Studio Ghibli and AI Art: Fan Reaction to AI Copies

AI-Generated Art and the Studio Ghibli Response

The recent introduction of image generation within ChatGPT by OpenAI triggered a significant reaction on social media. Users quickly discovered the ability to create AI-generated images mimicking the distinctive style of animated films produced by Studio Ghibli.

Fan Reaction and Existing Policies

While many anticipated a public statement from Studio Ghibli’s Hayao Miyazaki, the renowned animator has remained quiet. However, within the dedicated Ghibli fan subreddit, a pre-existing prohibition against AI art is being actively enforced.

A moderator of the subreddit noted a surge in “BAN AI NOW” posts, prompted by the proliferation of AI-generated Ghibli artwork on other platforms. The community’s stance against AI art has been consistent since its emergence.

Copyright Concerns and Artist Rights

Ghibli fans do not view these AI-created images as respectful tributes. Instead, they recognize that generative AI models are trained using copyrighted images from artists like Miyazaki, without obtaining their permission or consent for such usage.

This situation mirrors concerns raised by other creators and writers. Publishers, including The New York Times, have initiated legal action against OpenAI, alleging the unauthorized use of their copyrighted materials in training AI models.

Miyazaki’s Long-Standing Disapproval

The Ghibli case resonates particularly strongly given Hayao Miyazaki’s previously expressed disdain for AI-generated artwork. His strong feelings on the subject are well-documented.

In 2016 documentary footage, Miyazaki described AI-generated 3D animation as uninteresting and indicative of a lack of understanding of genuine human emotion. He stated his “utter disgust” with such creations.

Widespread Imitation and Controversial Uses

Beyond Ghibli, AI has been used to generate images in the styles of Pixar and Dr. Seuss. A particularly controversial instance involved the White House’s X account posting a Ghibli-style image that appeared to mock a woman during an arrest by ICE.

As the number of “Ghiblified” images increases online, fans have recirculated Miyazaki’s critical commentary in an attempt to discourage imitation. Despite these efforts, the widespread generation of such images continues.

OpenAI’s Usage Statistics

Brad Lightcap of OpenAI, responsible for the company’s daily operations, revealed that over 130 million users have generated more than 700 million images using the new ChatGPT feature.

Lightcap described the level of visual creativity demonstrated by users as “extremely inspiring.”

• The new ChatGPT feature has seen massive adoption.
• Over 700 million images have been created.