The internet has been captivated by Ghibli-style art this past week, with people transforming their personal photos into the iconic aesthetic of Hayao Miyazaki’s films. Known for animated masterpieces like Spirited Away, The Boy and the Heron, and The Wind Rises, Miyazaki’s signature style features watercolor-like backgrounds, soft lighting, and a dreamlike blend of fantasy and reality.
Social media is now flooded with these nostalgic transformations, as users reimagine themselves, their pets, and their surroundings as if they belong in a Studio Ghibli film. What started as a niche trend among anime enthusiasts has rapidly gone mainstream. If you want to try it yourself, here’s how you can do it for free using Google’s Gemini chatbot.
Here’s a simple step-by-step guide to transform your pictures into Ghibli style anime art with Google Gemini. Create Ghibli style images with Google Gemini
Follow this simple step-by-step guide to transform your pictures into Ghibli-inspired anime art:
- Head to the Google Gemini platform (gemini.google.com) or download the app on iOS or Android. This model leverages the Imagen 3 AI to craft stunning Ghibli-style visuals. Sign in with your Google account to get started.
- Find the upload option—usually indicated by a paperclip or camera icon—and select a clear photo. Subjects like people, pets, or landscapes work best. Higher quality images will yield more detailed and impressive results.
- In the text box, type a descriptive prompt such as: “Transform this photo into Studio Ghibli-style anime with soft pastel colors, dreamy backgrounds, and whimsical details.” Add specific elements like “a serene lake” or “twilight glow” for extra flair and personalization.
- If you are creating a new scene, you can describe that scene to Gemini in addition to the prompt “Create a Studio Ghibli-style anime art” with details of how exactly you want the picture to look like.
- Submit your prompt, and Gemini 2.5 Pro will process it within moments. If the initial output needs tweaking, adjust your prompt with specific instructions—such as “add more forest texture” or “enhance the lighting”—and regenerate the image.
- Right-click on desktop (or long-press on mobile) to save your finished image
Google Gemini makes it easy to participate in this trending aesthetic . It’s a fun and creative way to reimagine your photos, blending cutting-edge technology with Miyazaki’s timeless artistic style. Share the images created on your social media platforms to join the Ghibli-inspired art trend.
For ChatGPT subsribers
- For those who prefer ChatGPT, OpenAI offers similar capabilities. Users can subscribe to ChatGPT Plus for enhanced features by visiting OpenAI’s official website, selecting ‘View Plans’, and following the steps to complete their subscription.
Follow these steps to create Ghibli-style images using ChatGPT for free:
- Open the latest version of ChatGPT.
- Tap the three-dot icon on the prompt bar.
- Select the “Image” option, which appears alongside “Canvas” after clicking the three dots.
- Enter a detailed text prompt describing the image you want. For example- “A Ghibli-style portrait of Prime Minister Narendra and US President Donald Trump shaking hands in front of the Taj Mahal.”
- Once generated, download the image and share it on social media.
What is Ghibli art?
Ghibli art refers to the studio’s distinctive visual style, characterised by pastel and muted colour palettes along with meticulous detailing. This artistic approach has remained popular among anime fans due to its rich creative expression and narrative depth.
Founded in 1985 by Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata, and Toshio Suzuki, Studio Ghibli is a highly regarded Japanese animation studio, known for its hand-drawn animation, intricate backgrounds, and emotionally resonant storytelling. The name “Ghibli” comes from a Libyan Arabic word referring to a hot desert wind.
AI art sparks ethical concerns
The trend also highlighted ethical concerns about artificial intelligence tools trained on copyrighted creative works and what that means for the future livelihoods of human artists. Miyazaki, 84, known for his hand-drawn approach and whimsical storytelling, has expressed skepticism about AI’s role in animation.
ChatGPT maker OpenAI, which is fighting copyright lawsuits over its flagship chatbot, has largely encouraged the “Ghiblification” experiments and its CEO Sam Altman changed his profile on social media platform X into a Ghibli-style portrait. In a technical paper posted Tuesday, the company had said the new tool would be taking a “conservative approach” in the way it mimics the aesthetics of individual artists.
Additionally, OpenAI has implemented restrictions to avoid mimicking specific living artists’ styles, although broader studio aesthetics are still permitted.
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