New ChatGPT Image Feature Paints Pop Culture Icons, Memes In Studio Ghibli's Colours

Fans of Japanese animation company Studio Ghibli, known for its imaginative storytelling, are thrilled by OpenAI’s latest image feature. The new image feature on the artificial intelligence platform allows users to recreate images into a style similar to Studio Ghibli’s animation.

The demand for this feature has skyrocketed, with social media flooded by Studio Ghibli-esque adaptations of popular memes, movie scenes and personal photos. From Interstellar to Godfather, and Akshay Kumar’s classic comedy Hera Pheri, users are able to turn these iconic cinema scenes into Ghibli-inspired art with just a click.

Here are some of the examples we found on X:

The trend was an instant hit on the internet, with even OpenAI CEO Sam Altman joining in. His X (formerly Twitter) profile picture is a Ghibli-inspired version of his own photo. On the feature’s astronomical success, Altman shared a post discussing how his project was largely overlooked for initial years and then he received a lot of criticism. Now, his work has led to a viral moment on the internet and people are turning his photo into a playful, Ghibli-style artwork.

Studio Ghibli is a Japanese animation studio that has produced some of the phenomenal works such as My Neighbour Totoro, Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke and Grave of the Fireflies. Founded in 1985 by Isao Takahata and Hayao Miyazaki, the studio has created about two dozen feature length films that are widely popular among audiences of all age groups.

These movies are not only known for their rich storytelling but also for their emotional depth, as they touch on universal themes of love, nature, and personal growth. Studio Ghibli’s 2023 release The Boy and The Heron won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature film. Other films including The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (2013) and When Marnie Was There (2014) were also nominated for Oscars.

Miyazaki, 84, is one of the world’s most celebrated animation directors globally and has received many prestigious awards, including the renowned Ramon Magsaysay Award.