The internet is buzzing over a new wave of AI-generated images mimicking the signature style of Studio Ghibli, the beloved Japanese animation studio behind classics like My Neighbor Totoro and Princess Mononoke.
Powered by OpenAI’s latest image-generation tool in ChatGPT, the trend exploded online, with users creating Ghibli-inspired versions of everything from The Lord of the Rings to political figures like Elon Musk and Donald Trump—even a controversial AI recreation of the September 11 attacks. The frenzy even reached the White House, which joined in by posting its own AI-generated image on social media.
But as these dreamy, hand-drawn-style images flood the internet, so do legal and ethical concerns. OpenAI, already battling lawsuits over alleged copyright violations, now faces scrutiny over whether its AI is unlawfully mimicking Ghibli’s art. Even OpenAI CEO Sam Altman embraced the trend, changing his profile picture on X to a Ghibli-style version of himself.
The controversy intensified when an old video of Studio Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki resurfaced. In it, the legendary animator passionately denounces AI-generated art, calling it “an insult to life itself.” Artists have since voiced outrage, seeing the trend as another example of AI exploiting creative work without credit or consent.
While OpenAI argues that its AI-generated content falls under “fair use,” the debate over AI, creativity, and copyright continues to heat up. Meanwhile, the company is pushing forward with a massive $40 billion funding deal, signaling that AI’s role in creative industries is only set to grow.
