Prime Video Removes Anime Dubs After AI-Use Controversy

Streaming giant Amazon Prime Video has quietly removed the newly released listing for the anime No Game No Life: Zero (2017), along with AI-dubbed versions of several popular titles such as Banana Fish (2018) and Vinland Saga (2019-23). Amazon recently rolled out a Beta program that uses gen AI for dubbing. However, the effort backfired after the platform added low-quality dubs for popular Japanese anime.

Within days, fan-shared clips of the AI-dubbed versions’ awkward pacing, emotionless performances, and poor audio mixing triggered an industrywide backlash, strong enough to prompt removal of the English-language versions. 

According to fan and professional reactions, the backlash is not simply due to using AI generation, but producing and streaming “horrible” dubbing work, with even Japanese iterations popping out in between. Gizmobo’s reporting notes, “these dubs are well below” any acceptable level.

Why Amazon’s AI-Dubs Sparked Backlash

Apart from the low-quality AI-generated dubs, Prime Video’s stance has generated controversy upon a giant corporation trying to cut costs on premium anime content. Forbes noted that with the Beta program, Amazon is likely saving $75 hourly pay of Voice actors, which roughly grosses around $50K per show; something that should not be a reason to replace human dubbing, or at least high-end realistic AI-dubbing. 

The targeted anime were some of the most critically acclaimed series, such as MAPPA’s Banana Fish, which became a cultural phenomenon due to its mature queer-themed narrative and global fan base. The acclaimed Vinland Saga also redesigned the imagery of traditional anime protagonists. Streaming offending dubbed versions of such titles was reproached as disrespectful for the shows, by voice actor Daman Mills.

Mills, known for voicing Frieza, publicly condemned Amazon for not hiring human voice actors, stating, “Was a queer trauma narrative handed to a machine because paying real actors is too hard?” He also underscored how Prime Video’s AI-dubs impacted thousands of Banana Fish fans who have been waiting for an English-dubbed version since 2018. 

Mills also publicly declared that he will not work with Amazon unless they fix this situation. Both fans and professionals pointed out scenes where voice delivery lacked inflection, timing was off, or the audio felt detached from the visuals. Some characterized the AI-dub as insulting to fans of the original works.

After recurring backlash, Amazon decided to take down these anime from its streaming platform, without any official declaration on its part. The industry-wide backlash reflects deeper anxiety over how generative AI may disrupt voice acting and other creative labor, especially in industries such as anime.