One Piece anime confirms exciting cast update ahead of long-awaited return

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Fans are eagerly awaiting the return of the One Piece anime, and excitement is building for the upcoming Elbaph arc. This anticipation has increased with the recent announcement of two new cast members.

I’ve been following this series, and it’s exciting to hear it’s coming back on April 5th in Japan! After a long break, they’re starting a storyline fans have been waiting for, and it feels like the beginning of a whole new chapter for the Straw Hat crew.

The return of this series is already being celebrated by fans, particularly considering the announced three-month pause in production from January to March 2026 as part of larger changes. As the premiere date nears, excitement is building even more.

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One Piece recently announced the voice actors for two new characters joining the Elbaph arc. Ayane Sakura will voice Gerd, and Ryota Takeuchi will play Road. Both characters are giants from Elbaph and members of the New Giant Warrior Pirates, led by Hajrudin. Gerd is the crew’s doctor, and Road is their navigator.

The voice actors were a great choice, considering their experience. Sakura is familiar to many anime fans from roles like Ochaco Uraraka in My Hero Academia and Fiona Frost in Spy x Family. Takeuchi is also well-known for his work as Elias Ainsworth in The Ancient Magus’ Bride and Wakatoshi Ushijima in Haikyu!!.

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The announcement also stated that interviews with both artists will appear in the 18th issue of Weekly Shonen Jump, available for purchase on March 30th.

Fans have been anticipating a visit to Elbaf for a long time in the One Piece series, especially after the recent events on Egghead Island. Now that the Straw Hat crew is finally heading to the home of Dorry and Brogy – characters many viewers discovered in the live-action One Piece on Netflix – the upcoming anime episodes promise to be full of exciting action.

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Ben Williams

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2026-03-23 18:05