Before discussing how AI is trying to make Ghibli-style art, let’s first look at what makes Studio Ghibli’s animation so special.
Studio Ghibli started in 1985. It was founded by Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata, and Toshio Suzuki. Since then, Ghibli has made some of the most beautiful and emotional animated movies.
But what makes Ghibli different from other animation styles?
Key Features of Ghibli’s Signature Look
- Hand-painted watercolor backgrounds with gentle, organic textures.
- A natural color palette that avoids bright and highly saturated tones.
- Soft lighting and artistic brush strokes create a dreamy atmosphere.
- Expressive characters—simple in appearance yet full of personality.
- A strong connection to nature, complete with overgrown forests, floating islands, and old ruins.
Ghibli crafts living, breathing worlds. And now, with the rise of AI, people are attempting to recreate that magic. It’s leading us to a fascinating but controversial turning point.
READ MORE: How to Convert Your Photos into Studio Ghibli-Style Art Using AI?
The AI Invasion—How It Started
At first, AI was used to fix old images, like lighting or adding missing details. But things changed when new AI models like Stable Diffusion, MidJourney, and DALL-E became popular. These models could now make art just by using prompts.
Soon, everyone could create cool and strange art fast. But something even stranger happened.
- Artists and developers started to change the models to make animation in their favorite style.
- They trained the AI using thousands of Ghibli frames, teaching it to copy the brushstrokes, colors, and textures from Miyazaki’s films.
- People began uploading their photos, asking AI to Ghibli-fy their faces.
The results?
- AI-generated backgrounds that looked like concept art from My Neighbor Totoro.
- AI-animated characters moving with Ghibli-style fluidity.
- Photorealistic portraits transformed into anime-style characters.
Some called it a revolution. Others called it art theft.
READ MORE ABOUT AI TOOLS: Google Introduces Next-Gen AI Tools To Enhance In-Store Shopping
How To Prompt AI for Ghibli-style Art
You need the right prompts if you want AI to generate Ghibli-style art. You can’t just type “anime character” and expect magic.
Step 1: Uploading an Image for a Ghibli Portrait
If you want AI to transform your face into a Ghibli-style character, follow these steps:
- Choose a high-quality image.
- Good lighting (avoid harsh shadows).
- A neutral or soft expression (Ghibli characters often look dreamy or thoughtful).
- A simple background (so AI can focus on your face).
- Use the perfect AI prompt.
- Basic Ghibli Portrait Prompt: “A hand-drawn Studio Ghibli anime portrait, soft brushstrokes, warm watercolor textures, inspired by Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro.”
- Negative Prompts (to avoid AI mistakes): “No photorealism, no ultra-sharp details, no modern CGI, no neon colors, no harsh shadows.”
AI can generate stunning Ghibli-style portraits following these steps—but is this ethical?
The Ethical Dilemma – Art or Theft?
The rise of AI-generated Ghibli art has sparked an intense debate in the art community. Many argue that AI models are trained on copyrighted works without permission.
Hayao Miyazaki himself has openly criticized AI-generated animation:
“I feel that AI is an insult to life itself.” – Hayao Miyazaki
Miyazaki believes true art comes from human emotions and experience, not from a machine remixing old ideas.
So, where do we stand?
There are two sides to this debate:
The PRO-AI Side:
- AI allows anyone to create stunning Ghibli-style art.
- AI is a tool, not a replacement—it can help artists bring ideas to life.
- AI could speed up animation production, making Ghibli-style films more accessible.
The ANTI-AI Side:
- AI models are trained on copyrighted works without permission.
- AI-generated art lacks human creativity—it mimics but doesn’t innovate.
- AI could replace real artists, taking away jobs from professionals.
So, what happens now?
Will AI-generated Ghibli art become the new norm? Will Miyazaki’s legacy be protected?
Ghibli’s Deep Disapproval of AI
Unlike other studios using AI, Ghibli still does things the old way. Every frame is lovingly hand-drawn, where storytelling is about patience and soul, not automation.
Miyazaki himself has been extremely vocal about this. He didn’t just dislike AI-generated animation—he was deeply disturbed by it.
This is a man who:
- Refused to automate Ghibli’s animation even when computers could make it easier.
- Delayed multiple films because he preferred to hand-draw elements himself.
- Walked out of meetings when shown AI-generated art, calling it soulless.
But does that mean AI-generated Ghibli art won’t become popular?
Will AI Ghibli Art Take Over?
It’s already happening.
Scroll through social media and you’ll see:
- AI-generated “Ghibli-style” landscapes flooding Instagram and Pinterest.
- TikTok filters that “Ghibli-fy” your selfies.
- AI tools generating entire fake Ghibli trailers for films that don’t exist.
But here’s the real problem. If AI gets too good at mimicking Ghibli, there’s a risk that:
- AI-powered tools might replace animators.
- Studios might choose AI for cost-cutting instead of hiring real artists.
- Audiences might no longer distinguish between hand-drawn art and AI-generated images.
This isn’t just a Ghibli issue—it’s happening in all creative fields:
- AI-generated movies are becoming a reality.
- AI is replacing illustrators in some industries.
- Even writers feel the AI wave, with tools writing entire scripts and books.
The more AI spreads, the harder it will be to tell what’s human and machine-made.
Conclusion
AI lets anyone make Ghibli-style art with just a few words or pictures. What once took years to learn now happens in seconds. But is it the same?
Ghibli is about heart, patience, and human touch. A machine can copy the colors and strokes, but not the feeling. Every hand-drawn frame holds love, dreams, and stories shaped over a lifetime. No AI can ever replace that magic.