Amazon has faced a wave of criticism for the use of artificial intelligence in the dubbing of animes, with Banana Fish being one of the most notable victims. This acclaimed anime, which had remained in its original version for years, has recently been dubbed into other languages, including English and Latin Spanish. However, the decision to use AI for dubbing has resulted in a controversial and low-quality outcome, characterized by robotic performances and faulty translations.
I am a good dubbing
Fans of Banana Fish, as well as voice acting professionals, have expressed their discontent on social media, asking Amazon to turn to human voice actors instead of relying on algorithms. Daman Mills, known for his work on ‘Dragon Ball Super,’ is one of the artists who has openly criticized the situation, and has threatened to never work with Amazon again on future dubbing projects. This displeasure is particularly deep given that Banana Fish addresses emotional and complex themes, including the representation of queer characters, which cannot be adequately captured by automated dubbing.
This is not the first time that the platform has been criticized for its focus on automated dubbing. In the past, animes like Vinland Saga and No Game No Life have also faced similar scrutiny, receiving criticism for the lack of quality in their adaptations. So far, Amazon has not issued any statement in response to these concerns, leaving fans waiting for a solution that respects the essence of the stories it attempts to adapt.
The controversy over the use of artificial intelligence in anime dubbing highlights a broader debate about quality and authenticity in the adaptation of cultural content, raising the question of how acceptable the use of technology is when it comes to deeply human narrative experiences.