We have yet another trend on our hands, and this time it's the "Studio Ghibli" or "Ghiblifying" Effect. Maybe you might have seen the anime-style pictures that everyone is posting and want to try it out yourself.

Well, before you do, let's talk about whether this style of art is really ours to use as we please.

A Little Bit of Context

Studio Ghibli, Inc. is a Japanese animation studio based in Koganei, Tokyo. They are known for captivating films like The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (2013), Kiki's Delivery Service (1989), The Boy and the Heron (2023), and many more. Their animation style is easy to identify, with soft colours and magical scenes.

The majority of Studio Ghibli movies are hand-drawn with beautiful acrylic and watercolor paints. The movies employ conventional animation techniques, in which each frame is meticulously drawn and colored by hand. Techniques from computer animation are employed sparingly.

The films frequently center on young people's lives, particularly those of schoolchildren. Young people, the consequences of war, environmentalism and the natural world, independent female leads, and the dangers of progress to tradition are all recurring themes.

By converting regular old pictures to Ghibli-style animations, people are able to feel like they are part of one of the magical films, hence the wild popularity.

Read: All Studio Ghibli Movies Ranked

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The Social Media Sensation

From celebrities and influencers to your old school friends, EVERYONE is hopping on the Studio Ghibli bandwagon. It began when OpenAI released the image generation feature to ChatGPT Plus, Pro, and Team users worldwide on 26 March. Now, even users of the free version can create Ghibli content, but with only a limited number of images per day. Here's a photo of President Trump, Ghibli style.

Image Credit: GPT-4o from Wikimedia Commons

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman asked people to go easy on image generation, posting on X: “Can yall please chill on generating images this is insane our team needs sleep.” I have also seen Instagram accounts that are charging people to convert their photos into the popular animation. Everyone is taking full advantage of this trend and even getting a profit out of it! A great example of how online crazes have millions of people in their grip.

Why Should You Think Twice?

All we're doing is having some fun! It can't create issues for the studio, right?

Well, it isn't that simple.

Animation is HARD. It takes tremendous efforts from a team of very talented and hardworking people to create the quality of films that Studio Ghibli is known for. Imagine how much time goes into drawing and painting each individual frame by hand!

When AI can just generate such images in a matter of seconds, it severely undermines the effort that really goes into creating such wonderful movies and animations. Several artists argue that although AI might be able to imitate a certain aesthetic, it is unable to convey the depth, passion, and cultural relevance that Ghibli's work contains. Not just this particular animation; distinctive styles of several other artists are also part of the image generation feature.

There are counterarguments as well. Several people say that AI provides a chance for everyone, regardless of artistic talent, to experience the magic of a good animation. It provides a tribute to the depth of Ghibli art and continues to spread its influence to previously unknown areas, thus boosting its popularity.

Image Credit: Pixabay from Pexels

Also Read: A Deep Dive on Artificial Intelligence's Impact on Traditional Art by Kayra Dayi

What Does The Founder Think?

Hayao Miyazaki, co-founder of Studio Ghibli and Academy Award winner, is widely regarded as one of the most accomplished filmmakers in the history of animation. He has expressed skepticism time and again about the use of AI in animation.

Image Credit: 大臣官房人事課 from Wikimedia Commons

One of the most well-known examples occurred in 2016, when he was shown an AI-generated animation project by researchers at the Dwango AI Lab. The presentation took the shape of an AI-generated, robotically walking monster. The response from Miyazaki was "totally unimpressed". He expressed deep unease with the concept of taking human meaning and passion out of animation, calling the performance "an insult to life itself." His response became viral on the internet.

While Studio Ghibli is yet to make an official statement, I think it's safe to say that Hayao Miyazaki will stand by his beliefs against AI in animation. As one of the founding forces behind this wondrous style of art, platforms such as ChatGPT must consider honouring his wishes, just as they must do for so many artists.

The Role We Play

I've not included any tutorials about using AI to generate your own images. After reading this, I hope you reconsider making that Google search. It's like saying anybody can make a Disney movie in a few minutes.

Who will watch the real ones that take time and effort? One picture may be harmless. But what magic is left in the world if AI can recreate anything at all?

While this may seem like a battle to be fought between AI creators and artists, we also play a role in the rightful use of artists' work. We have a responsibility to use artificial intelligence wisely and mindfully. Yes, the Ghibli feature is a great way to add a magical touch to our pictures.

But by using it, we are discrediting the intense efforts and skill of so many animators. All I can ask of you is just to not rush blindly into a trend. By thinking before we act, we can help artists around the world preserve the integrity of their work.