One Piece’s English Dub Just Brought Back a 4Kids Icon for Major Role

by

The English dub of One Piece has brought on a well-known voice actor from the classic 4Kids dub for a significant new role that could greatly impact the anime. As the English dub prepares to release the final episodes of the Egghead Arc this spring, fans will finally be able to watch them as they originally aired in Japan. These episodes include some major events and the introduction of important new characters, and one debut in particular is generating a lot of excitement.

I’m so hyped! The last episodes of the One Piece: Egghead Arc – episodes 1144 through 1155 – are hitting Crunchyroll on March 24th, and we’re finally going to get our first glimpse of Joyboy! But get this – Toei Animation went and brought back Erica Schroeder, the original voice of Luffy from the 4Kids dub, to voice this legendary figure! It’s going to be amazing hearing her take on this role after all these years!

Luffy’s Very First Voice Actor Returns to One Piece English Dub

Get ready to meet the very first pirate, who lived 900 years ago! Plus, Erica Schroeder will be voicing Joyboy in the English dub! You can hear her debut in the final episodes of the Egghead Arc (episodes 1144-1155), arriving on Crunchyroll this March 24th. #ONEPIECE #EGGHEAD

— Toei Animation (@ToeiAnimation) March 20, 2026

I’ve noticed Joyboy being mentioned a lot throughout the history of One Piece, but the Egghead Arc is the first time we’ve actually seen something related to this legendary figure. It’s becoming clear that Joyboy and Luffy might be connected – other characters have pointed out how similar they are, and the anime is really emphasizing that. Interestingly, the original Japanese version did something special: they brought back Urara Takano, the very first voice actor for Luffy, to reprise the role. She voiced Luffy in the original OVA before the official anime series began, and was later replaced by Mayumi Tanaka.

The English dub of One Piece has brought back Erica Schroeder as the voice of Luffy, just like in the original 4Kids dub from the early 2000s. She was previously replaced by Colleen Clinkenbeard when Funimation (and later Crunchyroll) took over the dubbing. This is a fantastic way to recapture the feel of the original Japanese version and a special treat for dedicated fans.

What Does This Mean for Joyboy?

This is exciting news for fans of One Piece! Beyond being a great moment for the anime, it hints at a much larger story surrounding Luffy. The series has long hinted at Joyboy, the first pirate, possessing powers similar to Luffy’s. Now, with Joyboy potentially being an ancestor of Luffy, the implications are enormous. Luffy may have a far more significant destiny than anyone realizes.

Now that the Egghead Arc has finished the first part of the Final Saga, fans are excited to see what happens next in One Piece. The anime will continue with the Elbaph Arc on April 5th as part of the Spring 2026 schedule, though the dates for English-dubbed episodes haven’t been announced yet. This latest development means we’ll be watching even more closely as the story unfolds.

What do you think? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!

https://comicbook.com/anime/news/one-piece-elbaph-arc-confirms-crunchyroll-release-date-ahead-of-premiere/embed/#

Read More

2026-03-21 19:11