Studio Ghibli’s signature animation style has recently surged in popularity, with people using OpenAI’s latest image generator to transform everyday moments into works resembling the iconic look of Ghibli films. However, the trend has sparked backlash from the legendary animator and Ghibli co-founder, Hayao Miyazaki, who expressed strong disapproval of AI-generated art. In a clip from the NHK documentary Hayao Miyazaki — The One Who Never Ends, Miyazaki was seen telling a group of students, “I am utterly disgusted… I would never wish to incorporate this technology into my work at all. I strongly feel this is an insult to life itself.”
Studio Ghibli, renowned for films like Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, and Howl’s Moving Castle, has become synonymous with meticulously crafted hand-drawn animation. The company’s labor-intensive approach, where every frame is painted by hand, contrasts sharply with AI’s automated, mass-production processes. Miyazaki’s comments underline his belief that true art requires a human touch, something he feels is lost when machines replicate the delicate nuances of animation.
The debate highlights a growing divide between traditional artistry and the rise of AI technologies, as Ghibli fans and critics alike react to this clash of values in the world of animation.
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