The New Studio Ghibli AI Style Trend: Why It’s Dividing the Internet

Do you see the Ghibli AI art style everywhere now? Are you curious why it’s breaking the Internet? Stay tuned.

The new Ghibli AI Style Trend has shaken the internet, thanks to OpenAI’s latest advancements in image generation capabilities. The latest update to the GPT-4 (omni) model is speculated to have enhanced image-generation capabilities. For this reason, we are possibly witnessing art experts everywhere. One quick and easy prompt, and it’s done.

The most popular prompt is the Studio Ghibli-style one. Something feels very familiar about this trend. Do you remember “Oppan Gangnam Style?” Yes, the feeling is similar. Over social media, in a very short period, there are countless versions of memes, personal photos, and historical events, all using the new trend.

Even highly popular political figures seem to vibe with this. Many are embracing the trend as creative and praising its nostalgic appeal. On the other hand, critics are debating the artistic ethics surrounding Studio Ghibli’s legacy. With that said, let’s dive into this show.

The Legacy of Studio Ghibli

Studio Ghibli was founded in 1985 by Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata, and Toshio Suzuki. Since then, they have emphasized hand-drawn art and animation, with incredible attention to detail, creating emotional stories and more. Some of their notable films include Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, and Princess Mononoke, which were hits.

Miyazaki’s opinion of Ai didn’t seem to go with the trend. Back in 2016, over an NHK documentary, he reacted to an AI animation demo by saying it was “an insult to life itself.” This suggests that he believes artificial intelligence cannot simply replicate human qualities. Fast forward to today, we have a situation where people share mixed opinions, both positive and negative.

Exploring the Trend

What is this ghibli style — Technology at its peak (Image via Deltia’s Gaming)

It’s both fascinating and controversial that years of hard work, creativity, emotion, and everything else can be condensed into just a single prompt. It’s not only the Ghibli style; from pop culture moments to personal memories, trolls, and memes—anything can be created with DALLE-3, Stable Diffusion, Playground V3, etc.

Why Some See It as Disrespectful

Miyazaki’s Philosophy – Critics share a view similar to Miyazaki’s. They oppose AI-generated art, believing it disrespects human creativity, undermines their hard work, and erases the value earned from years of experience.
Labor Devaluation – Studio Ghibli’s films represent thousands of hours of meticulous hand-drawn masterpieces. The ability to replicate their style in seconds removes the struggle and dedication people went through to endure this intensive process.
Copyright Concerns – There are people debating whether training datasets include copyrighted material without consent.

Why Others Celebrate It

From the supporters’ point of view, it seems to be some form of creative democracy. They tend to view AI as a companion to human life, stating that this is bringing the Studio’s rich legacy to the masses.

What Fans Are Saying

Critical Perspectives

Please stop with Studio Ghibli AI, it’s an insult to Miyazaki
byu/ObjectiveInitial6242 inWhiteLotusHBO

r/WhiteLotusHBO – A discussion that highlights how generative AI lacks the emotional depth and legacy that define Miyazaki’s work.

Supportive Perspectives

If I could speak to the concerned animators and artists…
byu/Neex inCorridor

r/Corridor – A discussion that highlights how generative AI can assist animators and artists.

Final Thoughts

The Studio Ghibli AI trend reflects a deeper debate about the role of artificial intelligence in art. While some see it as a tool for human aid, others question its integrity and ethics. Undoubtedly, the legacy of hand-drawn animation is the core aspect of this discussion. As Artificial Intelligence keeps evolving, the question still remains: Is this progress, or just imitation?

We provide the latest news and “How To’s” for Tech content. Meanwhile, you can check out the following articles related to PC GPUs, CPU and GPU comparisons, mobile phones, and more:

The New Studio Ghibli AI Style Trend: Why It’s Dividing the Internet

The Legacy of Studio Ghibli