Overview
- English AI dubs labeled “AI beta” for titles such as Banana Fish and No Game No Life: Zero were added quietly over the holiday weekend, then removed after widespread ridicule from fans and voice actors.
- Some AI dubs persisted, with Latin American Spanish tracks for series like Vinland Saga and Banana Fish reported as still available even after the English removals.
- Kadokawa said no AI dub was approved “in any form,” and Sentai Filmworks said it was not aware in advance and is looking into the issue with Amazon.
- The National Association of Voice Actors condemned the synthetic tracks as “AI slop,” while prominent performers including Daman Mills, Johnny Yong Bosch, Christina Kelly, and others denounced the move and urged cancellations.
- Amazon previously announced an AI-aided dubbing pilot in March for select English and Latin American Spanish releases, but has not issued a comprehensive public explanation for the anime rollout or the subsequent takedowns.