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

This week, a new trailer for Netflix's Devil May Cry anime unveiled that the legendary late voice actor Kevin Conroy will posthumously star in the video game adaptation. Some fans speculated whether AI technology was used to recreate Conroy's iconic voice. However, the anime's producer, Adi Shankar, quickly dispelled these rumors via a tweet, confirming that Conroy's recordings were done before his passing in November 2022 and that "no AI was used."

Shankar praised Conroy's performance, describing it as "amazingly nuanced" and shared that it was "both a pleasure and an honor to work with him." Conroy, widely celebrated for voicing Bruce Wayne and Batman in numerous animated projects over the years, takes on the role of VP Baines, a new character introduced in the Devil May Cry anime. His voice can be heard at the beginning of the trailer.

Conroy's posthumous voice work was previously acclaimed in Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part 3 back in July 2024. Now, fans have another opportunity to appreciate his talent following his untimely death at age 66, two-and-a-half years ago.

According to Netflix's official synopsis, the series centers around sinister forces attempting to open a portal between the human and demon realms. At the heart of the story is Dante, an orphaned demon-hunter-for-hire, who is unaware of the critical role he plays in the fate of both worlds.

Adi Shankar, who also serves as the showrunner for Devil May Cry, is well-known for his contributions to the entertainment industry, including his work as an executive producer on the 2012 Judge Dredd reboot, developing the beloved Castlevania anime, and creating other Netflix series such as 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/Getty Images.The animation for Devil May Cry is being handled by Studio Mir, a renowned South Korean studio with a portfolio that includes The Legend of Korra and X-Men ‘97. The series is slated for release on Netflix on April 3, 2025.

The topic of generative AI remains highly relevant in the video game and entertainment sectors, both of which have faced significant layoffs recently. The use of generative AI has sparked debates over ethics, rights, and the quality of content it produces, often drawing criticism from fans and creators alike.