Who is Hayao Miyazaki? The Inspiration Behind ChatGPT’s Studio Ghibli Style Image Feature

In the gentle breeze of summer 1985, three artists in Japan founded a small art studio known for its heartfelt storytelling and beautifully hand-drawn animation. 

Do you know who these artists were? One of them later became known as the "Asian Walt Disney" and "Japan’s most influential film director".

Yes, we are talking about Hayao Miyazaki, who is also known as the Japanese Walt Disney and Japan’s most influential film director.

On June 15, 1985, with Suzuki Toshio and Isao Takahata, he started a small art studio, Ghibli, which later became a name now synonymous with breathtaking animation, deep storytelling, and timeless films loved worldwide.

Recently, ChatGPT launched its Ghibli-style image generator, where you can create stunning visuals inspired by the studio’s signature hand-drawn aesthetic. 

With soft watercolour textures, whimsical landscapes, and expressive characters, this tool brings the magic of Ghibli to life, allowing users to generate enchanting scenes reminiscent of classics like My Neighbour Totoro and Spirited Away.

Who is Hayao Miyazaki? The Vision Behind Studio Ghibli

Hayao Miyazaki is a renowned Japanese animator, filmmaker, and manga artist, best known as the co-founder and face of Studio Ghibli.

Born on January 5, 1941, in Tokyo, Japan, Miyazaki began his career in animation in 1963 at Toei Douga studio. He is celebrated for his imaginative storytelling, compelling characters, and visually stunning films that often explore themes of environmentalism, family, and social issues.

Early Career and Studio Ghibli

Miyazaki's early career involved working at various studios, including A Pro and Nippon Animation. He directed his first TV series, "Future Boy Conan", in 1978 and his first feature film, "Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro", in 1979. 

The success of "Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind" in 1984 led to the founding of Studio Ghibli in 1985, alongside Isao Takahata and Toshio Suzuki.

Notable Works

Some of Miyazaki's most iconic films include:

• Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984)
• My Neighbor Totoro (1988)
• Kiki's Delivery Service (1989)
• Princess Mononoke (1997)
• Spirited Away (2001)
• Howl's Moving Castle (2004)
• Ponyo (2008)
• The Wind Rises (2013)
• The Boy and the Heron (2023)

These films have garnered numerous awards, including Academy Awards and Golden Bears, cementing Miyazaki's status as a global animation legend.

Awards and Recognition

Miyazaki has received numerous accolades, including an honorary Academy Award in 2014 and the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the Venice International Film Festival in 2005. He was named a "Person of Cultural Merit" by the Japanese government in 2012.

Views on AI and Animation

Since this utter garbage is trending, we should take a look at what Hayao Miyazaki, the founder of Studio Ghibli, said about machine created art. https://t.co/1TMPcFGIJE pic.twitter.com/IvaM9WZL3T

— Nuberodesign (@nuberodesign) March 26, 2025

Miyazaki is a vocal critic of AI-generated art, viewing it as an "insult to life itself". He emphasises the importance of human creativity and the value of traditional hand-drawn animation.

Legacy

Today, Miyazaki serves as the honorary chairman of Studio Ghibli, continuing to inspire generations of animators and filmmakers worldwide with his timeless stories and artistic vision.

How Miyazaki’s Art Style Inspired ChatGPT’s Ghibli-Style Images

Hayao Miyazaki's art style has profoundly influenced the creative world, including AI-generated imagery inspired by his works, such as Studio Ghibli-style landscapes created by tools like ChatGPT's image-generation models.

His artistic approach is characterised by several unique elements that make his work iconic:

Key Features of Miyazaki's Art Style

1. Environmental Themes and Nature: Miyazaki’s art emphasises the beauty and sanctity of nature, often portraying it as pure and tranquil sanctuaries untouched by human civilisation. His works feature diverse ecosystems interacting in dynamic balance, showcasing nature’s vitality and evolution, such as the toxic yet harmonious "Sea of Decay" in Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind.

2. Mythology and Folklore: Miyazaki incorporates traditional Japanese folklore, blending magical creatures like spirits, gods, and dragons into natural settings. This creates a mystical yet relatable world, evident in films like Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke.

