Visakhapatnam: A new social media trend, Ghibli Art, swept the internet, allowing users to convert photos into artworks similar to Ghibli’s iconic hand-painted style. This phenomenon not only spreads, but also triggers discussions about the content and copyright issues generated by AI.
Over the past 24 hours, the term “Ghibli” has occupied a trend list on major platforms, with users sharing images generated by their AI. This style is reminiscent of Studio Ghibli’s famous animation aesthetic, attracting many styles, with some claiming that their transformational images look better than the original ones.
Influential people have begun sharing alternatives to creating these images, and meme creators have embraced Ghibli’s aesthetics. Celebrities including Kiara Advani, Sidharth Malhotra, Nani and Keerthy Suresh also joined the trend by posting Ghibli-style movie posters.
Founded in 1985 by Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata and Toshio Suzuki, Studio Ghibli is known worldwide for its meticulously hand-painted animations. However, the AI-driven trend has caused controversy, especially after Miyazaki’s past rhetoric about artificial intelligence has resurfaced. In the documentary series NHK special: Hayao Miyazaki – The Never End, Miyazaki strongly opposes AI-generated animations, calling it “an insult to life itself.”
His comments reignited debates about AI and copyright, as the “Portrait of Ghibli” converting platform allows users to recreate the studio’s art style with simple photo uploads. Questions about whether AI-generated Ghibli Art infringes on intellectual property rights have not been answered.
Despite the controversy, the social media reaction was still enthusiastic. One X user joked: “People prefer their Ghibli version because they can’t stand the real face.” Another shared: “I paid Rs 2000 for the unlimited editor because OpenAI only allows Rs 3 per day.”
With the continuous development of artificial intelligence, the Ghibli art trend highlights the growing tension between technological innovation and traditional artistic nature. Whether this trend will lead to stricter copyright regulations or a feeling of the internet remains to be seen.
