How would you feel about AI being used for deceased voice actors?

[SupremeKai25]

I approve of AI being used as I want Dragon Ball to continue.

I do not want Dragon Ball to stop. Why should only the 1980/1990s kids have the privilege of watching a new Dragon Ball show as it is being made? That's unfair and selfish.

Dragon Ball can continue, the question is whether it should continue to be made by actual people, or be handed over to AI instead.

That's the question? I thought the question was "How would you feel about AI being used for deceased voice actors?"

You're just going from one extreme, "Dragon Ball should end entirely if a famous voice actor dies", to the other extreme, "New Dragon Ball content will be made only by robots."

Why don't we stick to the realistic middle ground, which is what will happen?

Obviously no one's saying that robots should replace all the writers, animators, voice actors, etc. But if a voice actor died, you either recast a new voice actor or use AI. Stopping the franchise entirely is obviously not an option, it's not feasible with massive IPs like Dragon Ball, and frankly I don't see how it makes any sense to end an entire franchise for that.

[ABED]

I have concerns about AI, but I don't think it's the end of the world either. Just like any disruptive technology, people fear job loos. I don't think machines will ever completely replace humans and put people out of work entirely. The work will change as it always does and people will have to adapt. Some will lose their jobs as they become obsolete, which is sad, but it's a fact of life that nothing remains static. James Cameron has talked about using AI for VFX in ways to help artists. He says the work will change and open up VFX artists for other things in the field. There's a lot to consider here and we shouldn't immediately jump to the world ending, even metaphorically.

As for the specific question - no. Recast always. Much in the same way resurrecting Peter Cushing instead casting someone living to play Tarkin wwas awful, simulating a voice for movie or show is awful. Maybe the tech could be used for a toy or something. Don't know.

[MasenkoHA]

I approve of AI being used as I want Dragon Ball to continue.

I do not want Dragon Ball to stop. Why should only the 1980/1990s kids have the privilege of watching a new Dragon Ball show as it is being made? That's unfair and selfish.

Share your toys and let new generations get their own Dragon Ball shows to grew up with too, instead of only that old 1990 series.

I think I had an aneurysm reading this.

It’s Dragon Ball. It’s not some sort of special privilege to watch it as a new show. Most people in the west certainly weren’t watching “as it is being made” so that argument doesn’t even begin to make sense.

If kids want to watch Dragon Ball they can watch the 600+ episodes that already exist. Or they can watch something else.

Seriously what?

But as far as Dragon Ball is concerned. Once she departs to the next world to hang with Toriyama and King Yama should Masako Nozawa be replaced with a new voice actor or should Toei use AI to replicate her voice (with her consent) ? My answer is always going to be: We don’t need new Dragon Ball shows anyways.

Even if there were no new shows, they still would need her voice for commercials, video games and such.

If I said we don’t need new Dragon Ball shows, why would you think that wouldn’t include video games?

Let the old horse pass away in peace, guys.

[Dragon Ball Ireland]

There will be new Dragon Ball content until the brand stops making money, which won't be any time soon. Its easy to say let it die, but no business executive would take that suggestion seriously. Besides its easy to just not watch or read the new material and only enjoy the classics if that's all you need.

[Vegeta th3 4th]

There will be new Dragon Ball content until the brand stops making money, no business executive would take that suggestion seriously.

Dragon Ball's success has been the best and worst thing to happen to it. It was good in that Toriyama was able to complete his original manga without fear of cancellation, same with Toei's adaption of it. However, that success has resulted in a modern era that's resulted in the franchise becoming a shell of its former self.

Its easy to just not watch or read the new material and only enjoy the classics if that's all you need.

The classic material isn't exactly accessible in good quality outside fan projects like Seed of Might.

[sangofe]

Can AI even do screaming convincingly yet?

Probably not, but Dick Lasagna couldn’t either

https://youtu.be/NJwMbbP1MpM?si=eO09JGpqMJr3XPQg

Yeah, it's not a good scream but why link that? I thought it was an interesting question.

