Japanese anime actor fights TikTok over AI voice cloning

Voice actor Kenjiro Tsuda has taken TikTok to court over videos he says feature an artificial intelligence clone of his "lustrous" baritone, with a verdict due on Wednesday. | AFP-JIJI

Sep 27, 2026

A high-profile Japanese anime voice actor has taken TikTok to court over videos he says feature an artificial intelligence clone of his “lustrous” baritone, with a verdict due on Wednesday.

AI imitation is a growing concern among performers worldwide, and the threat has roiled Japan’s storied animation industry, whose voice actors are sometimes worshipped as much as their characters by fans.

The lawsuit filed by Kenjiro Tsuda, known for his starring roles in mega-franchises including “Jujutsu Kaisen” and “Yu-Gi-Oh!,” is believed to be the country’s first seeking to defend an individual’s vocal identity against AI-generated copies.

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