OpenAI’s Ghibli-Style Art Sparks Legal and Ethical Concerns

Fans of Studio Ghibli, the renowned Japanese animation studio known for classics such as Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro, have been captivated by a recent AI trend that transforms images into the distinctive style of Hayao Miyazaki. OpenAI's latest image generator has allowed users to create Ghibli-style renditions of personal photos and internet memes, fueling both excitement and controversy.

While many users have embraced the feature, the trend has reignited discussions over the ethical and legal implications of AI-generated art. Miyazaki, 84, long celebrated for his hand-drawn animation techniques, has been vocal in his criticism of artificial intelligence in creative fields.

Janu Lingeswaran, a Germany-based entrepreneur, experimented with OpenAI’s tool by converting an image of his pet cat, Mali, into a Ghibli-style illustration. The result, he said, was visually stunning and something he planned to display in his home. Other users have applied the AI tool to well-known images, such as Olympic shooter Yusuf Dikec’s casual stance or the widely recognized Disaster Girl meme.

OpenAI, currently facing multiple copyright lawsuits, has acknowledged concerns over AI-generated images mimicking specific artistic styles. The company has stated that its tool includes safeguards to prevent direct replication of living artists' work but allows broader stylistic influences. CEO Sam Altman even updated his social media profile picture to a Ghibli-style version of himself, seemingly endorsing the trend.

A technical document released by OpenAI emphasized that the company restricts AI-generated images from directly replicating living artists’ styles but permits adaptations of broader artistic movements. Despite this, many have questioned whether Studio Ghibli’s unique visual style should fall under such a category.

Studio Ghibli has yet to issue a response to the ongoing debate. The studio and its U.S. distributor did not reply to media inquiries regarding the AI-generated images.

As Ghibli-style AI images flooded social media, past remarks by Miyazaki regarding artificial intelligence resurfaced. In a 2016 documentary, he expressed deep discomfort after viewing an AI-generated animation of a contorted figure moving unnaturally. Miyazaki dismissed the concept as lacking humanity, recounting the struggles of a disabled friend as an example of why AI-driven motion lacks the depth of human experience.

“I strongly feel that this is an insult to life itself,” Miyazaki said at the time, rejecting any possibility of incorporating AI into his work.

The legal implications of AI-generated art remain complex. Josh Weigensberg, a partner at Pryor Cashman, highlighted that the key legal question is whether OpenAI’s models were trained on Studio Ghibli’s copyrighted work without permission. OpenAI has not disclosed whether it obtained licenses for such training.

Weigensberg noted that while “style” itself is not copyrightable, specific visual elements within a work may be legally protected. If AI-generated outputs closely resemble distinct features of Ghibli’s films, it could lead to legal challenges.

Artist Karla Ortiz, a critic of AI art generators and a plaintiff in ongoing copyright lawsuits, condemned OpenAI’s use of Ghibli’s artistic identity. She argued that such applications exploit artists’ labor without consent or compensation.

“This is using Ghibli’s name and reputation to market AI tools without respect for the original creators,” Ortiz said.

The controversy took another turn when the White House’s official X account posted a Ghibli-style AI-generated image of a detained immigrant, igniting further backlash. Ortiz and other artists called the post exploitative, with some urging legal action against OpenAI.OpenAI’s Ghibli-Style Art Sparks Legal and Ethical Concerns