The One Piece Anime’s Extended Hiatus is Perfect for Luffy’s Voice Actor Mayumi Tanaka Despite Her Fear of Not Making it to the End of the Anime

A wave of sadness spreads across the globe, as the beloved anime One Piece announces an unexpected six-month hiatus in the broadcast of its current Egghead Island arc. It’s remarkable that even with 1,100 episodes in, One Piece continues to push boundaries, promising fans an even better and more cinematic experience ahead.

For over 25 years, Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece has been enthralling fans without a single dull moment, and a break is essential for this remarkable anime to preserve its legacy. Sadly, fans will have to wait till April 2025 to see the return of the Straw Hat Pirates.

On the positive side, this break could lead to fewer fillers in the anime, allowing it to avoid catching up to the manga too quickly. However, the best aspect is that it will provide the production team with much-needed rest, especially for Luffy’s voice actor, who has shared her worries about being unable to continue until the end.

How One Piece‘s Six-Month Hiatus Benefits the Production Team and Voice Actors

After enthralling fans for over 25 years, Eiichiro Oda‘s One Piece is finally approaching close to its conclusion. While One Piece asks for a lot of commitment from viewers, in return it leaves them enchanted by Oda-sensei’s narrative and Luffy’s journey to become the King of the Pirates.

Unquestionably, Monkey D. Luffy played an important part in One Piece‘s immense popularity. Oda-sensei has done a fantastic job of endearing this character to the community ever since the series debuted in 1997. Even after 30 years, One Piece fans aren’t tired of following the adventures of this young and enthusiastic boy.

While Oda-sensei deserves huge praise for the creation of Luffy, Mayumi Tanaka brought this fan-favorite character to life. Mayumi Tanaka is a veteran in the anime industry who has been the voice behind Monkey D. Luffy since day one, marking a journey of over 25 years.

Tanaka Mayumi: I never thought One Piece would be this long. Every year, Oda told me, "Mayumi-san, it'd be end in 10 years." I don't know if I'd be alive until OP ends… If I choose a substitute now, maybe OP fans would accept it (when I die). pic.twitter.com/iSiolSUV2Q

— wanda (@blondemarimo) November 4, 2020

Indeed, fans can’t imagine the anime without her, and Tanaka mentioned that she once considered finding a successor in case One Piece outlasted her. In an interview, she said:

I never thought One Piece would be this long. Every year, Oda told me, “Mayumi-san, it’ll end in 10 years.” I don’t know if I’ll be alive when One Piece ends… If I choose a replacement now, maybe One Piece fans will accept it (when I die).

Without a doubt, One Piece is not only a journey for Oda-sensei and the fans but also a testament to the dedication and hard work of the entire studio and voice actors, who strive to ensure they never disappoint anyone.

Thankfully, Tanaka appears to be in good health and has been living her best life since OP‘s six-month break announcement, as seen online. Interestingly, Luffy’s VA recently shared new photos from their senior dance club, along with Stussy’s and Perona’s VAs of their senior dance club.

Luffy's voice actress, Mayumi Tanaka, shared new photos with Stussy's and Perona's voice actresses from their senior dance club. With the One Piece anime on break for nearly half a year, the voice actors are focusing on their health and enjoying their time. pic.twitter.com/JBYJtOtUOi

— Pookie Piece (@realpewpiece) October 15, 2024

With a six-month break, it’s great to see the voice actors behind fans’ beloved characters getting the much-needed rest, prioritizing their health, and enjoying their time off.

One Piece Theory: Imu is Nefertari Lily from the Void Century

While Oda-sensei has remained secretive about the King of the World’s identity, there are tons of rumors connecting Imu to Nefertari Lily, the queen who disappeared after the Void Century. By far, Imu’s identity remains one of the greatest mysteries, and many fans are eagerly awaiting Oda-sensei to drop more hints about this character.

We already know that the famous One Piece treasure is connected to the mysterious figure from the Forgotten Void Century, Joyboy. Joyboy, who was the previous user of Luffy’s Devil Fruit, lost to Imu 800 years ago, establishing Imu as one of the most evil and greatest antagonists in the series.

Unlike the other 19 kings who founded the World Government, Lily did not leave her sword at the Empty Throne. This could mean that Queen Lily didn’t submit to the alliance and joined forces with Joyboy betraying Imu’s trust. Not to forget, the presence of Lily’s flowers in Imu’s private chamber seems to offer another hint between Imu and Lily, possibly pointing to their shared past.

One Piece is available to stream on Crunchyroll, while the manga can be read on Viz Media.