OpenAI has launched its most advanced image generator yet with GPT-4o, a "natively multimodal model" capable of producing precise and photorealistic images. Within hours of its release, users worldwide began experimenting with the tool's capabilities, flooding social media platforms with images transformed into the distinctive Studio Ghibli animation style.
For the unacquainted, Studio Ghibli, founded in 1985 by legendary animators Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata, and Toshio Suzuki, is a renowned Japanese animation studio celebrated for its exceptional storytelling and visual artistry. The studio has produced iconic films like "Spirited Away," "My Neighbor Totoro," and "The Boy and the Heron."
Known for hand-drawn animations featuring detailed backgrounds, pastel colour palettes, and emotionally engaging narratives, Studio Ghibli has cultivated a unique artistic style that has captivated audiences worldwide for decades. And from what is evident, netizens are having a field day transforming pictures or popular memes into Ghibli-esque artwork.
The trend quickly caught the attention of OpenAI's CEO Sam Altman, who enthusiastically participated by transforming his own profile picture into a Ghibli-style representation. Altman humorously documented his journey on X (formerly Twitter), writing a self-deprecating post that captured the viral moment: ">be me >grind for a decade trying to help make superintelligence to cure cancer or whatever >mostly no one cares for first 7.5 years, then for 2.5 years everyone hates you for everything >wake up one day to hundreds of messages: 'look i made you into a twink ghibli style haha.'"
However, the widespread use of the Ghibli style has reignited concerns about copyright and artistic integrity. Users began voicing apprehensions about the potential legal implications of AI-generated artwork mimicking established artistic styles. One user declared, "AI stealing the style of Studio Ghibli will be the last straw for many people who were on the fence about copyright. Just - stop."
Another user pointed out how everyone is leveraging this new tool to plagiarise any photo with a Ghibli style.
These concerns are not new. In fact, they echo sentiments previously expressed by Hayao Miyazaki himself. During a 2016 demonstration of AI animation technology, Miyazaki was unequivocal in his criticism. "I am utterly disgusted," he said. "If you really want to make creepy stuff you can go ahead and do it. I would never wish to incorporate this technology into my work at all." He went further, describing AI-generated content as "an insult to life itself."
The current wave of Ghibli-style AI images represents a complex intersection of technological innovation and artistic expression, bringing to the forefront ongoing debates about the boundaries of artificial intelligence in creative industries. It remains to be seen if Studio Ghibli will pursue any legal action against OpenAI.
The tool is currently only available to premium subscribers of ChatGPT. The surge in demand for this specific style has caused OpenAI to delay the feature's rollout to free users, as confirmed by CEO Sam Altman on X.
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