The Ghibli Effect? More Like The AI Defect

The AI-generated Ghibli trend that has taken over Instagram has been going around for a few days now, and I’ve been sitting with it, trying to make sense of how I feel. At first, it seemed harmless- just another internet craze where people turn their pictures into something dreamy and cinematic. But the more I saw it, the more discomforted I became. It has taken me some time to fully process why this trend unsettles me, but I believe I finally have my thoughts in place, and will articulate them through this blog.

This new trend, where people ask ChatGPT or other AI tools to reimagine their own images in the style of Studio Ghibli, is one of the most absurd examples of art commodification I’ve seen in a while. It is not just about AI replicating an art style, but rather about how quickly people have reduced an entire legacy of animation to nothing more than a superficial filter for their pictures.

Studio Ghibli’s artistry isn’t just about soft lighting and painterly backdrops. It’s about storytelling, about atmosphere, about a philosophy that treats animation as something deeply personal. Hayao Miyazaki and his team spent years meticulously handcrafting each film, considering the minutae-the way wind rustles through grass, how light delicately filters through trees, how a character’s hesitation can be expressed in the tiniest shift of posture. Every frame is intentional. And yet, here we are, watching people thoughtlessly slap a 'Ghibli effect' onto their faces, as if all of that effort was just some trendy visual aesthetic rather than an art form rooted in patience, philosophy, and craftsmanship.

Many of those participating in this trend have likely never watched a Ghibli film in its entirety. They just want their pictures to look dreamy and nostalgic. This is art consumption at its most shallow- engagement without understanding, appreciation without effort.

Beyond the thoughtlessness of it, the trend also points to a larger issue- AI is making people indifferent to the value of real artistic labour. When you can generate a Ghibli-style portrait in seconds, what happens to the artists who have spent decades mastering that style? What happens to the animators who painstakingly craft every frame of a film? By normalizing AI as a replacement for what once required years of skill, we condition people to view art as something immediate, effortless- a commodity that no longer demands the human touch.

This, in itself, is what makes this trend so profoundly ironic. Studio Ghibli’s entire ethos is built upon the values of slowness, intentionality, and the rejection of mass production for the sake of expedience. Miyazaki, in particular, has spent his entire career resisting the forces of automation, firmly believing that true artistry stems from human imperfections. In many ways, this trend is not only an affront to the animators but a direct contradiction to the very principles upon which Ghibli stands.

What are your thoughts? Does this trend actually harm the integrity of art, or is it just another internet craze? Should we be more conscious of how we engage with AI-generated content, or is it inevitable that art will become more automated? And most importantly, do we risk losing something irreplaceable when we prioritize convenience over craftsmanship? I would love to hear your views in the comments!