[CodeOfMe]

To answer the thread question: No, I don't think generative AI should be used to replace deceased voice actors. Just recast them. I don't even think it's a pertinent question at the moment: I've heard AI-generated voices and they're not good -- and unlike with real voice actors, a voice director can't exactly direct an AI voice. You can give the AI all the instructions you want, the result will always still end up sounding monotone, because AI has no idea how to display emotion.

And in a more generalized sense, I don't want any form of generative AI being used for any art form. AI does not feel emotion, it does not have an imagination, it can't come up with original ideas, it has, quite literally, no soul; and it simply will never create anything on the level that a normal human could. I have no idea why people want AI involved in art; if anything, AI should be used to do mindless menial labor tasks while humans work on art. I have seen the ideas AI comes up with when given prompts, and it is unbelievable how bad they are, even ignoring the moral quandaries that come with using a machine trained on copyrighted material to come up with "new" ideas.

tl;dr: I'd rather Dragon Ball died entirely instead of continuing using AI.

[Vegeta th3 4th]

James Cameron has talked about using AI for VFX in ways to help artists. He says the work will change and open up VFX artists for other things in the field.

No one has an issue with AI being used as a tool to aid people in improving their work; the issue people have is AI becoming the worker. There are many fields in which AI and automation are taking jobs away from people, including the entertainment industry which concerns us DB fans.

[SupremeKai25]

I approve of AI being used as I want Dragon Ball to continue.

I do not want Dragon Ball to stop. Why should only the 1980/1990s kids have the privilege of watching a new Dragon Ball show as it is being made? That's unfair and selfish.

Share your toys and let new generations get their own Dragon Ball shows to grew up with too, instead of only that old 1990 series.

I think I had an aneurysm reading this.

It’s Dragon Ball. It’s not some sort of special privilege to watch it as a new show. Most people in the west certainly weren’t watching “as it is being made” so that argument doesn’t even begin to make sense.

If kids want to watch Dragon Ball they can watch the 600+ episodes that already exist. Or they can watch something else.

Seriously what?

Way to miss the point.

There's plenty of people who love Super and don't want it to end. It makes literally no sense to end Super only because a voice actor is not available anymore. They can always be recasted either by a real human or AI.

[ABED]

James Cameron has talked about using AI for VFX in ways to help artists. He says the work will change and open up VFX artists for other things in the field.

No one has an issue with AI being used as a tool to aid people in improving their work; the issue people have is AI becoming the worker. There are many fields in which AI and automation are taking jobs away from people, including the entertainment industry which concerns us DB fans.

That's always been the case with any new technology. Also, Yeah, there are plenty of people who have issues with AI as such. it's so common there's a name for those people - Luddites.

[PowerPhantom245]

An interesting topic.

I'm against using the AI used for deceased voice actors, but unfortunately, given how popular AI has become in past years, and movie industries across the world (particularly America/Hollywood) has been so DESPARATE for attracting audience by any means necessary, sadly, it would be inevitable.

I wouldn't be surprise in next 10 or 20 years, an AI would be used to create Daisuke Gori (Mr. Satan) voice; it's not like there's a law that would prevent/forbid movie industries from doing so (...I think).

[Vegeta th3 4th]

I wouldn't be surprise in next 10 or 20 years, an AI would be used to create Daisuke Gori (Mr. Satan) voice; it's not like there's a law that would prevent/forbid movie industries from doing so (...I think).

It probably depends on each country's laws. I assume a company can't profit off of someone's likeness (be it voice or appearance) without their approval.

[PowerPhantom245]

I wouldn't be surprise in next 10 or 20 years, an AI would be used to create Daisuke Gori (Mr. Satan) voice; it's not like there's a law that would prevent/forbid movie industries from doing so (...I think).

It probably depends on each country's laws. I assume a company can't profit off of someone's likeness (be it voice or appearance) without their approval.

I mean, Disney did have legal issue for Peter Cushing's CGI likeness in "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story", so you have a point.
On contrary, law can be changed or overturned; heck, a law from 50 years ago for film production was LOT different than today, especially regards to safety regulation.
In the near future, like in 20 or 30 years, those kind of approval might not be needed; especially, if ENTIRE movie was made by AI (directing, writing, casting, etc.), which would happen eventually (which can be frightening if movie made by AI won an Oscar. lol).

