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Images created using ChatGPT that follow the signature art style of Japan’s Studio Ghibli have sparked debates over copyright infringement. Experts are weighing whether OpenAI, the developer of the image generator, has committed legal violations.
Ghibli-style photos have gained explosive popularity since their launch in March. This trend has caught on with both older and younger folks, everyone from regular people to famous celebrities.
Even though lots of people are really into this phenomenon, there's still a big question: are these Studio Ghibli-inspired images actually infringing on copyright? Let's dig a little deeper into this.
AI's Impact on Studio Ghibli: Copyright Concerns UnveiledDaily NewsApr 9, 2025
ChatGPT Usage Rises in South Korea Amid Explosive Popularity of Images Inspired by Studio Ghibli
In late March, ChatGPT saw a record-high number of daily users in South Korea. Mobile analytics platform IGAWorks released a report on April 1, and it shows an immense number of daily active users on a single day. According to the data, Korean users hit 1,252,925 on March 27 alone. The figure marked a dramatic increase of over 200,000 users in just two weeks since March 10, when the number exceeded one million users (1,033,733) for the first time. Also, it recorded a rise of over 450,000 daily users compared to March 1 (799,571).
believe it or not we put a lot of thought into the initial examples we show when we introduce new technology https://t.co/NXIwm3zFFw
— Sam Altman (@sama) March 27, 2025
Industry observers cited the launch of the new ChatGPT-4o image generation model on March 25 as the main cause of the rapid increase. The latest model allows users to take pictures without giving manual commands. The art style of Studio Ghibli—known for films like “Howl's Moving Castle” and “Spirited Away”—is one of the most popular themes. Even OpenAI CEO Sam Altman updated his profile picture on X (formerly Twitter) to a Studio Ghibli-inspired image of himself.
The image generator also offers iconic art styles like Pixar, Disney, and “The Simpsons.” The process is simple: users upload a picture to ChatGPT-4o and ask for it to be turned into a Ghibli-style illustration.
Korean Celebrities Embrace ChatGPT Generation of Studio Ghibli-Style Images
Ghibli-style photos are sweeping social media, including platforms like Instagram, X, and Facebook. Because of social media’s instant sharing capabilities, the rising trend has come to the attention of Korean celebrities. Some of them have already tried making their own.
TV personality Jun HyunMoo is among them. Jun, known for staying updated with trends, shared a photo of himself reminiscent of Studio Ghibli’s iconic animation style. The picture shows the celebrity lying in bed with a neck brace for his laryngitis. Meanwhile, comedian Jo HyeRyun made a Ghibli-style image of her husband and uploaded it with the caption, “This is my husband. Ghibli is OK to reveal. This is fun.”
Jo HyeRyun Official Instagram
Former member of the K-Pop girl group Secret, Song JiEun, also joined the trend of creating images inspired by Studio Ghibli using ChatGPT. She posted a Ghibli-style version of her wedding photo with her husband, YouTube4 Park We.
Song JiEun Official Instagram
Cultural critic Jung DukHyun explained that Korean celebrities often feel obliged to keep up with social trends. The main reason is that they want to stay connected with their fans. He noted, “In that shared space of interest, they can generate strong engagement.”
Artists Criticize ChatGPT Images Resembling Signature Art of Studio Ghibli
Amid the positive responses, not everyone is pleased with the craze. Certain artists have voiced concerns, calling out the trend for undervaluing hand-drawn art and ignoring ethical and copyright issues.
“One Piece” anime director Megumi Ishitani took to social media to express frustration. They called the fad “an act that devalues Ghibli’s brand” and hoped that the company would take legal action. “It’s unbearable to see Ghibli treated like something cheap,” she said.
ジブリを汚しやがって…許さん……
— 䂖谷牛乳 (@ishigyunyu) April 1, 2025
Artist Lee Bin, recognized for the comic “Hello Jadoo,” voiced the same sentiment. On social media, she shared that her friend happily posted a Ghibli-style family portrait. “My friend did nothing wrong,” she said. “But I suddenly felt drained. I didn’t want to say anything.”
What she meant was that she felt emotionally drained. It's not because her friend did anything wrong, but because it reminded her of how AI may replace or devalue real artists’ work.
Studio Ghibli Meets ChatGPT: Can AI Art Be Considered Copyright Infringement?
This popular AI feature, however, has triggered an intense debate over copyright and artistic ownership. It is unclear whether resembling an artistic style can be considered a copyright violation.