Ghibli AI art controversy explained: Does it honour or destroy the magic of the studio's legacy?

In the midst of the AI-generated images of Ghibli, a video of Hayao Miyazaki, the father of Ghibli studios, is going viral. It’s from 2016, and Miyazaki is reacting to an AI-generated animation featuring zombies. He watches as an unsettling entity drags itself forward, using its head as an unnatural, disturbing propellant for its motion. The man showing this video to Miyazaki explains that because AI lacks a sense of pain or self-preservation, it can create creatures suited for zombie-themed games. Miyazaki is less than impressed. To him, the imagery is a repugnant, dehumanizing attempt at art—declaring that it constitutes "an insult to life itself."

Elaborating on his revulsion, Miyazaki states he would never instill such elements into his work, viewing such developments as a sign of humanity's diminishing faith in itself. He suggests, ‘I feel like we are nearing the end of times.’

As the wave of AI-generated Ghibli images spreads, with users 'Ghiblifying' their families in an attempt to capture the studio's signature cinematic poetry, reactions have been divided. Many raise concerns about copyright, privacy, and the future of artists, while others view it as a tribute to Ghibli, appreciating its newfound accessibility.

The rise of AI-Generated Ghibli art: Polarised reactions

The social media reactions are explosive. “Miyazaki has poured decades of heart and soul into making this transcendent and tender style of anime,” one tweet reads, adding that it has now is just consumable content. Others have shared a particular scene from his film The Wind Rises: It’s a brief scene, where the main characters are just jostling through chaos, while others are rushing around them, struggling to survive. This four-second scene took a year and a little more to create, as Miyazaki wanted the artist to actually draw it, which is why each character has different emotions and facial expressions to show the trauma of an earthquake. The artist later looks at the scene and says that it is not long at all. A relieved Miyazaki says, “But it was worth it.”

This painstaking effort, fans argue, is precisely what separates human artistry from AI replication. A tweet read, “That’s the amount of painstaking effort art takes. It needs that amount of blood, sweat and tears to create something like it.”

Artists concerns: Are we losing faith in ourselves?

Abu Dhabi-based Kajal Singh, a freelancer and artist who loves sketching with pen and ink, is rather worried about the growing Ghibli trend. “There’s no doubt that AI has its benefits, and is a boon. But I think, there needs to be caution in the way it is used,” she says. She also explains that Ghibli hasn’t reached its peak of fame, just owing to its hand-drawn animation style, but because of the humanity, sadness and wide range of emotions, which is what makes the animation so special. There’s a joy in watching the giant panda-rabbit Totoro dance around acorn seeds, or feeling the personality of the wind in The Wind Rises. “This trend does leave artists wondering that if everything is so easy and accessible, where does it leave them?”

It’s a sentiment that Shannon Coelho, a Dubai-based freelancing graphic designer asks, too. “AI has solutions to everything, and that’s great. But, I feel excessive reliance on it for creativity and inspiration just reduces our own critical thinking, our understanding of art, and what made Ghibli made so special in the first place. People say that Ghibli is more accessible because of AI, but the films were always there? If you want more people to know about it, and its impact, there should be more nuanced discussions on it, rather than just the shortcuts.”

Moreover, staunch fans of Ghibli also argue that Miyazaki had ‘fought’ hard to preserve the integrity and distinctiveness of his films. Another tweet reads, “He had fought to retain the identity of his films.” Others quote Miyazaki’s reaction to the video AI often, asking, ‘Are we as humans losing faith in ourselves, to the point that we are extensively relying on AI?’  

The question that they all ask: Is it fair at all to Ghibli, to have their work replicated by AI so easily, when they themselves had spent years creating art?

The artistic debate: Does art belong to everyone?

According to Nishant Pai, Design Lead, Idea Spice Design, Dubai, the issue has many facets and requires a nuanced perspective. As he explains, once art is created and shared, it becomes a part of the common cultural space, it belongs to the world. “Artists and audiences are tied together in an intricate knot of meaning and interpretation, with the original intent of a work often evolving as it is embraced by different cultures and perspectives,” he asserts. Pai quotes Maya Angelou, who said that ‘great art  belongs to all people, all the time—that indeed it is made for the people, by the people, to the people.’

Pai also adds that the AI-generated images should be understood for what they are: Tools for producing digital visuals, not replacements for human creativity. “Much of the criticism against AI-generated Ghibli-style images stems from the mistaken belief that they are attempting to supplant real artistry. That is not the case. The painstaking effort that Studio Ghibli animators—and countless other artists—put into their craft is neither questioned nor diminished by this trend.”

Instead, the widespread sharing of AI-generated images is introducing Studio Ghibli’s work to new audiences who may not have been familiar with it before. In many ways, it functions as an interactive tribute, akin to a digital art installation that raises awareness about the studio’s legacy, he says.

AI as a creative tool, not a crutch

Bedour Al Fardan, currently Creative Manager at Al Fardan Exchange, believes that the AI wave will subside in a few weeks. “As an artist passionate about the beauty of creating art, I believe AI tools—when used wisely—can be powerful in enhancing creativity and advancing artistic skills. It all depends on how you choose to use them,” he says. While the tools can spark inspiration, they also risk stifling originality, if overused or misused.

So, is AI detrimental to art? “I don’t think so. Art has always been influenced by something, rarely is a piece entirely original. Tools like the Studio Ghibli generator can serve as creative jumpstarts rather than shortcuts. In today’s evolving creative landscape, artists must learn to adapt to new technologies. They’re not slowing down, and resisting them could mean getting left behind. While it’s vital to maintain a foundation in traditional practices, we must also rethink the way we create moving forward.”

He adds that much like the early scepticism around Chat GPT, over time, it is widely accepted, even relied upon. “That’s where the line needs to be drawn: artists must find a balance. Use AI as a source of inspiration, not a crutch. The future of art lies in that balance,” he says.

The ethical concerns  of privacy

Pai addresses the major concern with this trend is OpenAI’s use of Studio Ghibli’s artistic style without permission. “This reflects a broader issue—AI companies training models on copyrighted material without explicit consent, raising ethical and legal questions. Should AI firms profit from an artist’s life’s work without authorisation? While AI-generated art is engaging, it underscores the urgent need for clearer copyright laws to protect artistic integrity and ensure creators receive proper recognition and compensation.” He also adds that, OpenAI also collects user-uploaded data to refine its models, sparking privacy concerns, especially for children and teens.

Many may unknowingly grant OpenAI permission to use personal photos for training. In a digital age where convenience often compromises privacy, parents must stay vigilant—educating children on data security and setting clear boundaries on what they share.

Parental concerns: The risk of AI trends

Sonal Chhiber, a Senior Corporate Communications Consultant, MantraCare, raises concerns over privacy. “As a parent of three teenage kids, I’d focus on privacy, especially how AI platforms handle personal images. While the ‘ghiblification’ trend is fun and nostalgic, I’m mindful of the potential risks, like unauthorised use or AI training on family photos. It’s important to strike a balance between enjoying these trends and protecting our digital footprint.”

The rise of AI-generated Ghibli-style art is a display of AI’s creative potential and its ethical dilemmas. As technology reshapes art, balancing innovation with respect for original creators and stronger regulatory frameworks needs to be strongly enforced.  “The rise of AI-generated Ghibli-style art highlights both the wonders and the dilemmas of artificial intelligence in creative spaces. While it offers a new way for users to engage with beloved artistic styles, it also raises important questions about artistic ownership, copyright laws, and digital privacy,” adds Pai.