Is it a Tribute or a Trouble?

The internet has been buzzing lately with a new trend #ghiblistyle that’s got both love and backlash. It’s everywhere: dreamy forests, flying castles, and wide-eyed characters popping up on social media like never before. But while fans around the world are calling it a “global tribute” to Hayao Miyazaki’s timeless magic, many artists are seriously unhappy.

Let’s break it down…

On one hand, people are using AI tools to recreate the Studio Ghibli vibe—those soft, emotional, almost nostalgic visuals that we all adore. It’s like the internet collectively decided to celebrate the legend’s legacy in a new, tech-savvy way.  A huge number of fans are saying, “Hey, this isn’t about replacing Miyazaki, it’s about showing how much we love his work!” For them, it’s just another form of fan art—only with a digital twist.

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But here’s where the controversy kicks in. Professional artists and illustrators, especially those who grew up watching Ghibli films like Spirited Away or Kiki’s Delivery Service  and now work in animation, are calling this trend “lazy” and even “disrespectful.” Their main argument? AI didn’t suffer, learn, or grow to create that art—humans did. They feel AI is copying the surface without understanding the soul of Ghibli. And let’s be real, Miyazaki himself has always been vocal about his dislike for AI in art. He once even said that AI lacks heart and that using it in animation is an “insult to life itself.”

So now the question is: Is AI Ghibli a sweet homage or a shortcut that disrespects decades of hard work? The debate is heated, and it’s not going away anytime soon.

One thing’s for sure though—Miyazaki’s magic still touches hearts. The world just can’t stop loving Studio Ghibli, no matter the medium.