The voice of Shinji in Evangelion says AI voice cloning is 'heartbreaking,' calls for Japanese government to intervene

First reported in English by Automaton, veteran Japanese voice actor Megumi Ogata (Neon Genesis Evangelion, Danganronpa, Persona) recently spoke to the website TBS News Dig about AI voice generation and its effect on actors. This comes as the Japanese government is considering a legal framework similar to likeness rights to head off such infringement.

Ogata specifically addressed the prevalence of AI imitators on video platforms like TikTok, calling it an issue she “cannot turn a blind eye to.”

"My voice is a part of my identity," said Ogata. "I really don’t understand why somebody would want to make me say things that I don’t want to say as they please and then sell it as my own voice. It’s heartbreaking.

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"Why can’t Japan, which calls itself a content superpower, establish rules for content use or tell the world, ‘this is our policy,’ or ‘this is a problem for us?’"

Ogata has a similar stance on the issue to other voice actors, including frequent Bethesda collaborator Wes Johnson, who once tweeted that "anyone trying to create a mod using an actor's voice via AI without consent knows they are wrong." Veteran videogame actor Jennifer Hale has been vocal about studios taking responsibility for their use of AI, while at the 2024 BAFTAs, multiple members of Baldur's Gate 3's cast tore into AI voice cloning.

One interesting wrinkle is the professional/amateur divide here: Much hay has been made about companies seeking to automate creative roles, but Ogata, Johnson, and BG3 narrator Amelia Tyler have all singled out modders and content creators as well. Any question of money aside, it's undeniably creepy to steal someone's voice and make them say whatever you want, even if it's for a seemingly innocent shitpost.

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