Netflix viewers have been flocking to watch a new disaster series, La Palma this week, seeing it reach the number two spot on the streamer’s top 10 list.
But while it’s resulting in some people ‘yelling at their screens’, others have been left feeling slightly unsettled after noticing this little detail.
Taking to social media to discuss the Norwegian disaster series, which has been viewed for more than 40 million hours, some of the subscribers couldn’t help but notice the movement of the actor’s mouths.
Originally released in Norwegian and reproduced to include an English voice-over in addition to subtitles, it’s common practice for post-production to ‘dub’ the audio to the desired language and sometimes edit mouth movements to imitate how the words should look coming out of the actor’s mouths.
It’s also something in this case, fans are divided over the following claims: the mouth tracking of the actors has been altered using AI technology, and it’s not something they feel comfortable with.
Sharing a video showing the moment they first caught the mouth tracking, Fear Buck can be seen telling viewers they have used ‘AI to dub over the mouth’.
He added that he researched it, and he inserted a snippet from an online source which says: ‘For dubbed content, Netflix uses advanced AI technology to ensure that dubbed audio is perfectly synchronised with the actors’ lip movement, providing a natural and immersive viewing experience.’
The social media user told fans: ‘You’ve got to question everything’.
It’s unclear where he got his information from. However, it’s in line with what Netflix has noted on its website, which says it wants its dubbing partners to create ‘perfect lip-sync’.
The streamer doesn’t want partners to prioritise that over the ‘message and intention of the OV, though.
Fans quickly flocked to the comment section of Fear Buck’s video. Wolefr said: ‘That’s a good use but I’m scared of they would make an whole ai movie in the future’.
Hezron_bz admitted: ‘I feel robbed’, while Eddy Woods told his followers: ‘Nothing is real.’
Others weren’t too put off by the use of the technology, with Erik Khan sarcastically writing: ‘”Oh no, AI made my show better and more immersive with, it’s bad” I mean, cmon man.’
Schmiddy Steve added: ‘I’d probably watch more of those. I hate subtitles, it’s distracting’.
Meanwhile, over on the social media forum Reddit, the debate continued. Gsmom said: ‘I knew something weird was going on. I just started watching this, and it’s driving me nuts. Glad I googled it and found this.’
‘It’s unfair to the actors, too. Don’t ya think? ppl cant judge their expression straight, with their mouths going all weird,’ Napster_1311 wrote.
Rusty5th vented their frustration, writing: ‘I can’t handle dubbed shows. The new tech didn’t make it any more tolerable!’
Ok_Branch2649 commented: ‘It’s driving me crazy. The talking is so bland that we can’t tell any emotions. I was so confused, which is how I ended up here. I restarted my Netflix, thinking the audio was just off a little… but nope, that wasn’t the problem. Hate AI.’
The four-part series created by Martin Sundland (The Quake), stars Thea Sofie Loch Næss, Anders Baasmo Christiansen, and Ingrid Bolsø Berdal and follows a Norwegian family holidaying on the Spanish island, La Palma.
While it starts off relaxing, it soon takes a frightening turn, and the family, along with many others, face disaster when a young researcher discovers alarming signs of an imminent volcanic eruption.
They then face an uphill battle begging authorities to take action.
La Palma is streaming on Netflix.
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