As a gamer with over three decades of anime fandom under my belt, I can’t help but feel a pang of nostalgia as I bid farewell to Kazuki Yao, the man behind some of my favorite characters from iconic series such as One Piece, Hunter x Hunter, Digimon, Initial D, Fullmetal Alchemist, and Death Note. Kazuki’s announcement that he would be stepping back from his role as Franky left me feeling a bit like I had lost a dear friend sailing the Grand Line.
Kazuki Yao, who’s known for voicing characters in One Piece like Franky and Bon Clay, shocked everyone when he announced this month that he would no longer play Franky. However, before taking on the role of Franky, Yao was already a significant character as the villainous Mr. 2 Bon Clay. Starting his career in anime voice acting in the 1980s, Kazuki has played numerous roles across various popular series such as Hunter x Hunter, Digimon, Initial D, Fullmetal Alchemist, Death Note, and others. Although he’s stepping away from Franky, Yao humorously reassured his fans that he’s still very much active with a recent message.
Earlier this month, Yao declared his retirement from “One Piece,” expressing that he could no longer bring to life the Franky character as he had originally envisioned. However, Kazuki is optimistic and shared that a new artist has been selected to take over Franky’s role, which will be unveiled at Jump Festa later in the month. In his official statement, he said, “It feels like there’s a divide between me and the ideal Franky I had imagined… so I have chosen to step away from the Sunny for now. It’s frustrating! It’s heartbreaking! I apologize sincerely. But fear not! Be excited for Jump Festa on 12/22.
RELATED: Kazuki Yao Steps Down: One Piece Will Name Successor to Franky Actor Soon
Kazuki Yao Lives
Through Yao’s Instagram, the soon-to-be departed Franky made it clear to fans that he is indeed alive and well. Here’s what Kazuki shared: “A big thank you to all the comments I’ve received! The beloved Franky…he’s not a dummy! I’m not dead!! Not at all. It’s not like I’m crying! DUMMIES!! Let me reintroduce myself – I am Kazuki Yao, currently trending actor on Twitter. To show you I’m alive, I’ve started an Instagram account. Don’t forget to follow me.” You can find his new Instagram page by clicking here.
For close to two decades, Yao has embodied the character of Franky in “One Piece”. It’s left many fans feeling sad that he didn’t get a chance to see the Straw Hat crew’s voyage conclude as the series moves into its final chapters. However, Kazuki’s influence on the Thousand Sunny ship is not likely to fade quickly, and fans across the Grand Line are eagerly waiting for updates about who will take over playing Franky in the future.
One Piece’s Bright Future
To catch up with the latest developments in the swashbuckling saga, “One Piece,” the manga is still unfolding, with Luffy and his crew moving closer to their final destination. As for the animated series, it temporarily halted its progress through the Future Island Arc until April next year, however, it’s offering fans a revamped version of the Fishmen Island Arc in the interim. Beyond the manga and anime, “One Piece” is also working on other exciting projects.
As a dedicated fan, I’m excited about Netflix working on the second season of the live-action One Piece series. However, for those of us who were hoping to catch more of Franky in the upcoming episodes, there might be a letdown. Since the adaptation is sticking close to its source material, we may have to wait a bit longer to witness the adventures of this swashbuckling cyborg. Given how well the live-action One Piece has been received so far, it’ll certainly be intriguing to see how they approach such an iconic, larger-than-life character when they eventually reach him.
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2024-12-10 17:40