ChatGPT’s Viral Studio Ghibli-Style Images
3 min read
APRIL 04,2025
LOS ANGELES — ChatGPT’s Viral Studio Ghibli-Style, Studio Ghibli fans celebrated when OpenAI’s latest ChatGPT update allowed them to transform photos and memes into the signature, hand-drawn style of Hayao Miyazaki. However, this trend has reignited ethical concerns about AI-generated art, copyright infringement, and its effect on human artists.
Miyazaki, the legendary animator behind classics like Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro, has always been skeptical of artificial intelligence in animation. His concerns are more relevant than ever as Ghibli-style AI-generated images spread across social media.
AI-Generated ChatGPT’s Viral Studio Ghibli-Style Images Go Viral
Janu Lingeswaran, an entrepreneur from Germany, uploaded a photo of his 3-year-old ragdoll cat, Mali, into ChatGPT’s image generator. He then requested a Ghibli-style transformation. The result? A beautifully rendered anime-style cat resembling characters from Miyazaki’s masterpieces.
“I really fell in love with the result,” Lingeswaran said. “We’re even thinking of printing it and hanging it on the wall.”
Similar AI-generated images quickly surfaced online, including a Ghibli-style version of Olympic silver medalist Yusuf Dikec and the famous “Disaster Girl” meme. As fans shared their creations, debates over AI’s impact on intellectual property and artistic integrity intensified.
The Legal and Ethical Debate Over AI-Generated Art
The rise of AI-generated artwork raises a major legal question: Did OpenAI train its model on copyrighted Studio Ghibli artwork without permission?
Josh Weigensberg, a partner at Pryor Cashman, explains: “The issue isn’t just about copying a ‘style.’ If AI-generated images contain specific, recognizable elements from Studio Ghibli films, that could be considered copyright infringement.”
OpenAI claims to take a “conservative approach” when mimicking artistic styles and does not generate images in the style of living artists. However, it does allow broader studio styles, which creates a legal gray area for major animation studios like Ghibli.
Studio Ghibli has declined to comment, but Miyazaki’s past statements suggest he would disapprove. In a 2016 documentary, after seeing an AI-generated animation of a grotesque, crawling creature, he said:
“I am utterly disgusted. Whoever creates this stuff has no idea what pain is. I will never incorporate this technology into my work. It’s an insult to life itself.”
Artists React to ChatGPT’s Viral Studio Ghibli-Style Images and the Copyright Dilemma
Renowned artist Karla Ortiz, who is currently suing AI image generators for copyright infringement, condemned OpenAI’s use of Ghibli-style art for promotional purposes.
“They’re using Ghibli’s branding, name, and reputation to push their product. It’s an insult. It’s exploitation.” Ortiz said.
The controversy escalated when the White House’s official X (formerly Twitter) account joined the trend. It posted a Ghibli-style image of a detained immigrant woman—a move that critics saw as a tasteless use of AI-generated art.
“To see something as brilliant as Miyazaki’s work be butchered like this is sickening. I hope Studio Ghibli sues the hell out of OpenAI.” Ortiz posted online.
What’s Next for AI-Generated Art?
With OpenAI already facing lawsuits over copyright violations, the Ghibli-style AI trend has placed renewed focus on ethical AI training data. If companies like OpenAI continue generating images based on copyrighted works without licensing agreements, they could face major legal consequences.
As AI-generated art continues to evolve, discussions about ethical AI, intellectual property rights, and artist livelihoods will only grow more urgent. Will studios like Ghibli take legal action? Only time will tell.
Hayao Miyazaki of Japan, director of the animated film “Ponyo,” poses at a special screening of the film in Los Angeles on July 27, 2009.
For now, one thing is clear—Miyazaki’s legacy of hand-drawn, deeply human storytelling stands in stark contrast to the fast-moving world of artificial intelligence. Fans, creators, and legal experts are watching closely to see what happens next. NOWTREND
About The Author
