One Piece: Original Luffy Voice Actress Returns After 27 Years
The iconic One Piece anime franchise welcomes back Urara Takano, the original voice actress for Monkey D. Luffy, after a remarkable 27-year hiatus, marking a significant moment for fans of the long-running series.
Before the widely successful anime adaptation of One Piece that premiered in 1999, Eiichiro Oda's beloved adventure fantasy manga was initially adapted into a short OVA (Original Video Animation) in 1998. This earlier adaptation a different voice cast and saw a limited release in Japan.
Now, 27 years later, Urara Takano, the very first voice actress to bring Monkey D. Luffy to life, has officially made her debut in the current One Piece anime series with the latest episode. What role did she take on after all this time?
Urara Takano's Role in the One Piece Anime
Takano announced her return to the One Piece universe through a social media post, revealing that she voiced the character Joy Boy in Episode 1151, titled "Her and Her Father's Dream! Bonney's Free Future." This marks a full-circle moment for the actress and the franchise.
She expressed her excitement about rejoining the show, more than two decades after her initial involvement with the One Piece franchise, and pledged to dedicate her best efforts to her new role. Her return provides a nostalgic the origins of the anime adaptation.
In the world of One Piece, Joy Boy is a prominent historical figure from the Great Kingdom, who lived 900 years ago. He is often described as the first pirate in history. Interestingly, Joy Boy shares a strong resemblance to Luffy, leading some characters to speculate about a potential connection between the two.
Takano's initial portrayal of Monkey D. Luffy was in the 1998 short film, One Piece: Defeat The Pirate Ganzack. This project was produced by Production I.G., separate from Toei Animation, which currently produces the anime series. The short film didn't adapt a specific story arc from the manga, but it offered an early glimpse into the One Piece world.
The film only three members of the Straw Hat Pirates. Similar to the Netflix live-action adaptation, Eiichiro Oda was actively involved in the production of this early project. Are you surprised to learn about this connection to the past?
Beyond One Piece: Urara Takano's Extensive Voice Acting Career
Urara Takano is a renowned Japanese voice actress who began her career in 1986. She has contributed to numerous anime projects, including Sakura Wars, Hunter x Hunter, Komi Can't Communicate, Yu-Gi-Oh!, and the Naruto film, Naruto the Movie: Legend of the Stone of Gelel.
Her talent extends to video games as well, with voice acting roles in titles such as Kingdom Hearts III, James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing, and Horizon Forbidden West. She has also lent her voice to dubbing popular films into Japanese.
Notably, she was the Japanese voice for Bellatrix Lestrange in the Harry Potter films, Renee Montoya in Birds of Prey, Scuttle in the live-action adaptation of The Little Mermaid, Raffi in Star Trek: Picard, Esmeralda in The Hunchback of Notre Dame II, Maggie Lockwood in Chicago Med, Tia Dalma in Pirates of the Caribbean, and Sisu in Raya and the Last Dragon, among many others. Her versatility and extensive experience have made her a respected figure in the voice acting industry.
One Piece is currently available for streaming on Crunchyroll and Netflix. This makes it easier than ever to catch up with the series and witness Takano's return as Joy Boy.
The return of Urara Takano to One Piece after 27 years is a testament to the lasting impact of the franchise and the dedication of its talented voice actors. Her return as Joy Boy adds another layer of depth and nostalgia for longtime fans of the series.
