Info in Movie News | One Piece is moving into its Final Saga and the anime is undergoing a significant transformation for the character who is the most mysterious, Monkey D. Dragon, the leader of the Revolutionary Army and Luffy's father who is only known through rumors, has now been given a new voice. The role goes to veteran actor Kazuhiko Inoue, whose voice is familiar from many characters such as Kakashi in Naruto and Kars in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, this definitely signals a new start for the series’ latest evolution.
According to Sportskeeda, the announcement was made on July 14, 2025, and was that Inoue would take the place of Hidekatsu Shibata, who was the voice of Dragon, and no one else. The old man, who is 88 years old now, has been the voice of Dragon's character, who is strength and being quiet, and since the first episode to now, however, his work is very famous and the fact that he has grown old and that the character of Dragon is becoming more important in the story, have been the reasons for this handover.
At the pivotal period when the anime is diving deeper into the Revolutionary Army arc, the assigning of Kazuhiko Inoue as the voice of Dragon means that the character can no longer remain in the shadows. After years of making brief, impactful appearances, Dragon is now poised to take center stage, having a commanding and emotionally resonant voice is essential, and Inoue’s experience fits the role perfectly.
While there was early speculation that Inoue might only voice the younger version of Dragon in flashbacks, similar to how other characters like Kuma have separate voice actors for their youth, this announcement makes it clear that Inoue will voice the present-day Dragon as well, it’s a full transition, signaling a renewed focus on Dragon’s role in the escalating conflict against the World Government.
Inoue’s past performances have shown that he has the ability to infuse his characters with both authority and nuance, and here, while voicing calm, tactical heroes or charismatic villains, he delivers intensity with subtle control that is exactly what Dragon needs as the story is going to its climax.
On the other hand, the One Piece manga has also recently made a drop of one of the most awaited reveals in franchise history, the complete appearance of Rocks D. Xebec. Xebec was first introduced in Chapter 1154 and now the re-ignition of the speculation about Dragon’s past and the kind of power he has, is only due to his appearance. While theories linking Dragon to Xebec are still debated, one thing is certain, Dragon’s true strength has been shrouded in mystery for far too long.
One Piece has connected entire decades of storyline, and now the issue is not “if” but “when” Dragon will become the most important character in the series. The biggest conflict with the World Government is still ahead, and the Revolutionary Army with its mysterious leader will definitely be in the center of the stage, and at that time, fans will be sure that the voice of Kazuhiko Inoue will be there with all the force, depth, and elegance of the story.
For both long-time fans and new viewers, this is a defining moment, Monkey D. Dragon is no longer just a shadowy legend, he’s about to become one of the Final Saga’s key players, and his voice now carries the strength to match.
source 1, 2, 3
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