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ChatGPT’s newly introduced ability to create Ghibli-style anime images has sparked a wave of internet memes while reigniting discussions about copyright concerns. OpenAI, the company behind the AI chatbot, is already facing multiple lawsuits from news publishers, artists, and musicians over alleged copyright violations.
"Ghibli-style anime" refers to the distinctive animation style and narrative approach pioneered by Studio Ghibli, the iconic Japanese animation studio co-founded by Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata, and Toshio Suzuki. The studio is known for producing timeless animated classics like My Neighbor Totoro and Princess Mononoke. A hallmark of its hand-drawn artistry includes soft, expressive characters with emotive eyes, complemented by vibrant and immersive color palettes.
The newest version, powered by GPT-4o, OpenAI’s most advanced model, introduces the ability to generate Ghibli-style anime with greater sophistication. Unlike before, users can now achieve highly detailed results by providing precise prompts. However, this feature will initially be available only to paid subscribers, while free users will continue to access the chatbot’s standard image generation capabilities.
Originally, the Ghibli-style feature was meant to be available for free, but due to the model's unexpected success, OpenAI decided to restrict access to paid users. Joining the viral trend, CEO Sam Altman even changed his profile picture on X to reflect the craze.
Social media has been inundated with Ghibli-style AI-generated images, reimagining famous memes, politicians, and Hollywood movies. Some of the most viral creations include Ghibli-style depictions of Elon Musk alongside former U.S. President Donald Trump, scenes from The Lord of the Rings, and even a controversial recreation of the 9/11 terror attack on the Twin Towers.
The White House also joined the trend, sharing an AI-generated Ghibli-style image on X depicting a felon—someone convicted of a serious crime being handcuffed by a U.S. immigration officer.
https://t.co/PVdINmsHXs pic.twitter.com/Bw5YUCI2xL
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) March 27, 2025
When asked by news agency AFP whether its latest image-generation feature posed a threat to Studio Ghibli’s intellectual property, OpenAI responded that it was still fine-tuning its model while aiming to provide users with as much creative freedom as possible.
A company spokesperson stated, “We continue to prevent generations in the style of individual living artists, but we do permit broader studio styles, which people have used to generate and share some truly delightful and inspired original fan creations.”
She further added, “We're always learning from real-world use and feedback, and we'll keep refining our policies as we go.”
Meanwhile, social media users were quick to reshare a 2016 video of legendary Studio Ghibli director Hayao Miyazaki, in which he harshly criticized AI-generated art during a demonstration by the studio's staff.
An English translation of his remark reads, “I would never wish to incorporate this technology into my work at all. I strongly feel that this is an insult to life itself.”
AFP also quoted artist and illustrator Jayd "Chira" Ait-Kaci's post on the Bluesky social media platform. The trend “is especially insidious and malicious because of how outspokenly scathing Miyazaki has been toward the tech. It's always about contempt for artists, every time,” he said.
OpenAI is aggressively lobbying the White House and US Congress to make the use of copyrighted content by AI companies a part of the fair use doctrine. Fair use regulations already apply to search engines, satire and memes online. This allows companies to freely use copyrighted material without permission.