Studio Ghibli’s iconic animation style, recognized for its whimsical characters and dreamlike visuals, has taken on a new form online. Through the use of AI-generated “Ghiblified” portraits, the trend has captivated social media, gaining widespread attention. Celebrities, athletes, and even politicians have jumped on the bandwagon, sharing their own AI-transformed images inspired by the beloved Japanese animation studio.
Studio Ghibli AI trend: Grant Slatton, the man behind its viral success
The sudden surge in the "Ghiblified" portrait fad caught the eye of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who facetiously ordered people to slow down and told his team that they needed rest and couldn't work non-stop. But why did this movement go so passionately?
This online hit turned into a worldwide phenomenon, spreading quickly on every platform. The trend gained momentum with such tweets as Seattle software developer Grant Slatton's AI-created Ghibli-style picture of his family and dog on the beach, which turned into an online hit. His tweet—"marked, 'Tremendous alpha right now in sending your wife photos of y'all converted to Studio Ghibli anime'"—received 44,000 likes and a whopping 46 million views.
Grant Slatton’s viral tweet propels Ghibli-style trend worldwide
While AI-generated Ghibli-style images had been around prior to Slatton's tweet, it was his that made the trend go viral. His tweet was soon followed by a flood of similar images on social media, with everyone wanting to convert their own photos into Studio Ghibli-style images. While Slatton did not make these images, his viral tweet was what helped make the trend go global.
How to create free Ghibli-style portraits with OpenAI
Upon the popularity of the trend, OpenAI unlocked its image-generating AI-powered feature to all ChatGPT users regardless if they paid for its advanced service or not. Today, producing your personal Ghibli portrait is easy and free of charge. You may do this the following way:
- Open the web page or ChatGPT application.
- Hit the '+' button in the lower left corner in order to input your photo.
- Type a command such as "Ghiblify this" or "Make this photo a Studio Ghibli portrait."
Your own Ghibli-style image is available for download in seconds.
AI image editing goes mainstream
Though AI image manipulation has existed for decades, recent advancements with tools such as ChatGPT's image capabilities have brought the technology into the mainstream. Tools previously exclusive to paid subscribers only are now accessible to free-sign-up users, largely fueling the trend's meteoric popularity. Other AI tools, such as xAI's chatbot Grok 3, are also becoming popular, enabling even more individuals to hop in and create their own Ghibli-inspired makeovers.
AI transforms photos into Studio Ghibli-inspired fantasy portraits
Studio Ghibli has been captivating audiences for generations with movies such as Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, and Howl's Moving Castle. Established by Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata, the studio's distinctive hand-drawn animation technique, muted color schemes, and fantasy worlds have inspired generations of animators and artists. Today, using the technology of AI, fans can now dive into the magical world of Ghibli, turning their own photos into fantasy, Studio Ghibli-like portraits.
Also Read | Hayao Miyazaki’s 2025 net worth revealed; here’s how much the Studio Ghibli legend built his fortune
