action One Piece and the original manga
• One Piece Gear 5 Form: Everything we know about Luffy's latest transformation
• Ranking the One Piece anime's arcs, from best to worst
• Why is One Piece more popular now that the anime is 25 years old? We asked around and found out
• The English cast of One Piece explain what they love about Eiichiro Oda's storytelling - "He's a genius!"