Imu’s Voice Reveal in the One Piece Anime: The Best Way to Do It

The upcoming episodes of One Piece will showcase the long-awaited voice reveal of Imu, causing excitement among fans due to the character’s ambiguous gender as the leader of the World Government. It is likely that either two voice actors or one with a versatile range will be selected to portray Imu’s voice.

Alternatively, the animation studio’s decision to assign a male or female voice actor to Imu could have a significant impact. This could potentially undermine the mysterious lore that Eiichiro Oda has woven around the character, and could even disappoint fans – particularly those who follow the manga and have been theorizing about Imu’s true identity based on their unknown gender.

Please note: This article may contain spoilers from the One Piece manga series and reflects the author’s personal views.

Exploring the Top Choices for Imu’s Voice Reveal in One Piece Anime

Imu, also known as Im-sama, is a prominent antagonist in the One Piece anime. Despite being a crucial figure, Imu has rarely been featured in the series. Furthermore, the character’s gender has been a controversial topic among fans, as it has not been revealed through voicing. However, this may change in the upcoming one or two episodes.

In the 1117th episode of the One Piece anime, Sabo disclosed the events he witnessed at the Reverie, including the killing of King Cobra, who was on his way to meet the Five Elders. King Cobra’s intention was to question the World Government leaders about why Nefartari Lili, the first leader of the Arabasta Kingdom, was not granted the status of a Celestial Dragon like the other First Twenty families.

The discussion would eventually raise doubts about the true intentions of the enigmatic D, ultimately causing Imu to reveal themselves. Imu would then claim the Empty Throne, a seat established by the First Twenty to prevent any one individual from gaining too much power. This unexpected turn of events would shock King Cobra and prompt a conversation between them, as well as mark the first time the leader of the World Government spoke publicly.

Imu as seen in the anime (Image via Toei Animation)

With the pacing of the anime, it is possible that Imu’s voice will appear in either episode 1118 or the following one. The biggest decision for the production team will be choosing a voice actor, as Imu’s unspecified gender has sparked numerous theories about their true identity. If the team decides to assign a specific gender to Imu’s voice, it could potentially undermine the character’s mysterious backstory.

In addition, selecting a particular gender for Imu’s voice may compromise the enigma that Eiichiro Oda has carefully crafted by keeping Imu’s character a secret in the manga. Therefore, it would be ideal to choose a voice actor who can blend the tones of both a male and female character.

Who could be the possible voice of Imu?

Imu’s voice, much like the voices of demons in anime, had a vague quality that made it difficult to determine their gender. To further enhance Imu’s enigmatic persona, the voice could also be distorted.

Alternatively, the production team could utilize two voice actors and merge their voices, portraying both characters simultaneously and preserving Imu’s undisclosed gender, mirroring the approach taken in the manga.

Kaiser Insight (left) and Geordo Stuart (right) (Image via CygamesPictures & Silver Link)

In addition, Shouta Aoi would be an ideal choice for the role of Imu due to his previous roles and distinctive voice. As many fans are aware, Aoi has gained recognition for his ability to portray mature female characters with his voice acting.

Shouta is best known for his roles as Kaiser Insight (female) in Princess Connect and Geordo Stuart (male) in My Next Life as a Villainess. His mature voice would be a suitable match for the personality of the World Government leader, without revealing their gender. This makes him an ideal choice for voicing Imu.

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