AI has so much to answer for, from terrible Cybertruck ads to mass job losses (according to Bill Gates). Now we can add inappropriate Studio Ghibli memes to list.
The great Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki famously detests AI image generation, so it seems particularly cutting that people are using OpenAI’s latest model to turn famous images and memes into Studio Ghibli-style illustrations. The trend is already going way too far (check out the best digital art software if you want to create your own original art).
a second generation has hit the tower pic.twitter.com/Ww9PaFnA4OMarch 26, 2025
Studio Ghibli has made some of the best anime films, from Spirited Away to The Boy and The Heron. Unsurprisingly its distinct style is one that many people are keen to emulate using AI image generators. The trend has taken off on social media platforms like X after OpenAI released a new version of its image generation model in GPT.
Open AI said the incorporation of its “most advanced image generator yet” into GPT‑4o would allow AI image generation “that is not only beautiful, but useful.”
Useful? Erm… Well, people have found that it’s quite good at applying a Studio Ghibli art style to uploaded reference images. People are already giving the treatment to everything from personal photos to memes, scenes from movies and famous real-life moments from news and current affairs.
It’s been 24 hours since OpenAI unexpectedly shook the AI image world with 4o image generation.Here are the 14 most mindblowing examples so far (100% AI-generated):1. Studio ghibli style memespic.twitter.com/E38mBnPnQhMarch 26, 2025
Hits from the Studio Ghibli trend so far range from takes on the various ubiquitous JD Vance memes to the assassination of JFK, and the moment George W. Bush learned about the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
While some AI image generators are supposed to have controls to prevent users from copying specific artistic styles or the likenesses of famous people, that doesn’t seem to be the case here, as GPT-4o seems to do a fairly convincing job of evoking the Ghibli aesthetic for a wide range of prompts.
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Lol, this shit is way too funny. pic.twitter.com/vTpsd2e8QmMarch 26, 2025
So you’re telling me I can take a popular meme, transform it into Studio Ghibli style anime, and people will just like it? pic.twitter.com/2n3ulLOXVBMarch 26, 2025
No matter how hard life hits you. Get back up and fight back.I had to see what all the controversy was about with Ghibli Style anime I tried it out on my favorite Beetlejuice meme. pic.twitter.com/fNBhO2k9orMarch 27, 2025
A meme within a meme within a meme. Studio Ghibli has never looked this good. Thank you OAI. pic.twitter.com/r52yQohRWIMarch 26, 2025
The AI’s ability to produce Ghibli-style images will worry many artists and creators who put time, effort and skill into creating unique work. Miyazaki famously described AI as “an insult to life itself” when he was shown a demo of AI image generation back in 2016. It seems unlikely that Studio Ghibli would have given OpenAI permission to use its films for training, which makes me wonder if we’ll see yet another lawsuit on the way.
It’s also another example of how AI tools are so difficult for even their creators to control. This is by no means the first AI image generator to be released into the wild only for its filters and controls to fail spectacularly. The release of X’s Grok was total chaos.
Speaking of Grok, X’s AI bot seems to be confused about whether it can also make Studio Ghibli-style art. When some users asked if it could replicate the trend, it initially said it couldn’t and suggested they use its rival GPT instead. When users said they were disappointed, it then responded to say that it probably could turn an image into a Ghibli-style scene.
Good news! Grok can likely transform images into Studio Ghibli style using its “edit image” feature. Upload an image, select “Edit Image,” and prompt it with “Transform this into Studio Ghibli style.” Recent updates suggest this works, despite earlier confusion. Tell Elon it’s…March 27, 2025
Want to create real anime-inspired illustrations? For tips and inspiration, see our guide to the best anime characters to draw.