[Jord]

I wouldn't be surprise in next 10 or 20 years, an AI would be used to create Daisuke Gori (Mr. Satan) voice; it's not like there's a law that would prevent/forbid movie industries from doing so (...I think).

It probably depends on each country's laws. I assume a company can't profit off of someone's likeness (be it voice or appearance) without their approval.

I mean, Disney did have legal issue for Peter Cushing's CGI likeness in "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story", so you have a point.
On contrary, law can be changed or overturned; heck, a law from 50 years ago for film production was LOT different than today, especially regards to safety regulation.
In the near future, like in 20 or 30 years, those kind of approval might not be needed; especially, if ENTIRE movie was made by AI (directing, writing, casting, etc.), which would happen eventually (which can be frightening if movie made by AI won an Oscar. lol).

During IW/Endgame, all of the main Marvel cast got their likenesses scanned so that in the future those can be used for appearances. I wouldn't think they would already use this for the upcoming Avengers movies, but major companies are already taking steps such as these.

I believe Cushing's legal issue was purely with its estate?
Recreating Leia for Rogue one and Rise of Skywalker went down smoother. Although these cases are more like an actor wearing a digital mask, similar to Harold Ramis' appearance in Afterlife.

[Dragon Ball Ireland]

I believe Cushing's legal issue was purely with its estate?
Recreating Leia for Rogue one and Rise of Skywalker went down smoother. Although these cases are more like an actor wearing a digital mask, similar to Harold Ramis' appearance in Afterlife.

The issue with Peter Cushing as Tarkin was that he signed the rights to his likeness for a friend's movie, so his estate were unaware they were not in a position to give Disney those rights when they got the payout. That friend then sued Disney and Lucasfilm.

With Leia it was more straightforward, because although Carrie Fisher didn't play the character in Rogue One she saw the movie before her passing and gave it her blessing. Then Rise of Skywalker just repurposed some deleted lines of dialogue that were originally recorded for Force Awakens, so whatever agreements were made for that movie carried over.

[bahhma]

I'm fully against it, even if the actor gives their blessing such as the case with James Earl Jones.

The industry is crawling with young up-and-coming actors and they should be given a chance whenever possible. Imagine working an office job where your promotion and raise depends on whether there's a new job opening, but the person currently in that opening will never quit or retire. Sounds like hell to me.

Additionally, it's OK to have a new take or vision on something in an official capacity. Just look at how many people have played Spider-man. It always works out.

[Vegeta th3 4th]

Additionally, it's OK to have a new take or vision on something in an official capacity.

If Super's taught us anything, it's that this franchise will forever remain in the past, so AI voices seems fitting for this zombie franchise.

[JulieYBM]

The first three series had multiple recasts. Recasts are as normal as anything.

Things change. People need to learn to live with that.

[Hellspawn28]

AI is souless. You can easily find replacements.

[Majin Buu]

I approve of AI being used as I want Dragon Ball to continue.

I do not want Dragon Ball to stop. Why should only the 1980/1990s kids have the privilege of watching a new Dragon Ball show as it is being made? That's unfair and selfish.

I strongly disagree that Dragon Ball should continue without end (and with this weird idea that it's "selfish" to new generations for Dragon Ball to end).

But even if I did want Dragon Ball to continue- It doesn't need AI to do it. If Dragon Ball's IP holders want to keep it going without end, they should be willing to bite the bullet and recast voice actors when they pass away like they've already been doing. Using AI to get around that is just them trying to have their cake and eat it too. Yes, it'll be hard to recast Nozawa when she passes, but those guys should be willing to do the hard work of recasting her if more Dragon Ball is indeed what they want.

Also....

Share your toys and let new generations get their own Dragon Ball shows to grew up with too, instead of only that old 1990 series.

You're not-so-subtly insinuating that those hypothetical new generations will dislike Dragon Ball Z (like you do), but there's no guarantee that those people will like Dragon Ball Super either.