Japanese voice actors joined together to express their disapproval of the unauthorized AI generation and the danger it presents to anime performers.
The voice of Frieza in Toei Animation’s Dragon Ball series, Ryusei Nakao, claims in a recently released video that his voice is one of several being “sold without permission” online.
In an effort to raise awareness regarding generative AI voice theft, 26 voice actors recently banded together to form a new volunteer voice actor club named “NOMORE Unauthorized AI Generation,” according to Inside Games and AnimeAnime.
Along with Nakao, a number of other actors are involved, including Yuki Kaji (Eren, Attack on Titan), Koichi Yamadera (Spike, Cowboy Bebop), and Jun Fukuyama (Lelouch, Code Geass). Nakao outlines several of the most significant issues that today’s voice performers face as a result of the use of generative AI in NOMORE’s recently posted launch film.
NOMORE introduces Nakao’s statement in the video description by listing the different ways that other parties have used actors’ voices. “Recitations and songs that we have no recollection of doing, and even our voices themselves, are being posted online and sometimes for sale,” it reads.
“My voice was being sold without my permission. I was shocked,” Nakao stated. “Our voices are our business tools, our very lives. Please listen to how we voice actors feel about being used by generative AI without our permission.”
The rest of the coalition then shows up on the screen, all of them yelling “NOMORE” at once.
Voice actors are no longer able to safeguard their most valuable asset due to the widespread availability of AI tools, and while many use these programs for leisure, NOMORE emphasizes that even dedicated anime fans should not use them without the actor’s permission.
“Even if it was done by a fan who wanted to hear more of this voice, it doesn’t feel good to have it used without permission,” they stated. “New technology will bring great benefits. But, at the same time, we want to broaden our perspective to include each other’s feelings and the future shape of culture…instead of exchanging hurtful words and actions, let’s have peaceful discussions with experts to reach a common understanding and create cultural rules.”
A full version of NOMORE’s launch video will be made available at a later date.
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