Mike McFarland was a giant in the English dubbing industry. He worked with Funimation for decades, directing and voicing roles that shaped our childhoods. Think about it: how many times did you hear his voice and just know something awesome was about to happen?
He directed classics like One Piece and Attack on Titan. He was the guy who made sure the English scripts didn’t sound like robots read them. And he did it all with a laugh that could fill a room.
When news broke that he was in hospice care, the anime community did what we do best: we freaked out. But we also did something better. We rallied. We sent love. We remembered.
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The singing at the care facility
Now, here’s the part that gets me. According to close friends, Mike’s final days were filled with music. His buddies gathered around his bed in that Dallas care facility and just sang. They sang anime themes. They sang goofy songs. They probably even sang the Fullmetal Alchemist opening at full volume.
Can you picture it? A room full of voice actors, sound engineers, and old friends belting out “Ready, Steady, Go!” or “We Are!” from One Piece. I’m not crying, you’re crying. Okay, I’m crying.
This wasn’t a somber, quiet hospital scene. This was a celebration of a life lived loudly. Mike might have been weak, but his friends made sure the room was full of energy. Full of his energy.
One friend, voice actor Justin Briner, posted a heartfelt tribute. He said Mike was “still cracking jokes” even in his last days. Typical Mike, right? Even when facing the final boss, he kept the spirit light.
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Another buddy, Chris Sabat (you know him as Vegeta and Piccolo), shared that they sang “The Water Buffalo Song” from a random anime dubbing session. I guarantee you, that song was absurd and perfect. That’s the kind of friendship we’re talking about.
