Shanks remains one of the most beloved characters in One Piece, even though he rarely appears. His voice actor, Shuichi Ikeda, is a legendary figure in the anime industry. However, he recently stepped down from one of his major roles, raising concerns about his future as the voice of Shanks.
Shuichi Ikeda has brought many iconic characters to life, including Char Aznable from Gundam. Recently, it was revealed that he has officially retired from voicing this legendary character. While no exact reason was given, it’s easy to assume that age is a factor. At 75 years old, he may be facing health issues or simply choosing to step away from certain roles.
Since One Piece has been running for over two decades, many of its voice actors have aged alongside the series. Shuichi Ikeda has voiced Shanks since the beginning, and while the character hasn’t had much screen time, his role in the story is only growing. With the anime continuing for several more years, it’s possible that he may retire before Shanks’ biggest moments unfold.
Although Shanks hasn’t had much focus in the story, the Final Saga will change that. His importance in the manga will only increase, and it will take at least a year before these events are animated. By that time, Shuichi Ikeda could decide to fully step down from voicing Shanks, much like other long-time voice actors in the series have done recently.
The One Piece anime has seen multiple voice actor changes over the years due to age and health issues. Recently, Kazuki Yao, the voice of Franky, retired for similar reasons. Since Franky appears in almost every episode, this change was difficult for fans. However, since Shanks is rarely seen, a voice replacement for him might be easier to accept.
One Piece will continue running for many years, and with Ikeda already in his mid-70s, a replacement may be needed soon. While his departure from Gundam doesn’t confirm anything about One Piece yet, it does suggest that he may be slowly stepping away from the industry. Fans should be prepared for the possibility of a new voice actor taking over Shanks’ role in the future.
