The entire world has been taken by storm by the recent surge in the creation of Studio Ghibli style art using artificial intelligence (AI). People are posting Studio Ghibli inspired art all over the internet. So much so that the CEO of OpenAI, Sam Altman, had to come out and say that its hardware is melting with prompts for creating Studio Ghibli style art. But what exactly is it?
Studio Ghibli was founded in 1985 by the legendary Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata, and Toshio Suzuki for creating animation and storytelling art. It is the same studio that is responsible for making exceptional animated movies like Princess Mononoke (1997) and Spirited Away (2001). The art style of Studio Ghibli seems to blend unique hand drawn art with themes of nature, culture, and human emotion. Some of its prominent features could be lush and detailed backgrounds, soft and warm lighting, connection with nature, expressive character designs, hand drawn aesthetics, and cultural and historical influences.
Using AI to create Studio Ghibli style art seems to have evoked mixed feelings of nostalgia among the public. In this era of disruptive technologies, people want something that is timeless, and that is exactly what Studio Ghibli style art is. It also sends out a subtle but powerful message that nature is sacred and must be respected by humans.
Studio Ghibli is not a new phenomenon. Its iconography has existed for decades. There is the Ghibli Museum, Ghibli Park, and Ghibli as a lifestyle brand. Thus, it is already deeply embedded in popular culture. It also represents the legacy of Miyazaki and his philosophy.
Many people are now contending that Studio Ghibli style art is a fad, and that people are really bored with it. I find that to be quite untrue. My own view is that Ghibli style art has already integrated itself into our creative workflows, and in the future, it will continue to evolve. Ghibli style art will interact with other genres of art and lead to the creation of some stupendous works. Thus, it definitely has a lasting impact and will remain meaningful in the future.