AI in Anime Localization: A Recent Controversy
The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in content localization, particularly subtitling, has become a contentious topic within the anime streaming community. A recent incident involving Crunchyroll’s German subtitles for the new anime series, Necronomico and the Cosmic Horror Show, has reignited this debate, providing what many fans consider to be direct evidence of AI tool usage in official translations.
The “ChatGPT Said:” Revelation
On July 1, 2025, the premiere of Cygames’ original anime, Necronomico and the Cosmic Horror Show, on Crunchyroll garnered significant attention for an unexpected reason. Viewers of the German-language subtitles for the first episode spotted a peculiar line at approximately the 19:12 mark: “ChatGPT said:Wenn ich die Welt von hier an weiter genießen kann,”. This explicit attribution to the generative AI chatbot, ChatGPT, within the official subtitles caused an immediate uproar across social media platforms. Screenshots of the subtitle quickly went viral, prompting widespread discussion and criticism regarding Crunchyroll’s translation practices.
Specificity of the Error
It is important to note that this “ChatGPT said:” prefix appeared specifically in the German subtitles for Necronomico and the Cosmic Horror Show and was not observed in subtitles for other languages provided by Crunchyroll for the same scene. However, reports also indicated that the English subtitles for the episode contained numerous translation errors, leading to speculation that AI might have been used in other languages as well, albeit without explicit attribution. The general quality of translations on Crunchyroll, including previous instances of inaccuracies and nonsensical captions, has been a recurring concern among the anime fanbase.
Context and Reactions from the Community
The appearance of “ChatGPT said:” in the German subtitles fueled existing suspicions among anime enthusiasts that Crunchyroll has been employing AI for translations. Previously, Crunchyroll’s President, Rahul Purini, had discussed the company’s exploration of AI for subtitling and closed captioning to expedite the localization process and launch content closer to Japanese release dates. However, in April 2025, Purini reportedly stated that Crunchyroll was “not considering AI in the creative process, including our voice actors,” seemingly indicating a shift away from AI’s direct application in content creation and translation. The recent incident with Necronomico and the Cosmic Horror Show has led many to believe that Crunchyroll either reversed its stance or had already been implementing AI in translation despite public statements to the contrary.
Fan Disappointment and Concerns
The discovery deeply disappointed many fans who pay for Crunchyroll’s premium service, citing the lack of quality control for a paid product. Critics argue that relying on AI for translations, especially without human oversight or proper proofreading, results in “shoddy work” and “unwatchable” subtitles that diminish the viewing experience. There are also concerns that using AI to cut costs may compromise the integrity and accuracy of translations, alienating professional translators and leading to a decline in overall content quality. The incident has prompted some users to express their intent to seek out fan-translated subtitles, which they perceive as being of higher quality.
The Anime: Necronomico and the Cosmic Horror Show
Necronomico and the Cosmic Horror Show (Japanese: ネクロノミ子のコズミックホラーショウ, Nekuronomiko no Kozumikku Horā Shō) is an original Japanese anime television series produced by Cygames and animated by Studio Gokumi. The series premiered on July 1, 2025. The plot centers around Miko Kurono, a struggling streamer also known as “Necronomico,” who joins a new virtual reality (VR) game called “KADATH” after mysterious incidents cause popular streamers to collapse during livestreams. She soon discovers the game is a deadly trap set by gods and must survive the unfolding cosmic horror. The series is directed by Masato Matsune and features series composition by Makoto Uezu, with original character designs by Jiro Suzuki.
This incident has put Crunchyroll under significant scrutiny, highlighting the ongoing tension between technological advancements in localization and the demand for high-quality, human-curated translations in the global anime market.
