One Piece: Shanks Actor Sparks Retirement Rumors Thanks to... Gundam

Warning: Contains spoilers for Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX: Beginning.Following the premiere of Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX: Beginning, fans are worried about the possible retirement of Shuichi Ikeda i.e. the voice of One Piece’s Shanks. Long before Shuichi Ikeda was cast as Shanks, he made a name for himself as Char Aznable in Mobile Suit Gundam, and with the popularity of Gundam and how often he’s reprised the role, it’s easily the most iconic role of Ikeda’s career.

Few voice actors are as iconic as Shuichi Ikeda, but his time as a voice actor might be ending. Char Aznable appears in the Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX: Beginning compilation film as part of the reveal that it takes place in an alternate timeline where Char won the war, but rather than be voiced by Shuichi Ikeda, he’s voiced by Yuuki Shin of Tokyo Revengers fame. Shuichi Ikeda not voicing Char in his latest appearance has Gundam and One Piece fans alike worried that he’s planning to retire, but even then, it might not be as certain as people think.

Mobile Suit Gundam Has Had Other Voice Actors Voice Char Aznable Before

GQuuuuuuX Isn't The First Time Someone Else Voiced Char Aznable

Char in Gundam-san — Mobile-Suit-Gundam-San-Char

As surprising as it might be for Shuichi Ikeda to not voice Char Aznable, this isn’t the first time it’s happened. Long before GQuuuuuuX, Char was voiced by Katsuyuki Konishi in Mobile Suit Gundam-san, a parody of Mobile Suit Gundam, and in Char’s brief appearance in Gundam Build Fighters: Battlogue, he was voiced by Toshihiko Seki, as well. Shuichi Ikeda, despite how closely associated he is with Char Aznable, hasn’t voiced him in every Gundam project, so his not reprising the role for GQuuuuuuX doesn’t necessarily mean he’s retiring.

That being said, there is a clear difference in circumstances. The previous examples were either a one-off appearance or a largely unserious parody anime, so Ikeda not returning as Char wasn’t a big deal, but GQuuuuuuX is the latest mainline Gundam anime, and as such, Shuichi Ikeda not reprising his role as Char Aznable in Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX is seen as a much bigger deal because of the importance of the project. There has yet to be an official statement on anything, but overall, it makes sense that people would be so concerned.

Why Shuichi Ikeda’s Retirement Would Be Such A Tragic Loss

If Shuichi Ikeda really is retiring, then it’s hard to see it as nothing but a tragedy for One Piece and Gundam fans alike. For One Piece, not only has Shanks been part of the story since day one, but this would be coming far too soon after Kazuki Yao’s retirement as Franky, an equally tragic loss for the anime. Shuichi Ikeda retiring would be another example of a One Piece voice actor unfortunately not getting to see the story through to the end, and that’s not something anyone would want to see when it’s finally heading toward its conclusion.

Naturally, Shuichi Ikeda’s retirement would be even worse for Gundam fans. Ikeda’s performance as Char Aznable is a big part of why he became Gundam’s most iconic villain and one of anime’s most iconic villains, in general, and as such, Shuichi Ikeda’s retirement would mean Gundam fans would lose one of the biggest reasons why Gundam has been so great for over 40 years. If Shuichi Ikeda really is retiring, there will likely be an announcement soon, but for One Piece and Gundam fans alike, that hopefully won’t be happening for a long while.