Celebrating the Work of Kazuki Yao, Franky in One Piece

In early December, it was announced that voice actor Kazuki Yao would “graduate” from a role he’s played for almost 20 years: the cyborg Franky in One Piece . It wasn’t an easy decision to make, but Yao ultimately felt that, due to his health, he wasn’t able to reach his “ideal” version of Franky. Franky isn’t the only role Yao has played in One Piece — he first showed up as the oddball hypnotist Jango in the anime’s early days and then found a recurring spot as fan favorite “Mr. 2 Bon Clay.” When you look at these three roles, they’re united as a shining example of one of One Piece ’s greatest themes: empathy for the outsider. And thanks to Yao’s stellar performances, they got an even greater chance at thriving in front of an international audience. RELATED: We Visited Every One Piece Statue in Eiichiro Oda’s Hometown Kumamoto As Jango, Yao provided tiny bits of nuance to a character that could’ve been just a weirdo henchman. He captured Jango’s goofy vanity as a guy who thinks he’s pulling one over on the whole world, even as he moonwalks around town and puts himself to sleep with his own techniques. He’d only up the ante for himself with flamboyant Baroque Works member Mr. 2 aka Bon Clay aka Bentham, an “okama” that immediately stood out amongst the other rogues. Mr. 2 truly introduced One Piece viewers to what has become Yao’s signature: a defiant rasp that tears through the conversation. As Mr. 2, it would come to say “This is who I am, and you’ll take me as nothing less.” It also made Mr. 2 even more intensely likable, especially when he displayed his penchant for loyalty and self-sacrifice, something that was often punctuated with a triumphant laugh. Human goodness and the refusal to let a friend down was a victory in itself. A few years later, Yao was introduced as Franky, initially showing up as the mysterious and shrouded cyborg leader of the Franky Family. But he was eventually revealed to be a prodigal shipwright who, after losing everything, was forced to rebuild himself and his outlook on life. RELATED: Meet Franky: One Piece Anime 25th Anniversary Spotlight As Franky, Yao could range between explosive joy and catchphrase readiness. Franky is a self-described “pervert” after all, and his cry of “SUUUUPPEEERRRR!” echoes through anime conventions far and wide. When given the chance to go serious, Yao gave Franky a soulful timbre that blended past pain and present curiosity. But ultimately, Yao’s Franky was a constant reminder of the gift of relishing yourself, however outsized you may be. Yao’s contributions to One Piece even extended beyond this trilogy of figures, as he’d also voice the Fake Sogeking from the imposter Straw Hats crew and Charlotte Tablet of the Big Mom Pirates. And one doesn’t have to look too far to find Yao’s imprint on a wide variety of other anime series. In fact, Yao made playing cyborgs (or cyborg-like beings) a kind of specialty. In Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam he was the cyber-Newtype Gates Capa, a warrior partner that was destined for a tragic emotional breakdown. And in Hunter x Hunter he played the Frankenstein’s Monster-esque Majtani, which Yao delivered with goofy aplomb. RELATED: Japanese Band Chilli Beans. on Their Journey to Making a One Piece Ending Theme Song Yao played both hero and villain with ease. In Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ , he was Judau Ashta, a teenager that begins the series as a hopeful scrap dealer with a heart of gold… Gold that, in the beginning of the series, he’d probably be pretty eager to sell. But he develops into an ace Mobile Suit pilot who desperately wishes to save his sister from the Neo Zeon. On the other end of the character spectrum, Yao made a fun appearance in Kaiji as the bullying Kitami. Far from being a game-playing mastermind, Kitami alienates those around him to the degree that he winds up paying Kaiji to take his cards and literally abandons ship. Yao could also fill in on more nondescript roles, in Naruto Shippuden , he’s the bandit Suika, a spider-wielding foe that mostly serves to push Shino to the next level. Regardless of where one heard him, Yao was a delightful presence that lended a distinct personality to a variety of characters. Though he is set to be replaced by the capable Subaru Kimura, his presence will surely be missed. But if One Piece has taught us anything, it’s the impact that a person (usually an outsider) can have on our lives, even if they aren’t currently with us on the voyage. One Piece may set sail and continue on, but Kazuki Yao will always be a Straw Hat.

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