Kevin Conroy Recorded for Devil May Cry Anime Before Passing, No AI Involved

This week, a new trailer for Netflix's Devil May Cry anime unveiled a remarkable posthumous role for the legendary late voice actor Kevin Conroy. Fans speculated whether artificial intelligence was utilized to recreate Conroy's iconic voice, but the anime's producer, Adi Shankar, swiftly dispelled these rumors via a tweet. Shankar confirmed that Conroy had completed his recordings prior to his passing in November 2022, and emphasized that "no AI was used."

Shankar praised Conroy’s performance, describing it as "amazingly nuanced" and expressing the honor and pleasure of working with him. Conroy, renowned and celebrated for voicing Bruce Wayne and Batman across numerous animated series and films, takes on the role of VP Baines in the Devil May Cry anime. His character can be heard in the trailer's opening voiceover.

*Dante* voice actor Johnny Yong Bosch, who previously portrayed Nero in the *Devil May Cry* video games, also shared his experience working with Conroy. Bosch remarked on the honor of collaborating with such a legend, citing *Batman: The Animated Series* as a pivotal influence on his view of cartoons. He clarified that their recording sessions occurred several years ago, reflecting the lengthy production timeline of animation projects.

Conroy’s talent was recently recognized for his posthumous role in Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part 3 in July 2024. Now, fans have another opportunity to enjoy his work following his passing at the age of 66, two-and-a-half years ago.

The official synopsis from Netflix outlines a gripping narrative: "Sinister forces are at play to open the portal between the human and demon realms. In the middle of it all is Dante, an orphaned demon-hunter-for-hire, unaware that the fate of both worlds hangs around his neck."

Adi Shankar, who also serves as the showrunner for the series, has an impressive track record. He is known for his executive producer role in the 2012 Judge Dredd reboot, developing the beloved Castlevania anime, and creating other Netflix series like The Guardians of Justice and Captain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon. Additionally, Shankar is set to executive produce an adaptation of Assassin’s Creed.

Kevin Conroy in 2021. Photo by Chelsea Guglielmino/[ttpp]Getty Images[ttpp].The animation for Devil May Cry is being handled by Studio Mir, a renowned South Korean studio celebrated for their work on projects such as The Legend of Korra and X-Men '97. The series is slated to premiere on Netflix on April 3, 2025.

The topic of generative AI has been a focal point within the video game and entertainment industries, both of which have faced significant layoffs recently. Generative AI has faced criticism from fans and creators alike, primarily due to ethical concerns, rights issues, and the challenge of creating content that audiences truly appreciate.