Amazon Prime Video recently started offering AI-generated dubbing for some popular shows and movies, following a pilot program announced earlier this year. One of the first series to get this treatment was Banana Fish, a 2018 anime based on Akimi Yoshida’s manga from 1985. While the series is highly acclaimed and emotionally powerful, it never had an official English or Spanish dub – until now. Unfortunately, fans hoping for a traditional dub received AI-generated versions instead.
Using artificial voices in place of real voice actors is a huge misstep for this anime, especially given how powerfully it deals with difficult emotions and traumatic experiences. The use of AI in creative fields is already controversial, and fans are strongly reacting to this decision. The streaming platform is facing significant criticism online, and many professional voice actors are speaking out against it. For example, Daman Mills, known for voicing Frieza in Dragon Ball Super, shared his strong disapproval in a viral post, highlighting a lack of respect for the art of anime.
Dragon Ball Super’s Frieza Voice Actor Vows to Never Work With Prime Video Again
I’m incredibly disappointed with the new English dub of Banana Fish on Amazon Prime Video. After years of fans requesting a dub, it’s unacceptable that you’ve used AI-generated voices. It feels deeply disrespectful, especially considering the series deals with sensitive and traumatic themes, and it raises questions about whether real actors weren’t used to save money. Please fix this issue.
— Daman Mills (@DamanMills) November 28, 2025
Daman Mills publicly criticized Amazon and Prime Video on X (formerly Twitter), expressing disappointment with the AI-generated English dub of the anime Banana Fish. He called it disrespectful, especially given the years fans had requested a proper dub, and questioned if the decision was made to avoid the cost of hiring voice actors for a story dealing with sensitive and traumatic themes.
He warned that if the issue wasn’t resolved, he would refuse to work with them on any future dubbing projects, stating it wasn’t progress, but rather a complete removal of his work.
The actor also discussed a serious problem with using AI for dubbing. They criticized Amazon’s decision to use AI on the show Banana Fish, calling it disrespectful to voice actors. They emphasized that AI poses a threat to the jobs of performers in all languages – including Japanese actors who are speaking out about this issue. The actor argued that voice actors deserve the same respect and fair compensation as on-screen actors, especially considering that anime productions already offer low pay. They believe dubbing costs shouldn’t significantly impact a company’s profits.
Voice actor Mills is a well-known figure in the industry, previously working with Prime Video on popular projects like the Evangelion films, voicing Kaworu Nagisa. With almost 100 acting credits – including Frieza in Dragon Ball Super and various roles in One Piece – his recent decision to stop working with Prime Video highlights how serious this issue is, and many people agree with his position.
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2025-11-30 01:40