ChatGPT’s ability to channel the visual language of animation houses such as Studio Ghibli makes it a powerful creative tool for fans. But there’s also a moral dimension: some might see such easy imitation as an affront to the studio’s hand-drawn legacy, especially when applied to memes.

Social media has recently been flooded with images that looked like they belonged in a Studio Ghibli film. Selfies, family photos and even memes have been re-imagined with the soft pastel palette characteristic of the Japanese animation company founded by Hayao Miyazaki.

The recent emergence of ChatGPT's new capability to produce images in the whimsical style of Studio Ghibli has captivated fans and artists alike, yet it simultaneously raises critical concerns surrounding copyright and ethical implications in the realm of artificial intelligence.