Banana Fish is finally getting a proper English and French dub treatment that it deserves, and Netflix just revealed the voice actor names for both protagonists. Brandon McInnis is going to voice Ash Lynx, and Jonathan Tanigaki is going to step into the role of Eiji Okumura (as per an official post on Netflix’s X/Twitter account).
The anime is going to hit Netflix in August, but this whole thing almost didn’t happen the right way because Banana Fish already went through one dub disaster before coming to Netflix. Let’s take a look at why Brandon McInnis and Jonathan Tanigaki are perfect for the roles, when the dub is going to come out, and what you can expect. Let’s dive in.
Why Brandon McInnis and Jonathan Tanigaki Are Perfect Casting
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Credit: MAPPA -
Credit: MAPPA -
Credit: MAPPA -
Credit: MAPPA
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Credit: MAPPA -
Credit: MAPPA -
Credit: MAPPA -
Credit: MAPPA
Brandon McInnis is practically built for this role as Ash Lynx. His previous roles include Gyutaro from Demon Slayer, who is one of the saddest and most emotionally messed-up villains in the franchise. He is violent and broken at the same time, and it mirrors Ash Lynx a lot, who is gorgeous, dangerous, and carrying trauma while trying to hide it.
He also voiced Sir Nighteye in My Hero Academia, a character who is really sharp and always thinks multiple steps ahead, which matches how Ash lives his life as well. However, the role that makes him the best choice for Ash is that he has also voiced Mafuyu Satou in Given, which is arguably one of the best Boys Love anime of all time.
In short, Given is about love, grief, and vulnerability between two guys, and McInnis had to bring real tenderness to that theme without losing the character’s edge, and that’s a job he did really well.
Jonathan Tanigaki, on the other hand, may seem like a less obvious pick on paper since his background mostly involved live-action acting. He’s popped up in NCIS: Hawaiʻi, S.W.A.T., and Hulu’s Paradise, plus he’s done voice work for Call of Duty. However, he’s already dubbed several Korean dramas, including When Life Gives You Tangerines.
He clearly knows how to voice warmth and sincerity without making a character feel flat or naive, and that is exactly what Eiji is like. He is soft-hearted but not weak.
Amazon’s AI Dub For Banana Fish Controversy
Okay, here’s what you need to know about the controversy. Back in November 2025, Prime Video quietly rolled out an AI-generated English dub for Banana Fish and No Game No Life. It goes without saying, but fans hated it. The reaction across social media was brutal, and even Daman Mills, one of the best English Voice Actors in the anime industry, publicly called out Amazon for this.
Shame on you @amazon @PrimeVideo.
— Daman Mills (@DamanMills) November 28, 2025
After years of fans hoping for an English dub of Banana Fish, you give it to us as AI generated garbage?
It’s disrespectful as hell. Was a queer trauma narrative handed to a machine because paying real actors is too hard?
Fix this, or I…
So when Netflix announced its own dub with real, human voice actors, the internet got really happy. Under the official announcement (via @NetflixAnime), fans were thanking Netflix directly for going with actual performers instead of AI.
WE ARE WINNING OH MY GODS
— Abigail Blythe🌸 (@askforabigail) July 12, 2026
Hellyeah! SCREW AI DUBS!
— Vincent Fallow 🌘 (@vincentfallow) July 13, 2026
THIS IS THE GOOD STUFF!
(A German Dub is also happening but not on Netflix)
AHHHHHHHHH THIS IS INCREDIBLE!!!
— Bel Rusape (Also On BlueSky) (@BelRusapeVO) July 12, 2026
I can't believe I'm saying this, but THANK YOU NETFLIX!!! AN ACTUAL DUB WITH ACTUAL VAS INSTEAD OF SOME AI SLOP!!! THANK YOU 🥹
— Sarah 🌟 (@sarahstargalaxi) July 12, 2026
What Is Banana Fish About?
If you’re one of the lucky people who are going to experience this masterpiece for the first time, you’re gonna need a synopsis. Banana Fish follows Ash Lynx, a teenage gang leader in New York City who was raised by a powerful mafia boss. However, his whole life gets flipped when he meets Eiji Okumura, who is a photographer’s assistant and a really gentle soul, visiting from Japan.
The two get pulled into a dangerous conspiracy tied to a mysterious drug called “Banana Fish,” the same drug that destroyed Ash’s older brother during his time in Iraq. This anime is a crime thriller but also dives into the Boys Love genre. However, behind all that, there are deep themes such as trauma, trust, and the bond between two people who couldn’t be any more different.
When Does Banana Fish Release on Netflix?
Banana Fish drops on Netflix on August 12, 2026, in the US, Canada, the UK, Ireland, and France, complete with brand-new English and French dubs. This confirmation came straight from Netflix’s official social accounts (via @netflix and @NetflixAnime). Just know that only Ash and Eiji’s actors have been confirmed so far; the rest of the cast, like Shorter, Blanca, and Yut-Lung, is still a mystery.
| TITLE | Banana Fish |
| RELEASE DATE | Jul 6, 2018 |
| DUB RELEASE DATE | Aug 12, 2026 |
| STUDIO | MAPPA |
| MAL RATING (as of July 29, 2026) | 8.45 / 10 |
| STREAMING | Netflix (From August 12, 2026) |
Are you excited for this dub release? Let us know in the comments.
Banana Fish will be streaming on Netflix from August 12, 2026.
