Priyanka Tiwari
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Social media is being swept by a wave of AI-generated artwork inspired by the legendary Studio Ghibli. From cinematic recreations to candid personal moments, users are converting everyday photos into Ghibli-style masterpieces, evoking the soft, dreamlike visuals the animation studio is known for.
Driven by powerful AI tools, these images feature painterly textures, soft lighting, and expressive faces reminiscent of classic films like Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle, and My Neighbor Totoro. Many users are now taking things further by tweaking image details—adjusting lighting, facial features, and backgrounds to better match the Ghibli aesthetic.
The AI Art Craze Expands Beyond Ghibli
As the Ghibli-style trend continues to spread, users are exploring other pop culture-inspired transformations:
The Simpsons-style AI edits: From political leaders to Bollywood scenes, everyday photos are being reimagined in Springfield’s iconic cartoon style.
The Simpsons
— Alyn Jones (@Alyn) March 29, 2025
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild pic.twitter.com/L0zibLgu8x
Muppet-inspired AI art: Familiar faces are being turned into lovable puppet-like versions, reflecting nostalgic children's TV charm.
Ghibli is over, muppets are now. pic.twitter.com/RV3bDG9Ujf
— Andy Orsow (@andyorsow) March 26, 2025
Blown away by ChatGPT’s image creation tool. I uploaded a photo of my family (that none of my daughters will let me post) and then asked for variations including:
— Alyn Jones (@Alyn) March 29, 2025
Anime
Pixar-style
Victorian royalty
Picasso-esque pic.twitter.com/zzU1elNsTA
90s anime re-creations: Fans are using AI to render modern moments in the distinct cel-shaded, vibrant tones of classic anime from the 1990s.
Even the White House Joins In
In a surprising moment, the White House shared a meme featuring a Ghibli-style image of Virginia Basora-Gonzalez, a convicted drug trafficker held by ICE. The unexpected crossover between political content and anime-inspired art stunned users and added to the viral momentum of the trend.
Why the Ghibli Style Resonates with Users
Studio Ghibli's style is beloved for its:
Painterly backgrounds
Soft, nostalgic color palettes
Emotionally rich, expressive characters
Tranquil and magical visual storytelling
These qualities have now become a viral visual language, enabled by AI tools that allow users to reinterpret themselves and their surroundings in this universally appealing aesthetic.
“Street style”
— Alyn Jones (@Alyn) March 29, 2025
Studio Ghibli
Star Wars
Paper sketch pic.twitter.com/alvHKjNKbA
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