Creating animated films like those by the renowned Japanese filmmaker Miyazaki Hayao is a meticulous process that cannot be rushed. The intricate hand-drawn details require time and attention, often taking years to complete.

Alternatively, ChatGPT offers the ability to transform old photos into Miyazaki-style artwork within seconds.

Many users have already utilized this feature following Openai’s update to ChatGPT, enhancing its image generation capabilities. Users can now see photos rendered in the Studio Ghibli style, evoking the essence of films like “My Neighbor Totoro” and “Spirited Away.”

Some users have shared Ghibli-style images on social media, ranging from selfies and family photos to memes. While some have used the technology to create renderings of darker images, like the 9/11 attacks or the murder of George Floyd.

Sam Altman, the CEO of Openai, humorously changed his profile picture to X’s. He jokingly mentioned the sudden rise in popularity of filters overshadowing his previous work.

A dietitian named Kouka Webb, residing in Tribeca, transformed her wedding photos into Studio Gibrick Frames. Having grown up in Japan, she found joy in stylizing herself and her husband in a nostalgic manner.

Webb shared one of these stylized photos on Tiktok and received criticism for using AI instead of human artists.

Some online users have raised concerns about the use of image generation technologies. Referring to a 2016 documentary where Miyazaki criticized AI as “an insult to life itself,” the recent surge in filters and AI art has sparked a debate.

As AI platforms gain more power and popularity, creatives including writers, actors, musicians, and artists express their frustrations about their work potentially being replicated.

In 2024, prominent figures like writer Ishikawa, actor Julianne Moore, and musician Thom Yorke signed an open letter criticizing the unauthorized use of creative works in AI models like ChatGPT.

The New York Times filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against Openai and Microsoft, alleging the unauthorized use of publicly available works to train AI.

Some users, like sculptor Emily Belganza, have used ChatGPT to create Ghibli-style photos from memes, expressing concerns about the impact of such technology on creative work.

Openai spokesperson Taya Christianson emphasized the platform’s efforts to balance creative freedom while taking a conservative approach to image generation updates.

Belganza mentioned her evolving thoughts on the integration of AI into society, acknowledging the need to adapt to these advancements while preserving artistic identity.