Ghibli Art: A trend turned into a sensation

In this blog, we will analyse in detail the legal implications surrounding AI-generated Ghibli images. The controversy emerged mid-March 2025, when Open AI introduced a new tool, which enabled the users to generate images inspired by the Ghibli style of art belonging to Studio Ghibli. Although the innovation has garnered praise from some, it sparked the question of lawful imitation and the need for consent of the original creator.

Before we delve into the legal aspects of the issue, let us explore in greater detail, Studio Ghibli, their unique style of work, the IP they own and whether the recent AI generated images have infringed their IP Rights.

Studio Ghibli is a renowned Japanese animation studio based in Tokyo, Japan co-founded by Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata, the Directors of the company along with Toshio Suzuki, the Producer of this studio. They are a prominent player in animation and television industry for the past several decades. They have produced many top-grossing feature films which have won prestigious awards such as the Animage Grand Prix, Japana academy Film Prize, and BAFTA Award. They have also received multiple Oscar nominations. Their films Spirited Away and Golden Bear have won the Academy Award as best feature films from the AMPAS.

The brilliance of Studio Ghibli films lies in their unique storytelling and craftsmanship. Each frame of their film is made using hand-drawn clippings which is a combination of the traditional 2-D and cell-drawn animation, where around 24-25 frames of drawing are included to capture a single second video. These artworks are assiduously hand-drawn using subtle and under toned acrylic and watercolours, incorporating aesthetic anecdotes of Japanese folk art, culture, and values. This combination makes their visuals captivating, distinct and unique for the viewers. These visuals, coupled with soundtracks which evolved from eclectic synth to motivic and melodic compositions, create a distinct and captivating experience. This undertone of their films are reflections of the ideologies and philosophies of Hayao Miyazaki. His films offer more than just entertainment, they reflect the culture and life of the Japanese.

Hayao Miyazaki notably has opposed digitalisation and AI generated art, and has been a strong advocate of preserving true and original anime artistry. Ironically his unique art style now faces misuse and infringement. From an IP perspective, the crucial issues revolving around AI generated Ghibi images are:

• Whether Studio Ghibli’s art style is eligible for copyright.
• Whether Open AI generated images can be considered as derivative work or are they eligible for the defence of fair use.
• Whether AI can be trained using copyrighted material/work without the creator’s consent/ permission.
• Whether moral rights of Studio Ghibli artists are infringed.
• Whether data privacy is at stake.

The key point here is that an idea or artistic style, in itself, cannot be copyrighted. However, when they are adapted and expressed in tangible forms such as films, paintings, poems or other works they are subjects of copyright. Films of Studio Ghibli which incorporate the unique style are copyright protected and unauthorised use of the same would be considered as infringement.

As regards legal consideration of whether AI-generated images qualify as derivative works or fall under fair use, the former involves substantial use and transformation of copyrighted material, which requires authorization from the copyright holder. Fair use exceptions are limited and depend on factors such as purpose, nature, and market impact of the work. OpenAI’s output raises serious questions about whether it crosses these boundaries. Further, AI training involves processing vast amounts of data, often including copyrighted works. Without consent from the creators, using these materials could be deemed as copyright infringement. This practice raises concerns about diminishing human creativity and originality, as it enables reproduction of work without involvement of skill or labour.

Another pressing concern lies in privacy and data security. Engaging in such trends often comes at a hidden cost. There are high chances of data theft, data leak of personal information, theft of geolocation, face recognition patterns, and other meta-data security and privacy risks.

Lastly, one should be mindful of the time, painstaking effort and labour invested by artists in making a Ghibli style artwork. So, setting aside the legal consequences, moral and ethical rights are also being disregarded. The skill of the Ghibli artists represents years of effort and cultural legacy, which are being undermined when they are copied and mimicked without consent. Such actions raise concerns about respect for the original creators’ contributions and dilute the integrity of their work.

The Studio Ghibli – Open AI controversy highlights the need to distinguish between inspiration and infringement. Adaptations that respectfully seek prior permission from creators would honour original artistry while fostering creativity. For instance, the storytelling method of Studio Ghibli was adapted and recreated in ‘The Glassworker’ a Pakistani film which highlighted the anti-war belief of Miyazaki. Likewise, if a prior permission is sought, the adapted work would be an inspiration rather than an infringement of the original work.

By Prakalya M

Images generated by AI.