If your Instagram flow recently had the impression of having entered a Ghibli studio film, you are not alone. Ghibl -ghiblis style cafes with pixar profile photos and brand campaigns inspired by Wes Anderson, the trends generated by AI have resumed our digital life – and brands are being raced.
There is a growing game book for brands in the moment of marketing of the moment, and at the moment, the AI writes most of them. Whether it is an enchanting animation style, a fanciful cinematographic aesthetic or a playful turn of self -expression, the brands plunge the first into the visual trends generated by AI to remain culturally relevant and capture fleeting durations of attention.
But while AI allows speed and creativity like never before, does that also raise a fundamental question: do brands build a resonance, or simply add to the noise?
Overflow.
The Ghibli studio effect: becoming trivial in magic
The last wave to sweep on social networks is the Ghibli studio trend. Propelled by AI tools like Playground AI and Lensa, people began to transform everyday photos into dreamy and pastel scenes inspired by the emblematic Japanese animation studio. Suddenly, the streets, the houses, the pets and the food plates have been redesigned as executives straight out of a Hayao Miyazaki masterpiece.
The brands have seen an opportunity and jumped with both feet.
Food brands have transformed their burgers and cafes into tale book celebrations. Travel agencies have given tourist sites a magical youthful cure, even transforming the most banal destinations into enchanted kingdoms. Lifestyle brands have painted their packaging in Ghibli sweet pallets, adding charm to their product stories.
The attraction was obvious: Ghibli aesthetics are drawn from a deep nostalgia and an escape. It invites consumers to suspend their rolls and enter a softer and more dreamy world. And when he is well executed, he gave marks for a moment to connect emotionally, offering not only a visual delight, but also a sense of ephemeral wonder.
But as more and more marks accumulated, the unique character began to fade. Without a distinctive turn, many executions have started to blur – a reminder that if AI can democratize creativity, it can also flatten it if everyone uses the same brush.
Pixar-Fied Pumanched: When brands become animated characters
Just before Ghibli’s wave, there was the Pixar-Py yourself orient yourself. Using AI filters, people are reinventing themselves like animated characters – big eyes, warm smiles and this undoubted pixar charm.
It was fun, accessible and irresistibly shareable.
Brands quickly saw the potential here, not only for personalization but for humanization. FMCG brands have transformed their products into Pixar characters. Service brands have hosted their customer support avatars. Even pets were not spared – pet food brands deployed Pixar -style fur companions, adding a fun touch to their marketing.
The success of this trend lies in its emotional accessibility. The visual language of Pixar is linked to the joy of childhood and to innocent wonder, which makes it instantly relatable. For brands, it was a shortcut towards familiarity – a way to feel warm, accessible and in line with cultural mood.
However, just like Ghibli’s trend, the risk was of overexposure. Without the integration of the reflected brand, many messages at Pixar looked like a me -trop – cute, but forgettable marketing.
Wes Anderson Worlds: symmetry, oddity and cinematographic charm
Then came the Wes Anderson Aesthetic. The visuals generated by the AI imitated the signature style of the filmmaker – symmetrical framing, pastel tones, eccentric characters and meticulous composition.
What started as a niche of a design lover quickly exploded in consumer social media. Travel brands have reinvented local spots in Anderson’s fanciful frames. The cafes presented hyper-stylized shots to their interiors, with original legends like “a coffee, made by Wes Anderson”. Even fintech brands have played along serious content in playful pastel pallets.
Wes Anderson’s trend gave brands a chance to build a narrative depth. It was not only a question of aesthetic mimicry; It was a question of telling a story, creating a mood and inviting consumers to a visually cohesive world.
When it was done well, it was fresh and unexpected. But when the marks simply applied the filter without superimposing their voice or context, it looked like a missed opportunity – a style on the substance.
Beyond the filter: do brands build equity or add to noise?
The AI has released a new moment of moment – fast, affordable and infinitely creative marketing. But in the precipitation to browse all trends, marks are likely to dilute their distinctive character.
The paradox is clear: while AI trends offer short -term commitment peaks, long -term equity are built on coherence and authenticity. Consumers are quick to spot when brands jump on a trend only for visibility, compared to the addition of significant comments or creative value.
In addition, ethical concerns persist. Trends like Ghibli and Wes Anderson often occur a lot of specific artistic styles and cultural heritage. Although AI tools make these aesthetics accessible, brands must be aware of not reducing them to simple models, in particular without recognizing original creators or cultural meaning.
Today, consumers, especially the younger public, have a net radar for sincerity. They appreciate when brands play in cultural spaces with intention and spirit. But they are just as fast to drag – or even to call – brands that feel forced or opportunistic.
The question that each marketing agent needs is not only “Are we part of this trend?” but “Do we add something that seems true to our brand and significant for our audience?”
So what is the way to follow?
The marketing of trends fueled by AI will not disappear so soon. If anything, it becomes more sophisticated. But the brands that will really win are those that approach trends not as a control list, but as a canvas.
This is selective participation – the choice of trends that naturally align in the tone, the values and the public of your brand. It is a question of superimposing your unique voice so that even in a sea of similar visuals, your execution is undoubtedly feeling yours.
Because if AI can generate visuals, only brands can generate meaning.
And in a cluttered and congested digital world, that’s what people stop – and remember.
This article is written by Rutu Mody Kamdar, founder of Jigsaw brand consultants.
Warning: The article presents the author’s opinion and does not necessarily reflect the position of the publication.