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When shows go on for more than two decades, the occasional recasting is unavoidable. After nearly 20 years, the original voice of Franky in the Japanese dub of One Piece finally 'graduated' from the role earlier this month. It is one of the first major roles to be recast in the series, so fans have been watching to see who would be voicing the Straw Hats’ bionic crewmate going forward. Now, the new voice of Franky in One Piece has been announced.

At Jump Fiesta 2025, Toei announced that Subaru Kimura would be playing Franky when the One Piece anime returns from hiatus in April 2025. Kimura is best known for playing Aoi Todo in Jujutsu Kaisen and Gian in Doraemon, though this isn’t his role in One Piece. Previously, he played young Buggy in a few episodes of the anime.

Jump Fiesta 2025 served as a “graduation” ceremony for Kazuki Yao, who has played Franky for nearly 20 years. At the event, Yao said that he helped choose Kimura to be his replacement, giving Kimura his blessing to be Franky as One Piece returns to the Egghead Island arc and continues the Final Saga. Earlier this month, Yao confirmed he was stepping down from the role because, due to health issues, he was no longer able to record his “ideal” version of the Franky. He continues to voice Jango and Bon Clay in the One Piece anime.

We have to wait several months to hear Subaru Kimura as Franky; the One Piece anime returns from its current hiatus in April 2025.

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
• The One Piece English cast shared the life lessons they've learned playing the Straw Hats for nearly 20 years
• 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
• Wondering what ethnicity and nationality the One Piece pirates are? Here is what Oda himself has to say
• 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!"