The internet has been overtaken by AI-generated images rendered in the style of Studio Ghibli, the Japanese animation house known for its beloved films such as Spirited Away and Howl’s Moving Castle.
On the surface, it all seems innocent enough. People are prompting AI services, such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT, to recreate photos of their weddings, pets and loved ones as Ghibli-inspired versions. The large, expressive eyes, warm tonal palette, vibrant backgrounds and general aesthetic are unmistakably in the style of Hayao Miyazaki, the founder of Studio Ghibli.
The trend has cajoled public figures from Mike Tyson to Narendra Modi into posting AI-generated pictures of themselves with the Ghibli treatment. Even the White House’s official X account used the aesthetic in a controversial post that shows an ICE agent arresting a sobbing Virginia Basora-Gonzalez, a convicted fentanyl dealer and illegal migrant.
The White House post was in poor taste, but the entire trend has ethical implications that many using the ChatGPT function may not initially consider. The deluge of images has effectively become a frontline in the debate surrounding the ethics of artificial intelligence, specifically its use on copyrighted works and how this will affect the livelihood of artists.
At one end of the spectrum, there is the argument that AI is only a tool that can never replicate the sensibilities of a human artist. AI-generated art, no matter if it is replicating the style of Studio Ghibli or Henri Matisse, will only be able to create works that exist in the space occupied by corporate art and hotel room canvases. That is, works that may seem aesthetically pleasing but lack depth, serving to only break the blankness of a wall.
But there is a more disruptive dimension to consider – the flagrant and irresponsible overstepping of tech companies over intellectual property.
The use of Miyazaki’s aesthetic in the latest viral storm is representative of a bigger issue. The Japanese animation studio is not likely to lose money if you put in a photograph taken on your honeymoon in Mykonos and give it the Ghibli treatment. But there are independent artists to consider, ones who risk having their unique designs or styles appropriated by online product sellers.
Take the case of Vanessa Bowman, for instance. The UK painter is known for her works inspired by an idyllic rural life. Her unique designs had been stolen and imprinted on clothing by the online fashion giant Shein.
“They didn’t remotely bother trying to change anything,” she told The Guardian in 2022. “The things I paint are my garden and my little village: it’s my life. And they’ve just taken my world to China and whacked it on an acrylic jumper.”
AI further complicates a tough battle for independent artists. A company no longer needs to take specific work to incorporate into their products, circumventing more clear-cut copyright laws to instead create designs inspired by an artist’s aesthetic. Of course, this is just the tip of the iceberg of repercussions this will entail. It does not just put an artist’s creative identity and income at risk, but also that of fashion and graphic designers who would possibly have been employed by companies such as Shein.
AI is a powerful tool that can be incorporated into the daily creative workflow in wonderful ways, spurring new movements in art and creativity. The issue is not the technology, but the nature of how Big Tech is ignoring copyright law – as well as the artist’s wishes.
The Studio Ghibli trend is an especially symbolic one for this reason, particularly because Miyazaki has previously spoken out against it. A 2016 clip showing him talking about AI-created animation has become widely shared after the deluge of Ghibli-styled images.
“I am utterly disgusted,” Miyazaki says in the video to a group of designers who had experimented with AI. “If you 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. I strongly feel that this is an insult to life itself.”
Later, the Studio Ghibli co-founder adds: “I feel like we are nearing the end of times. We humans are losing faith in ourselves.”
Whether you agree with Miyazaki’s statements or not isn’t the point. It is the case of an artist explicitly stating his distaste for the technology and yet having his wishes ignored.
For OpenAI to allow users to create Ghibli-styled images is an insult to the artist. It implies that the artist and their intentions do not matter. Only their work and aesthetic do. It is a situation that could dishearten the artists of tomorrow, and diminish their creative agency while keeping the field wide open for content to overrun art.
Read next: Israeli army's militarising of Studio Ghibli trend sparks online backlash
Small%20Things%20Like%20These
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Tim%20Mielants%3Cbr%3ECast%3A%20Cillian%20Murphy%2C%20Emily%20Watson%2C%20Eileen%20Walsh%3Cbr%3ERating%3A%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The Matrix Resurrections
Director: Lana Wachowski
Stars: Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Jessica Henwick
Rating:****
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Hot%20Seat
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20James%20Cullen%20Bressack%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EStars%3A%20Mel%20Gibson%2C%20Kevin%20Dillon%2C%20Shannen%20Doherty%2C%20Sam%20Asghari%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3ERating%3A%201%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
'The Sky is Everywhere'
Director:Josephine Decker
Stars:Grace Kaufman, Pico Alexander, Jacques Colimon
Rating:2/5
The specs: 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLE
Price, base / as tested Dh274,000 (estimate)
Engine 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder
Gearbox Nine-speed automatic
Power 245hp @ 4,200rpm
Torque 500Nm @ 1,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined 6.4L / 100km
The specs: 2018 Audi RS5
Price, base: Dh359,200
Engine: 2.9L twin-turbo V6
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 450hp at 5,700rpm
Torque: 600Nm at 1,900rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 8.7L / 100km
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
Zayed Sustainability Prize
About Proto21
Date started: May 2018
Founder: Pir Arkam
Based: Dubai
Sector: Additive manufacturing (aka, 3D printing)
Staff: 18
Funding: Invested, supported and partnered by Joseph Group
The five pillars of Islam
More on Quran memorisation:
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
Drishyam 2
Directed by: Jeethu Joseph
Starring: Mohanlal, Meena, Ansiba, Murali Gopy
Rating: 4 stars
A State of Passion
Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi
Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
Rating: 4/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
CABINET%20OF%20CURIOSITIES%20EPISODE%201%3A%20LOT%2036
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EGuillermo%20del%20Toro%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Tim%20Blake%20Nelson%2C%20Sebastian%20Roche%2C%20Elpidia%20Carrillo%3Cbr%3ERating%3A%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Company profile
Name: Tharb
Started: December 2016
Founder: Eisa Alsubousi
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: Luxury leather goods
Initial investment: Dh150,000 from personal savings
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
SPECS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dual%20electric%20motors%20with%20102kW%20battery%20pack%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E570hp%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20890Nm%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERange%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Up%20to%20428km%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh1%2C700%2C000%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Zodi%20%26%20Tehu%3A%20Princes%20Of%20The%20Desert
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EEric%20Barbier%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EYoussef%20Hajdi%2C%20Nadia%20Benzakour%2C%20Yasser%20Drief%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Sanju
Produced: Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Rajkumar Hirani
Director: Rajkumar Hirani
Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Vicky Kaushal, Paresh Rawal, Anushka Sharma, Manish’s Koirala, Dia Mirza, Sonam Kapoor, Jim Sarbh, Boman Irani
Rating: 3.5 stars
Brief scores
Barcelona 2
Pique 36', Alena 87'
Villarreal 0
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
The%20Roundup
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Lee%20Sang-yong%3Cbr%3EStars%3A%20Ma%20Dong-seok%2C%20Sukku%20Son%2C%20Choi%20Gwi-hwa%3Cbr%3ERating%3A%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
More on animal trafficking
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
Women's Prize for Fiction shortlist
The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker
My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite
Milkman by Anna Burns
Ordinary People by Diana Evans
An American Marriage by Tayari Jones
Circe by Madeline Miller
