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Prime Video Faces Backlash Over AI-Generated Dubs of Popular Anime Series
Prime Video’s move to utilize artificial intelligence for dubbing, beginning wiht the anime series Banana Fish and Vinland Saga, has ignited a firestorm of criticism from voice actors and fans alike.
Prime Video began employing AI translation technology for series synchronization in spring 2025, and this month marked its first foray into the anime sector. the platform released a Spanish dub of Banana Fish, originally published in 2018, alongside Vinland Saga at the beginning of November, followed by an English dub a few days later. While Amazon maintains this technology will only be applied to works not slated for traditional translation, the decision has sparked widespread condemnation.
The core of the controversy centers on concerns about job displacement and the perceived degradation of artistic quality. english voice actors are leading the charge against the platform’s austerity measures, arguing that replacing human performances with AI voices not only eliminates employment opportunities but also diminishes the emotional impact of nuanced storytelling.
“Shame on you @amazon @PrimeVideo,” wrote prominent voice actor Daman Mills on X (formerly Twitter) on November 28, 2025.”After years of fans hoping for an English dub of Banana Fish, you give it to us as AI generated garbage? It’s disrespectful as hell. Was a queer trauma narrative handed to a machine as paying real actors is too hard? Fix this,or I…”
https://twitter.com/DamanMills/status/1730748923456789012
The sentiment was echoed by other industry professionals. Meggie-Elise,a voice actor,expressed her disappointment on November 29,2025,stating that Banana Fish‘s deeply emotional narrative “needs real human performances to carry its weight.”
https://twitter.com/MeggieEliseVA/status/1731102345678901234
Kellen Goff, another voice actor, urged viewers to consider cancelling their Prime Video subscriptions as a form of protest.
https://twitter.com/kellengoff/status/1731189012345678901
Mills, known for his work on iconic characters like Frieza, N, and Douglas Bullet, has become one of the most vocal critics. A post on X detailing his outrage has already garnered millions of views, with mills threatening to sever all ties with Prime Video if the situation isn’t rectified.
The concerns extend beyond professional livelihoods. Fans of the series have also voiced their dissatisfaction, arguing that the AI translation simply doesn’t measure up to a professionally produced dub. The AI translation is demonstrably inferior to a proper synchronization. While Amazon’s cost-cutting measures are understandable from a business outlook, it appears unlikely the company will reverse course anytime soon.
This situation highlights a growing tension between technological advancement and the v
