The latest viral trend in artificial intelligence has captivated fans of Japanese animation—while simultaneously reigniting fierce debates over copyright, ethics, and artistic integrity.
A Whimsical Tool With Serious Implications
Using OpenAI’s new image generator, users have been turning personal photos and internet memes into images inspired by the beloved style of Studio Ghibli. The tool, integrated into ChatGPT, has produced art reminiscent of Hayao Miyazaki’s classics like Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro. But behind the charm lies a growing concern about how such styles are recreated—and whether doing so violates creative rights.
The company insists its model takes a “conservative approach” and refuses requests to mimic living artists directly. Instead, it allows for what it calls broader “studio styles,” a move it claims protects individual creators while supporting “delightful” fan-generated content, as reported by the Associated Press.
Studio Ghibli itself has not commented on the trend, but critics, including industry professionals and copyright lawyers, are already raising red flags. Attorney Josh Weigensberg noted that if OpenAI trained its system on Ghibli’s films without permission, it could have serious legal consequences. “Style” may not be copyrightable in itself, he explained, but specific visual elements certainly can be.
An Insult to Life Itself?
Miyazaki, 84, has long opposed AI’s role in animation. In a widely circulated video from 2016, he rejected an AI-generated animation as grotesque and dehumanizing. “Whoever creates this stuff has no idea what pain is,” he said, calling the technology “an insult to life itself.”
That sentiment is echoed by artist Karla Ortiz, who is already suing AI companies over alleged copyright violations. She condemned OpenAI for using Studio Ghibli’s reputation to promote its product. “It’s exploitation,” she said. Her frustration intensified after the White House shared a Ghibli-style image of an immigration arrest on social media.
“Something so brilliant... butchered to generate something so foul,” she wrote online. “I hope Studio Ghibli sues the hell out of them.”
