It is hard to think of an anime character more closely associated with their voice actor than Monkey D. Luffy and Mayumi Tanaka. The anime adaptation of One Piece began in 1999, and since then, Mayumi Tanaka has been voicing Eiichiro Oda’s future Pirate King for all his victories, failures, and emotional moments. While the fans have been growing more and more curious about The One Piece remake, the first thing that they were wondering about was who would voice Luffy.
The Annecy International Animation Film Festival 2026 has revealed the information that many people have been waiting for. 71-year-old Mayumi Tanaka will play the main character of the series once again in The One Piece – a brand-new adaptation of Oda’s manga done by WIT Studio. As stated in the press release (via official website), the decision was made due to a strong appeal from the production team.
Talking about her return, Tanaka said she was nervous to start a new project at her age, but the new show helped her make “new discoveries”.
Mayumi Tanaka on Returning as Luffy in The One Piece
Speaking about her return, Tanaka admitted that she initially had concerns about beginning a new version of Luffy’s journey after portraying the character for more than two decades. However, the experience gave her a fresh perspective on the Straw Hat captain.
She reportedly said (via @theop_official on Twitter/X) –
I’m Mayumi Tanaka, the voice of Monkey D. Luffy. I’m very happy to be joining the new series THE ONE PIECE as Luffy once again. I was a little nervous about starting something new at my age, but once I actually tried it, I made new discoveries, and I was able to perform Luffy with a fresh feeling. I really enjoyed doing the after-recording, so I hope many people will watch it. Streaming is scheduled to begin in February 2027, so please look forward to it!
Tanaka further revealed that she greatly enjoyed the recording sessions and expressed her hope that viewers around the world would tune in when the series debuts in February 2027.
Her return ensures that one of the franchise’s most recognizable elements remains intact even as the series undergoes a major creative reboot. For longtime fans, hearing Tanaka’s voice once again may help bridge the gap between the beloved original adaptation and WIT Studio’s modern reimagining.
Director Masashi Koizuka also praised the cast’s performances, stating that the voice actors delivered such passionate work that the animation team continually pushes itself to give “120 percent” in response. He emphasized that the staff’s primary goal is to faithfully adapt Oda’s manga and allow audiences to experience a new version of One Piece from the very beginning.
Everything We Know So Far About The One Piece Remake
While Toei Animation continues to produce the original One Piece anime, The One Piece is a separate adaptation being handled by WIT Studio. The remake plans to follow the manga from Chapter 1, starting the East Blue Saga.
A still from The One Piece remake. | Credit: WIT Studio
One of the notable differences is the pace of the story – the original anime adaptation often adapted a single chapter in one episode. This will not be the case with the upcoming The One Piece anime remake. The first season is planned to adapt about 50 chapters of the manga through seven episodes (via @theop_official on Twitter/X).
The first teaser has already showcased the project’s visual ambitions. Beginning with Gol D. Roger’s legendary final words that started the Great Pirate Era, the footage follows Luffy as he leaves Foosha Village wearing the straw hat entrusted to him by Red-Haired Shanks. The preview also introduces Zoro, Nami, Usopp, and Sanji before ending with Luffy unleashing a powerful Gum-Gum Pistol against the Lord of the Coast.
Series TitleThe One Piece Manga AuthorEiichiro OdaReleasing OnFebruary, 2027Where to WatchNetflix
WIT Studio’s watercolor-inspired visuals appear heavily influenced by Oda’s original artwork while taking advantage of modern widescreen presentation and contemporary animation techniques. With Mayumi Tanaka officially returning as Luffy and WIT Studio aiming to reintroduce Oda’s story to a new generation, The One Piece is shaping up to be one of the biggest anime events of 2027.
Now the big question – Do you think this remake will become the definitive way for a new generation of fans to experience Luffy’s journey toward becoming the Pirate King? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
The original One Piece anime by Toei Animation is currently available to watch on Crunchyroll.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
