Japan’s anime industry has continued to grow on a global scale, reaching an estimated market size of 3 trillion yen. As overseas fans increasingly prefer subtitled versions, Japanese voice actors have become international figures whose “voices” transcend borders.
At the same time, however, working conditions for voice actors have long remained stagnant, and the rapid spread of unauthorized AI-generated voices and deepfakes has heightened risks surrounding the use of their voices.
In response to this situation, the Voice Identity & Digital Audio Association (VIDA) was established. In collaboration with major voice-AI company ElevenLabs, this new initiative aims to protect the rights of voice actors and performers while also expanding multilingual voice opportunities—a dual approach that marks a significant shift for the industry.
Deepening Deepfake Issues and the “Unprotectable Rights” Voice Actors Face
Voice actors are legally classified as “performers,” but under current frameworks, it is extremely difficult to prevent their voices from being used for AI training without permission. In recent years, fake audio—nearly indistinguishable from the real person—has been increasingly uploaded to social media and video platforms. These “voice pirated copies” have become a tangible threat.
ElevenLabs, having experienced misuse of its technology in fake news in the past, has prioritized the development of voice-protection technologies. Through digital watermarking and provenance tracking, the company provides mechanisms to trace the origins of generated audio and offers models that return revenue to rights holders.
This shift—treating a voice not as something that can be copied without consent but as an officially managed asset—holds major implications for the industry.
Multilingual Dubbing Opens a New “Voice Actor Business”
One of the most notable announcements this time was ElevenLabs’ technology that converts a voice actor’s own speech into other languages while preserving the original voice quality. As demonstrated by voice actor Mika Kanai, lines spoken in Japanese can be reproduced in English or Spanish with her natural voice characteristics intact.
This carries enormous value, not only by making works more accessible to children or individuals who cannot easily read subtitles, but also by enabling distribution in regions traditionally difficult to reach—such as Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa.
Furthermore, this technology makes it possible to create multilingual versions of classic anime and live-action works without recasting, potentially reviving archived titles.
Voice actor Minamisawa’s remark that “AI should be seen not as a threat but as an opportunity” reflects this potential for new revenue streams through voice utilization.
Hopes and Conflicts Within the Voice Acting Community
Interestingly, reactions from prominent voice actors reveal both expectation and conflict.
Hiroshi Mizushima emphasized the importance of preserving the cultural value of “post-recording,” a tradition central to voice acting.
Yūki Kaji expressed mixed feelings, asking whether he could still call a performance “his own” if AI recreated his acting.
Koichi Yamadera declared support for the “No More Unauthorized AI” initiative while acknowledging the creative potential of multilingual use through legitimate channels.
Their comments are grounded in the shared understanding that a voice is both culture and an asset.
In an era when AI extends the reach of one’s voice, voice actors are being asked to redefine their roles.
Toward an Era Where AI “Protects and Expands” Voices
VIDA’s establishment seeks to achieve two goals simultaneously: protecting the vocal rights of voice actors and performers, and expanding overseas business opportunities through AI-driven multilingualization.
- Defense: Countering unauthorized AI voice generation
- Expansion: Growing international markets through multilingual voice deployment
Attempting to realize both within a single platform is rare even on a global scale.
In Japan, similar initiatives—such as NTT West’s “VOICENCE” and the Itochu × Japan Actors Union project “J-VOX-PRO”—are accelerating efforts toward voice-rights protection. This activity also underscores the global increase in illicit voice piracy.
If organizations like VIDA and AILAS deepen collaboration, Japan may become the birthplace of a new standard: AI-based prevention of unauthorized voice generation.
Conclusion: AI and Voice Acting Culture—From Conflict to Coexistence
Will AI take away voice actors’ jobs, or expand them? This question is being debated worldwide.
What becomes clear from these developments is that AI and voice actors do not have to be adversaries— they can coexist, provided proper rights protection and governance frameworks are in place.
A future where voice actors’ voices are safely managed, distributed globally, and used to bring works to new audiences—while enabling performers to earn fair revenue—lies at the heart of VIDA’s vision. This direction could influence not only the anime industry but the broader creative sectors as well.
As we continue to follow these trends, we may witness the evolution of “voice culture” in the AI era.