3. Whimsical and Philosophical Elements: His art combines whimsical visuals with deep philosophical undertones, exploring themes like environmental conservation, human relationships, and societal issues. This distinct blend resonates universally.

4. Visual Composition: Miyazaki’s style is marked by intricate details, vibrant colour palettes, and imaginative landscapes that evoke emotional depth. His works often downplay overt “Japaneseness”, incorporating Western aesthetics while retaining a uniquely Japanese signature through folklore and environmental imagery.

What is the ChatGPT Ghibli Art Feature? Bringing Ghibli’s Aesthetic to AI

The ChatGPT Ghibli Art Feature is a new image-generation capability integrated into OpenAI's GPT-4o model, allowing users to create AI-generated visuals inspired by Studio Ghibli's unique animation style. 

This feature has gained significant popularity on social media, where users transform photos into whimsical, hand-drawn-like images reminiscent of Ghibli classics such as Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro. Here's an overview:

How It Works

Access: Available to ChatGPT Plus, Pro, Team, and Free-tier users, though functionality may vary depending on the tier.

Process:

• Users upload an image via the ChatGPT interface.
• A text prompt like “Transform this into Ghibli style” is submitted.
• The AI generates a Ghibli-inspired version of the image, featuring soft pastel colors, expressive eyes, and detailed compositions.
• Customisation: Prompts can specify details such as aspect ratio, colour schemes, or character features.

Key Features

• Aesthetic: The generated images capture the soft, dreamlike quality of Studio Ghibli’s art, including its warm tones and intricate details.
• Versatility: Users have created portraits of themselves and pets and even reimagined movie stills in Ghibli style.
• Social Media Impact: The trend has taken over platforms like Instagram and X (formerly Twitter), where users share their creations.

Ethical Concerns

While the feature has been widely celebrated for its creativity, it raises ethical questions:

• Homage vs. Imitation: Critics argue that replicating Ghibli’s style through AI blurs the line between tribute and theft.
• Impact on Artists: Concerns have been raised about how AI-generated art might affect human artists who rely on similar styles for their livelihood.
• Miyazaki’s Criticism: Hayao Miyazaki himself has expressed disdain for AI in animation, calling it “an insult to life itself.”

Cultural and Nostalgic Appeal

The feature taps into the nostalgic charm of Studio Ghibli’s films while making its aesthetic accessible to a broader audience. Brands have also begun leveraging this trend for marketing campaigns.

10 Prompts to Create Studio Ghibli-Style Images Using AI

tremendous alpha right now in sending your wife photos of yall converted to studio ghibli anime pic.twitter.com/FROszdFSfN

— Grant Slatton (@GrantSlatton) March 25, 2025

Here are ten prompts you can use to create images in the style of Studio Ghibli using the ChatGPT Ghibli Art Feature:

1. "Transform this photo into a Studio Ghibli-inspired character, emphasising whimsical details and vibrant colours."
2. "What would I look like as a character in a Ghibli film?"
3. "Create an enchanted forest scene with ancient trees, colourful flowers, and soft sunlight filtering through the leaves, in the style of Studio Ghibli."
4. "Show me a cosy kitchen filled with herbs, steaming teapots, and freshly baked bread, bathed in warm morning light, inspired by Ghibli's charming interiors."
5. "Illustrate a young adventurer standing on a cliff overlooking a magical city, her eyes filled with wonder and excitement, capturing the essence of Ghibli storytelling."
6. "Generate an image of a quaint tea shop deep in an enchanted forest, surrounded by glowing mushrooms and tiny spirits dancing around, in a magical Ghibli-inspired setting."
7. "Depict a peaceful countryside at sunset with a small wooden house and smoke rising gently from the chimney, enveloped in the warm glow typical of Ghibli art."
8. "Create a scene of a child flying on a giant cat over lush green hills, with expressive eyes and a sense of adventure, reminiscent of Ghibli's whimsical narratives."
9. "Illustrate a serene lake at dawn with mist rising from the water, surrounded by mountains and soft pastel colours, inspired by the tranquil landscapes of Studio Ghibli."
10. "Transform this photo into a hand-drawn animated illustration with watercolour techniques, soft organic lines, and a magical atmosphere typical of classic Japanese animation."

These prompts can help guide the AI in producing detailed and enchanting images that reflect the beloved aesthetic of Studio Ghibli films.