A growing number of Japanese seiyuus, who are behind some of the most iconic anime and video game character voices, have spoken out against the unauthorised use of their vocal performances in generative artificial intelligence technologies. The movement, led by a group of renowned seiyuus, has shaken the entertainment industry and brought the ethical and legal boundaries of artificial intelligence to the centre of debate, with the artists’ concern that their voices are being used without their consent to generate new content.
Japanese Seiyuus launch NOMORE Mudan Seisei AI to combat unauthorised use of AI voices
Recently, a group by the name of NOMORE Mudan Seisei AI (No More Unauthorised Generative AI) has launched a worldwide campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of this practice. Through their social media channels and an official YouTube channel, the seiyuus have shared videos and messages expressing their frustration and concern. Part 0 of one video shows Ryusei Nakao, the iconic voice of Freezer in Dragon Ball Z, expressing his surprise at discovering that his voice was being used to generate content without his permission.
In the video Nakao said ‘My voice is my livelihood, my life’, and said it was unacceptable that it was being used without his permission. Other prominent seiyuus such as Koichi Yamadera (Bills in Dragon Ball Super), Yuki Kaji (Eren Jaeger in Shingeki no Kyojin), and many others have joined in to demand that their rights be respected and that clear rules be established for the use of artificial intelligence in the industry, both for seiyuus and singers.
The seiyuus‘ concern is not unfounded; in recent weeks, numerous videos have circulated on social media where iconic anime characters can be heard delivering phrases and dialogue that were never part of the original series. These samples of AI-generated content, although often of low quality, have generated a great deal of concern among fans and have highlighted the need to regulate this technology, to prevent it from being used professionally and commercially.
In response to this growing concern, some companies have announced partnerships to create AI-replicated voices for commercial purposes. Aoni Production, one of Japan’s leading talent agencies, has announced a partnership with CoeFont to use the voices of its actors in virtual assistants and other products. However, the move has been met with scepticism from seiyuus, who fear that the practice could devalue their work and open the door to indiscriminate use of their voices.
In its description, NOMORE Mudan Seisei AI states that it seeks to open a dialogue on the future use of technology in entertainment, emphasising the importance of establishing cultural rules that protect artists. Through its social media platforms, such as TikTok and Twitter/X, the group calls for reflection on how artificial intelligence can impact the lives and work of those who bring characters to life in animation and dubbing. The seiyuus hope that their initiative will contribute to positive change in the industry and ensure a future where artists’ rights are respected.
