Amazon Pulls AI-Generated English Dubs from Popular Anime

Amazon has quietly withdrawn its AI-produced English audio tracks from a number of well-known anime titles, following a wave of criticism from fans and industry insiders alike. The affected series include Banana Fish, Pet, and the film No Game, No Life Zero. Earlier in the week, viewers spotted a new 'English [AI beta]' option in the audio settings, which featured entirely synthetic voice performances. By 1 December, these AI dubs had vanished from Prime Video, leaving audiences without an English language alternative for these particular titles. Curiously, a Latin American AI dub for The Vinland Saga remains accessible for now.

Studios Respond to Unauthorised AI Dubbing

The sudden appearance of these AI-generated tracks did not go unnoticed by the studios behind the original works. Representatives from Aniplex, Kadokawa, and Sentai Filmworks addressed the situation after being contacted for comment. Kadokawa made their position clear, stating,

no AI dub was approved 'in any form'

. Sentai Filmworks echoed this sentiment, explaining that they were

'not aware in advance' of the AI dub and are currently investigating the matter with Amazon

. The lack of prior approval has raised questions about the process by which these dubs were introduced to the platform.

Viewer Backlash and Industry Concerns

The use of artificial intelligence to generate English voiceovers has sparked considerable debate among anime enthusiasts and professionals. Many viewers expressed disappointment at the perceived drop in quality and authenticity, arguing that AI performances lack the nuance and emotional depth of human actors. The controversy has also highlighted broader concerns within the industry regarding the use of emerging technologies without proper oversight or consent from rights holders.

Ongoing Uncertainty Over AI in Entertainment

While the AI dubs have now been removed from the affected titles, the incident has left lingering uncertainty about the future role of such technology in the entertainment sector. The continued presence of AI-generated audio for other regions suggests that the issue is far from settled. For now, fans of these anime series will have to wait and see whether traditional English dubs will return, or if further developments in AI voice acting are on the horizon.