Anime’s staff is currently considering replacing the late voice actress
Image via X/Twitter account for the anime Chibi Maruko-chanThe official website of the television anime Chibi Maruko-chan announced on Saturday that the final episode in which the late TARAKO voices main character Maruko will air on March 24 as an hour-long episode featuring title”Maruko, Mizu no Aji ga Wakaru ?”(Maruko, Do you know the taste of water?).
Except for that episode, the anime will air previous episodes starting March 10. The anime production team is currently considering replacement voice actors as well as when they will start airing episodes with the actors New voice acting for Maruko.
TARAKO voiced the character Maruko for 34 years, since the first episode of the anime aired on January 7, 1990. According to the anime production team, TARAKO”was eager to film for the series even while in the hospital, and she faced Chibi Maruko-chan with great love until the end.”
TARAKO passed away on March 4 at the age of 63 and her death was publicly announced on March 8. The cause of death was not disclosed.
TARAKO also played Kirara in InuYasha, Monokuma in Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope’s Peak High School: Future Arc and Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony, Debeko in Dead Dead Demon’s Dededede Destruction, Pat in One Piece: Unlimited World R and Taruruuto in Taruruuto-kun magic. Her first role was in the original Urusei Yatsura anime as a kindergarten student. She also performed theme songs for several anime she worked on, including Alice in Wonderland and Katsugeki Shōjo Tantei Dan.
TARAKO leads the stage group Waku Produce and she is also a member of Trobadour Ongaku Jimushō.
Source: Chibi Maruko-chan anime website, Natalie Comics