Banana Fish Is Finally Breaking Free — And Netflix Is Giving It The Dub Fans Begged For

Some anime deserve a second shot at reaching new audiences. Banana Fish just got exactly that, and this time, it’s speaking English.

Banana Fish: From Streaming Jail To Netflix Freedom

Based on Akimi Yoshida’s classic 1980s shōjo manga and animated by Studio MAPPA in 2018, Banana Fish has long been considered a modern anime masterpiece. For years, though, it was locked away as a Prime Video exclusive, available only in Japanese with subtitles. That changes on August 12, when the series makes its Netflix debut in the US, Canada, UK, Ireland, and France — complete with a brand-new English and French dub.

Meet the New Dub Cast

Netflix has confirmed the voices behind the series’ two leads:

• Ash Lynx: Brandon McInnis (English), Sébastien Baulain (French)
• Eiji Okumura: Jonathan Tanigaki (English), Grégory Laisné (French)

What Makes Banana Fish Worth the Hype?

The story centers on Ash Lynx, a magnetic but ruthless teenage gang leader raised under a notorious mafia boss in New York City. His world shifts when he crosses paths with Eiji Okumura, a gentle Japanese photographer’s assistant covering street gangs. Their bond pulls them into a dangerous conspiracy tied to a mysterious drug called “Banana Fish” — the same substance that once destroyed Ash’s older brother’s mind overseas.

Why This Matters for Anime Fans

Years of fan campaigns for an English dub are finally paying off. With Netflix’s massive reach, Banana Fish is poised to find the wider audience it always deserved, minus the subtitle-only barrier that kept casual viewers away.

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Banana Fish’s Netflix arrival on August 12 brings a beloved crime-thriller anime out of streaming limbo, backed by a fresh English and French dub cast fans have waited years for.

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