The internet is buzzing with a new trend that has captivated users worldwide: AI-generated images in the iconic Studio Ghibli style. As of March 30, 2025, this trend exploded online when users began posting ‘ghiblified’ images of themselves and iconic scenes from movies, memes, and posters of prominent personalities using OpenAI's latest update. The image generator, part of the ChatGPT-4.0 release, allows users to transform ordinary photos into magical, hand-drawn images reminiscent of Hayao Miyazaki’s anime masterpieces, such as Spirited Away and Howl’s Moving Castle.
While many are embracing this new feature, not everyone is a fan. Critics argue that these AI-generated images are a poor imitation of Miyazaki’s distinctive style and disrespectful to his creative genius. Nevertheless, the trend continues to gain momentum, with more users eager to join the fun.
Currently, OpenAI’s Ghibli-style image generator is accessible only to ChatGPT Plus users, who pay a monthly subscription. However, there is good news for free users: other online tools are available that allow them to create Ghibli images without needing a subscription. This feature is giving people the chance to experience the magic of Studio Ghibli in a whole new way.
To start creating Ghibli-style images, users must first choose the right tool. While ChatGPT-4.0 offers a fantastic image-generating feature, it is limited to Plus subscribers. Free users can utilize xAI’s Grok chatbot and various other online platforms to achieve similar results. These alternatives enable users to transform their ordinary photos into Ghibli-inspired art.
Here’s how to create your own Ghibli-style image: First, ensure you have access to Grok 3 through a compatible platform, which does not require a paid subscription like ChatGPT Plus. Then, use a detailed prompt to describe the image you want. For instance, you could say, "A Ghibli-style portrait of Sachin Tendulkar with Virat Kohli at Lords." The more specific the prompt, the better the AI can interpret your request.
Some AI platforms, including Grok 3, allow users to upload their photos for conversion into Ghibli-style art. Once you have your prompt ready and any necessary images uploaded, submit the request and prompt the AI to ‘Ghiblify’ your images. Wait for Grok 3 to process the image and generate your Ghibli-inspired artwork.
Despite the excitement, not all is smooth sailing. On March 30, 2025, ChatGPT experienced outages worldwide as users flocked to the AI chatbot to create their Studio Ghibli-styled animated avatars. DownDetector recorded over 200 complaints about OpenAI, highlighting the overwhelming demand for the image generation feature.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman acknowledged the situation, urging users to reduce their usage of ChatGPT’s latest feature. In a post on social media platform X, he stated, "Can yall please chill on generating images this is insane our team needs sleep (sic)." Despite his appeal, many users were not convinced, with some even suggesting he should fire his team.
The surge in popularity of the Ghibli-style image generator has put a strain on OpenAI’s infrastructure. Altman admitted, "It’s super fun seeing people love images in ChatGPT, but our GPUs are melting." To manage the high demand, OpenAI plans to implement temporary rate limits. The free version of ChatGPT will soon have a cap of three image generations per day.
Unlike earlier AI-generated art that relied on external tools like OpenAI’s DALL-E, the new image generation feature is built directly into ChatGPT-4.0. Users can create visuals seamlessly using text prompts, specifying details like aspect ratio, color schemes, and transparent backgrounds. The model can also analyze and learn from uploaded images to enhance its output.
Meanwhile, alternatives to ChatGPT are gaining traction as users seek reliable options for creating Ghibli-style images. Google's Gemini, also known as Google Bard, has emerged as a powerful AI chatbot and a strong alternative for generating these trendy images. Grok, xAI's chatbot, is also popular among users looking for quick and effective Ghibli-style creations.
Other notable alternatives include Craiyon, formerly known as DALL-E Mini, which is a free AI image generator that allows users to create stunning Ghibli images from text prompts. Deep AI offers a basic chatbot and image generator, making it an ideal option for social media users who want to produce beautiful Ghibli images without breaking the bank. Playground AI is another platform that helps users create trending Ghibli images using advanced artificial intelligence tools.
As the AI race heats up, Google recently released its latest voice model, Gemini 2.5 Pro, for free users. This model, still in an experimental phase, can be selected from the drop-down menu on the Gemini website, with support for iOS and Android apps expected soon. Google had announced the Gemini 2.5 Pro model earlier for advanced users, but with ChatGPT dominating the spotlight due to its native image generation feature, the tech giant decided to extend the update to free users as well.
Gemini 2.5 Pro is designed to excel in reasoning and coding capabilities, aiming to mimic human-like reasoning abilities for better performance. Google claims this model leads in common coding, math, and science-related tasks in benchmarks such as Humanity's Last Exam and LMArena. With a context window of 1 million tokens, roughly translating to 750,000 words, Gemini 2.5 Pro is positioned to compete strongly against other models in the market.
As the demand for AI-generated images continues to rise, users are finding innovative ways to express their creativity through Ghibli-style transformations. With numerous platforms now available, the future of digital artistry is undoubtedly evolving, allowing everyone to tap into their inner animator.
