Facebook, X and Instagram – Trendy social media – have found a new obsession! And this time, it is not a meme of cat or a last viral dance – these are images of Ghibl -Généré by AI! Yes! The AI now transforms our non -spiritual world into something straight out of the damage! People download photos of themselves, their neighborhoods and even their pets, only to see them transformed into dreamy and hand-painted scenes of Ghibli studio movies. At first glance, it may seem a harmless fanciful experience. But is it just an experience? Or does that point out a fundamental change in the way we interact with the art of animation?
On Wednesday, Openai upgraded the Chatppt-4o with advanced image generation capacities, presenting a native functionality called “4O image generation”. This latest innovation or upgrading of the AI research company based in the United States has sparked an online debate of comparisons with the artistic heritage of Hayao Miyazaki and the years of know-how behind the Ghibli studio executives.
Although Studio Ghibli has not yet commented on the use by Openai of his distinctive artistic style, Hayao Miyazaki was frank in his criticism of the animation generated by AI. In a 2016 interview, he condemned technology, calling him “an insult to life itself”.
Now, who is Hayao Miyazaki?
Those of us who grew up watching Japanese anime, especially Ghibli studio films, know very well who is this man! And how his animations influenced us like beings!
In 1985, Hayao Miyazaki, producer Toshio Suzuki, and another renowned filmmaker, Isao Takahata, created the Ghibli studio. Since then, the breathtaking graphics of the animation studio and the moving story have won fans around the world.
But now, with AI, and a simple prompt and a few clicks, everyone is able to transform their photos into something that seems directly out of a Miyazaki film.
But does this so-called “Ghibli style” technology honors the art of Miyazaki or commits an artistic crime? The line is thin like a razor. The AI can certainly copy art styles and generate visuals with the proper prompt; He can imitate brushstrokes, color palettes and even composition – but can he dream like Miyazaki? Can it connect the points of the narration?
The answer is a right!
However, the integration of technology into animation is not new – AI can simply be the next step in this constantly evolving industry. And the world of animation has always adopted new technologies, history improved by CGI of Princess Mononoke, in digital compositing at Sournet Away.
But then there is the ethical dilemma. If the AI can reproduce Ghibli’s style with strange precision, does that mean that the studios could start counting on it, replacing the very animators who give life to magic? Here, fear is not only a question of imitation – it is about erasure.
Although purists argue that AI tools do not create – they imitate. What is true! The algorithm only reproduces the brush strokes and the color palettes – it cannot dream like Miyazaki. He does not understand the essence of childhood, the quiet sun of a summer that fades, nor the resilience of a young girl sailing in a world beyond her understanding.
“There is a difference between inspiration and imitation,” said Tahin Tahira Biva, a dedicated anime lover. “What Miyazaki creates is deeply personal. I can copy his style, but he can never capture the soul of Miyazaki’s narration through visuals.”
Miyazaki, indeed, uses his films to make us hope and dream. His films are renowned for their animation frame by detailed frame, in which, each brush stroke evokes a depth of feeling that, in my opinion, is difficult for an algorithm. His art is more than a simple entertainment; It is a portal to other areas where human emotions, awareness of the environment and juvenile wonder coexist together. His films are whole worlds in which we aspire to escape! They are therapeutic! Miyazaki’s films have a soul. AI, at best, has a mirror!
So, while AI can imitate the appearance of a Ghibli frame, can it reproduce its essence? Can an algorithm understand the depth of human experience as Miyazaki does? Can AI give us hope through visuals? Can we separate the art from his artist? Can a machine ever dream as Miyazaki does? And if AI can imitate magic, does it always count as magical at all? These are the questions that will define the future of animation, because AI continues to evolve.
One thing is clear: AI is inevitable at this stage, but the magic of studio Ghibli continues not only because of its appearance, but also because of what it makes us feel. And no algorithm – not yet, anyway – can replace it.