AI Can Now Create Ghibli Art: A Threat to Creativity or Just the Next Step?

Across Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok, ordinary snapshots of backyards, family portraits, and urban streetscapes are being transformed into magical worlds — like scenes pulled straight from a Studio Ghibli film.

Advanced generative AI systems like MidJourney and Stable Diffusion have facilitated this trend, making the production of imagery reminiscent of Ghibli's enchanting worlds both instantaneous and widely accessible.

What began as fans experimenting with AI has grown into a significant cultural phenomenon — one that honors, challenges, or perhaps even insults Ghibli's legacy, depending on your perspective.

The resulting images capture Studio Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki’s distinctive style — from the soft, atmospheric use of light to the textures of hand-drawn animation. Because of this, the trend has sparked important conversations about creativity and copyright in the era of artificial intelligence.

The Allure of the Ghibli Aesthetic

Studio Ghibli's visual language has captivated audiences for decades. There's something immediately recognizable about its style, from the way light filters through leaves to the delicate watercolor textures. The characters' expressions convey volumes without the need for many words. It's an aesthetic that feels both fantastical and deeply human, which explains why so many have jumped at the chance to recreate it.

Traditionally, mastering this style required years of practice. Aspiring artists would study Miyazaki's films frame by frame, painstakingly replicating his approach to movement, color, and composition. But AI has changed that. Now, anyone with an internet connection can input a photo and watch as an algorithm interprets it through the Ghibli lens.

The results are stunning. A Tokyo rain shower transforms into a Wind Rises vignette, and urban landscapes become Ghibli fantasies. These AI creations represent more than a novelty — they offer genuine emotional resonance.

One particularly touching example comes from a dietitian living in Tribeca, who was interviewed by Malaysian news website The Star. After losing her Japanese mother and feeling homesick, Webb transformed her wedding photos into Studio Ghibli-style images.

The Controversy Ignites

As the trend has grown, so too has the backlash. For every enthusiast celebrating AI's creative potential, there's an artist or legal expert raising concerns. The debate centers on three key questions:

Is it ethical to train AI on copyrighted works?

Most AI image generators learn by analyzing millions of existing artworks, including Studio Ghibli's films. While companies rarely disclose their full training data, researchers have shown that these systems can sometimes reproduce near-identical copies of protected works.
Does this devalue human artists?

"I think that art is an expression of the soul. At its best, it encompasses everything you are. Therefore, I consume, and love, art made by humans. I am completely moved by that," said filmmaker Guillermo del Toro, a longtime admirer of Miyazaki, in an interview with Decider. "I am not interested in an illustration made by machines and the extrapolation of information."

On the subject of #AIart, Guillermo del Toro (@RealGDT) says he will always "consume, and love, art made by humans." pic.twitter.com/3z4XoqXF0Q
— Decider (@decider) December 9, 2022

Where does inspiration end and appropriation begin?

Studio Ghibli has not commented on the trend, but the studio is known for being highly protective of its intellectual property. In the past, it has turned down licensing agreements that failed to meet its rigorous quality standards. Many fans are uneasy about the idea of AI replicating its style without permission or proper context.

Voices From the Front Lines

The creative community is deeply divided. Some, like digital illustrator Martin Nebelong, see AI as a tool rather than a threat. "AI art tools represent a loss of control for many artists, so we need to find ways to reclaim how, where and why it's used," he notes, emphasizing the importance of finding ways to integrate AI into their creative processes.

*AI-generated portrait of Hayao Miyazaki*

Others are less optimistic. Hayao Miyazaki himself has been a vocal critic of AI-generated art. In a 2016 documentary, after viewing an AI-generated animation, Miyazaki expressed his deep discomfort:

"Whoever creates this stuff has no idea what pain is whatsoever. I am utterly disgusted. I would never wish to incorporate this technology into my work at all. I strongly feel that this is an insult to life itself"— Hayao Miyazaki, as reported by GeekTyrant

A Historical Perspective

This isn't the first time technology has "disrupted" art. When photography emerged in the 19th century, painters feared it would render their skills obsolete. Instead, it greatly influenced new movements like Impressionism. Similarly, digital art tools were once dismissed as "cheating," until they became industry standards.

But AI is different. Previous tools still required human skills to operate. AI, by contrast, can produce seemingly finished works with minimal input. This raises existential questions: If a machine can replicate a master's style, what separates "real" art from algorithmically generated content?

Japan's approach may offer clues. The country has a long tradition of doujinshi—fan-made comics that reinterpret existing works. While technically infringing on copyright, they're often tolerated as a form of creative expression. Could AI-generated Ghibli art follow a similar path?

The Road Ahead

Several key developments will shape this ongoing story:

Legal battles: As AI-generated art becomes more commercial, lawsuits are inevitable. Courts will need to decide whether training AI on copyrighted works constitutes fair use.
New technologies: Some artists are experimenting with "style encryption" to prevent AI from copying their work. Others are developing ethical AI tools that only use licensed training data.
Studio Ghibli's response: The studio won't remain silent forever. Its stance could set a precedent for how legacy artists handle AI imitations.