English Dub of New Anime Fighter Receives Criticism from Fans and Voice Actors
The recently released anime fighter game, Naruto x Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storms Connections, has sparked controversy due to its English dub. This is not an uncommon occurrence within the anime community, but some lines from the game have gained infamy for their poor fit and delivery.
One particular example involves a line from Naruto during his fight with his rival Sasuke, where the tone of his voice abruptly changes midway through. Maile Flanagan, the English voice actor for Naruto since 2005, responded candidly on Twitter when asked about this recording. She stated that she did not say the line in that way and that no voice director for Naruto or the games would have instructed her to do so. Flanagan also confirmed that she recorded dialogue for the game, dispelling any notion of a new actor being brought in to voice Naruto.
Another voice actor, Michael Schwalbe, who portrays Kawaki in the game, also shed light on the dubbing process. He explained that they were given a list of lines without context and had to record two takes for each line. Schwalbe expressed surprise at one of his lines being mocked, as he did not recall it being the intended line for that particular attack. He emphasized that he would not have delivered it in such a manner.
Naruto x Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storms Connections is an updated compilation of the previous Ninja Storm games, featuring all the story content from those games. However, it appears that some lines were re-recorded for this release. A fan even shared a comparison of a line from Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4, clearly demonstrating a difference in performance between the two games.
There are allegations that AI voicework was involved in the dubbing process. Schwalbe mentioned running some lines through an AI detection program, which indicated the presence of AI in parts of the performances. However, the reliability of this software is uncertain. If it is discovered that the use of AI violated union contracts and resulted in actors being denied extra session payments, there will likely be significant backlash.
Bandai Namco, the company behind Naruto x Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storms Connections, has not yet responded to requests for comment on the situation.
Please note that the table below remains unchanged:
| Time | Score |
|——|——-|
| 2023 | – |
Source: DOTESPORTS
