Right now, on April 3, 2025, everyone online is going crazy over a fun new trend: using AI to make pictures that look like they’re from Studio Ghibli movies—you know, those amazing Japanese cartoons like Spirited Away and Totoro. It started when a guy from Seattle used ChatGPT’s new picture-making tool to turn his family photo into a Ghibli-style drawing. His post got almost 50 million views, and now people everywhere are doing it—Indian cricket fans, even Bengaluru police with safety tips! ChatGPT’s got over 150 million users jumping in this week because of it. It’s super cool, but there are some big problems hiding behind the fun. Here’s why this trend isn’t as great as it seems.
In This Article:
Your Pictures Could Get Stolen
One big worry is about your personal stuff. When you upload a photo—like of your dog or your family—to make it Ghibli-style, you’re giving it to the AI. What if bad guys hack in and take it? Or what if the company keeps it to use later or sells it? Some smart people on X said this might be a trick to grab tons of photos. Experts warn it could lead to someone pretending to be you online or your pictures getting stuck out there forever. If you’re a parent letting your kid try it, that’s extra scary—those cute pics might never go away.
It’s Not Fair to the Artists
Another problem is that it feels wrong for the people who made Ghibli special. Studio Ghibli’s movies took years of hard work by artists like Hayao Miyazaki, drawing everything by hand. Now, an AI can copy that look in seconds. It’s neat, but it’s like taking their hard work and making it too easy. A singer from India, Vishal Dadlani, said he hates it because it’s stealing from artists. He’s right—it’s not the same. Plus, he said running these AI machines hurts the environment with all the power they use, which is the opposite of what Ghibli’s movies love, like nature.
It Might Cause Trouble with Laws
There’s also a chance this could get messy with rules. Could Studio Ghibli get mad and sue ChatGPT for copying their style? Some people think so, especially if the pictures look too much like their movies. ChatGPT says it’s fine to use a “big style” but not exact drawings, but that’s confusing. If Ghibli fights back, it could be a big argument about who owns what. Also, so many people are making these pictures that ChatGPT’s system is slowing down and crashing sometimes. If it breaks or causes more issues, who’s going to fix it?
It Makes Ghibli Less Special
The saddest part is how this might change what Ghibli means. Their movies used to feel rare and magical—like something you waited for and loved. Now, anyone can make a Ghibli picture super fast. People on X say it’s turning Ghibli into something normal, not special anymore. For fans like me who grew up watching these films, that feels wrong. It’s like the magic is slipping away because it’s everywhere now.
Why It’s a Bit of a Mess
So yeah, as of April 3, 2025, this Ghibli AI thing is really fun—I mean, who doesn’t want to see their cat look like Totoro? But there’s a catch. It could put your pictures at risk, it’s unfair to the artists, it might break some rules, and it’s making something I love feel less amazing. ChatGPT’s doing great with all the attention, but there’s a price. Maybe we should think twice before jumping in. Ghibli taught us to enjoy the slow, beautiful things in life, and this fast, crazy trend feels like it’s missing that point. It’s exciting, but it’s got some real downsides too.
-By Manoj H
