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

Amazon Prime Video has decided to retract its foray into AI-generated anime dubs after receiving significant criticism from viewers. Earlier this year, the streaming platform announced plans to introduce ‘AI-aided dubbing’ for certain licensed films and series that hadn’t previously been dubbed. In November, AI-generated English and Spanish dubs began appearing for several anime titles, including popular series such as 'Banana Fish' and the film 'No Game No Life: Zero'. This initiative was initially part of a beta phase, allowing users to choose options labeled “English (AI beta)” or “Spanish (AI beta)” for their audio experience. However, many anime enthusiasts were not pleased with the quality of the dubs. While some viewers prefer to enjoy content in its original language to fully appreciate the performances of the voice actors, others found the AI-generated versions particularly unsettling. Clips shared by users showcased the voice acting as strikingly emotionless. For instance, a scene from 'Banana Fish' featured the character Ash Lynx attempting to comfort a wounded child, delivering lines in a dispassionate, robotic manner, which left viewers disappointed. The reaction was swift and vocal, with many fans expressing frustration not only over the lack of emotional depth in the AI dubs but also regarding the sidelining of human voice actors in favor of this substandard technology. One Twitter user, under the handle @AGESRings, criticized the dub for its poor quality, highlighting the widespread dissatisfaction among the anime community.