The latest image generator released on OpenAI’s ChatGPT has sparked a wave of memes online. It features artwork inspired by Studio Ghibli, the renowned Japanese animation studio behind classics like My Neighbor Totoro and Princess Mononoke.
Social media platforms have been inundated with Ghibli-style images as users experiment with AI-generated versions of their family members, friends, and more. Brands have also jumped on the trend, using it for promotional content.
The new feature has led to a surge in user-generated content, with many sharing their creations across social media.
Since its release on Wednesday, viral AI-generated images have depicted Studio Ghibli-inspired versions of Elon Musk with President Donald Trump, scenes from The Lord of the Rings, and even a recreation of the September 11 attacks.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman also joined the trend, changing his X profile picture to a Ghibli-style version of himself. On X, he wrote:
“>be me >grind for a decade trying to help make superintelligence to cure cancer or whatever >mostly no one cares for first 7.5 years, then for 2.5 years everyone hates you for everything >wake up one day to hundreds of messages: ‘look i made you into a twink ghibli style haha.’”
What is Ghibli art?
Ghibli art refers to the studio’s distinctive visual style, characterized by pastel and muted colour palettes along with meticulous detailing. This artistic approach has remained popular among anime fans due to its rich creative expression and narrative depth.
Founded in 1985 by Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata, and Toshio Suzuki, Studio Ghibli is a highly regarded Japanese animation studio, known for its hand-drawn animation, intricate backgrounds, and emotionally resonant storytelling. The name “Ghibli” comes from a Libyan Arabic word referring to a hot desert wind.
The widespread appeal of the Ghibli art trend can be attributed to anime’s massive global following, particularly in the US, where around 72% of people watch anime daily, according to CNBC TV18. OpenAI’s ability to transform images into the Ghibli style has captured users’ attention, further fueling the trend.
Initially planned as a free feature, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman acknowledged that the new image generator’s unexpected success led to the decision to limit the tool to paid users for now.
While ChatGPT previously had image-generation capabilities, the latest version—powered by GPT-4o, OpenAI’s most advanced model—enables the creation of highly detailed images with minimal input, something that was not possible before.
Amid the trend’s virality, an old video from 2016 resurfaced, showing Studio Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki expressing strong disapproval during an AI demonstration by his team.
“I would never wish to incorporate this technology into my work at all. I strongly feel that this is an insult to life itself,” he said, according to an English translation.
Commenting on the trend, artist and illustrator Jayd “Chira” Ait-Kaci criticised the use of AI-generated Ghibli-style art, writing on Bluesky:
“The trend is especially insidious and malicious because of how outspokenly scathing Miyazaki has been toward the tech.”
“It’s always about contempt for artists, every time,” Ait-Kaci added.
Ghibli Art Prompts
- Create a Studio Ghibli-style character from a photo, capturing intricate details and a whimsical feel.
- Imagine the user as a character in a Ghibli film and depict how they would look.
- Convert an image into a hand-drawn animated artwork with watercolor effects, soft organic lines, and a warm color palette.
- Maintain the original composition while adding a dreamy, magical quality with smooth colour blending and a slightly surreal, whimsical atmosphere inspired by classic Japanese animation.
- Transform a photo into a Ghibli-style illustration.
- Interpret the user’s facial features as if drawn by a Studio Ghibli artist.
- Depict the user in the signature Studio Ghibli animation style.
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