Recently, the announcement of Shamrock’s voice actor, Red-Haired Shanks’ twin brother, in the One Piece anime sent fans into a frenzy. This reveal pushed the official One Piece YouTube channel to become the third most viewed channel in Japan.
According to @pewpiece on X, a trusted One Piece source, the fan reaction quickly spiraled out of control after the news broke. After all, Shamrock is the older brother of Shanks, one of the series’ most important characters.
However, many fans believe the video went viral not only because of Shamrock, but also due to the identity of the voice actor: Kenjiro Tsuda.
How Kenjiro Tsuda Fueled the Shamrock Craze
Kenjiro Tsuda has recently dominated the anime community. Known for iconic roles like Nanami Kento in Jujutsu Kaisen, Joker in Fire Force, and Nowaki in Orb, Tsuda is the go-to voice for characters with deep, serious, and authoritative tones. So the moment Shamrock’s VA was announced, it instantly grabbed everyone’s attention.
For Figarland’s Shamrock, who is becoming a key figure in One Piece, having Tsuda as his voice actor is a perfect match. Tsuda’s style naturally fits the character’s aura.
Moreover, One Piece finally assigning Shamrock a distinct and standout voice actor immediately set him apart from his twin brother. This also confirmed a long-debated fan theory: the person who met the Five Elders earlier definitely wasn’t Shamrock. This revelation added credibility to that belief.
Why Shamrock’s Role Is Crucial to One Piece’s Story
Even before the voice actor reveal, fans had a rough idea of Shamrock’s importance from leaks. As Shanks’ twin brother, a high-ranking World Noble, and commander of the Knights of God, he operates on a whole different level. This news was a real treat for fans.
In fact, Shamrock is even predicted to be the main antagonist of the Elbaf Arc, promising chaos ahead. The arrival of such a key character guarantees that One Piece’s storyline will continue for quite some time.
Some fans joke that Shamrock might be Oda’s way of keeping Shanks’ influence alive in the story, even after Shanks’ role is considered complete. If true, it’s a clever way to maintain the brand’s appeal.