Prime Video pulls eerily emotionless AI-generated anime dubs after complaints

Amazon Prime Video has scaled back an experiment that created laughable anime dubs with generative AI.

In March, Amazon announced that its streaming service would start including “AI-aided dubbing on licensed movies and series that would not have been dubbed otherwise.” In late November, some AI-generated English and Spanish dubs of anime popped up, including dubs for the Banana Fish series and the movie No Game No Life: Zero. The dubs appear to be part of a beta launch, and users have been able to select “English (AI beta)” or “Spanish (AI beta)” as an audio language option in supported titles.

“Absolutely disrespectful”

Not everyone likes dubbed content. Some people insist on watching movies and shows in their original language to experience the media more authentically, with the passion and talent of the original actors. But you don’t need to be against dubs to see what’s wrong with the ones Prime Video tested.

In videos shared by users, some of the AI-generated voice work was eerily deadpan. In one telling video Ash Lynx from Banana Fish tries to awaken a child who has been shot while speaking in a detached, dry tone. “Don’t leave me please,” he states like a robot before confronting someone without any anger in his voice. The person responds in a similarly emotionless manner.

In addition to anime viewers complaining about the quality of the dubs, some expressed anger over voice actors being passed over in favor of subpar generative AI.

A viewer going by @AGESRings_on X commenting on the Banana Fish dub wrote: