Heads up, anime lovers! The digital titan Amazon pulled a controversial AI-generated English dub from its popular anime series Banana Fish after a storm of criticism rocked the online community! Dubbed an 'AI beta' in the streamer's 'Audio Languages' option, the disastrously robotic voices became the butt of intense backlash from fans, influencers, and subscribers everywhere.
In no time, a video showcasing the monotonous AI voices went viral across social media, with one spirited streamer on Twitter, Otaku Spirit, declaring, "Amazon has started using AI to add English Dubs to anime like BANANA FISH. It’s really quite terrible and shows how important real actors are." With the tweet catching fire, fans rallied together, hilariously dubbing the dub a flop!
Amazon quickly witnessed the backlash run wild and hastily pulled the plug on the AI option for their Prime lineup. Now, fans face a silent void as the English dub vanishes altogether, proving once again that nothing beats the heart and soul real voice actors pour into their craft!
This isn't Amazon's first dance with AI controversy in the anime space. Remember when the upcoming show Sekiro: No Defeat faced its own allegations over AI art? Thankfully, Crunchyroll swept in to calm the waters, reassuring fans that their 2026 release would be a “fully hand-drawn 2D animation” — AI stay-at-home! The company boldly stated that they won’t use AI tech in their creative processes, instead, pledging allegiance to human talent. “We consider them to be creators because they contribute to the story and plot with their voices,” CEO Shams Purini shared with Forbes.
With Crunchyroll leading the charge, let’s hope the rest of the industry takes note and steps up for the art of anime we cherish. Artificial intelligence might have a place, but not when it replaces the true magic creators bring to the table!
Lex Briscuso brings you these updates with her eyes on the epicenters of entertainment. Stay tuned to Yestreen News for more explosive updates from the world of gaming and anime! Follow Lex on Twitter at @nikonamerica.