The anime voice-acting world provides unexpected opportunities that lead to career-defining roles. Such was the case for Colleen Clinkenbeard, who has been One Piece Luffy’s English voice, for an impressive 15 years. However, the path to becoming the voice of the future Pirate King was not what Clinkenbeard initially anticipated.
She revealed a surprising detail about her audition process for One Piece. The voice actress is known for her work in numerous popular anime series like My Hero Academia, shared that when she first walked into the audition room, she was convinced she would be reading for entirely different characters. This misconception led to an unexpected turn of events that ultimately shaped her career.
Unexpected Turn in Audition Process
In an exclusive interview via SlashFilm, Clinkenbeard shared the surprising story of how she landed on the role of Luffy. When called in to audition by director Mike McFarland, she was convinced she would be reading for the parts of Robin and Nami, two prominent female characters in the Straw Hat crew.
She recalled:
I assumed that I was auditioning fro Robin and Nami. So that’s what I concentrated on reading. And then he (Mike) actually asked me to read for Luffy, which sent my heart right through the roof, and I went away to practice those lines more. I have no idea what lines they were, and I was not yet very comfortable with a boy voice.
Despite her initial surprise, Clinkenbeard’s performance must have impressed McFarland, as she ultimately secured the role of Luffy. “I don’t think my heart rate went down until I found out.” She admitted, highlighting the excitement and nervousness surrounding the audition process.
The Evolution of Voice and Character
Over the past 15 years, Clinkenbeard has grown alongside Luffy, developing a deep understanding of the Character’s range and nuances. She explained how her familiarity with the role has allowed her to fine-tune her performance.
She stated:
I’ve sunk down into him and kind of found all of his range, and I feel like I understand how he will respond to something and when I need to dip down into something lower and when I need to be a little higher and lighter and more floaty.
The voice actress also noted how her overall craft has evolved with Luffy and how she evolved Luffy. Her journey with One Piece has included many memorable moments, such as the Arlong Park arc. As for her recent performances, she expressed excitement about voicing Luffy’s advanced forms:
I liked finally getting to do Snake Man [Luffy’s elevated form], so that was a big deal. I’ve been waiting for a while, and people had been describing it for so long, so I was very excited to get to step into that moment.
As One Piece continues to captivate audiences worldwide, her performance as Luffy remains a crucial element of the series’ enduring popularity. Her evolving portrayal of Luffy contributes to the ongoing success of One Piece with English-speaking fans all over the world.
One Piece is available to stream on Crunchyroll.
