Hyderabad joins Ghibli art craze this Ramadan: Charminar becomes anime masterpiece
Hyderabad: Studio Ghibli, the renowned Japanese animation studio behind beloved films like Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro, has become the center of an unexpected trend sweeping social media. Fans of all ages, from top celebrities to politicians and children to adults, are trying their hand at creating art in the studio’s distinctive style. In recent days, the Ghibli art trend has taken off, with even Hyderabadis creating Ghibli-inspired depictions of the iconic Charminar during Ramadan.
#Ramadan #Charminar #Hyderabad in #GhibliStyle ❤️#Ghibli #GhibliArt 📸: Visual Brewery pic.twitter.com/Sb7QwJrcHs
— Hi Hyderabad (@HiHyderabad) March 31, 2025
Studio Ghibli, founded in 1985 by Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata, and Toshio Suzuki, has left a lasting mark on the animation industry. Known for its whimsical yet deep storytelling and visually stunning animation, Ghibli's films like Princess Mononoke, Howl's Moving Castle, and Ponyo have garnered global acclaim, with Spirited Away winning an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in 2003. Their mascot, Totoro, is now synonymous with the studio’s magic.
The trend of creating Ghibli-style anime has captured the imagination of social media users, who have flocked to platforms to share their creations. This rise in popularity is partly driven by the accessibility of generative art tools, which allow users to transform their photos into Ghibli-inspired artworks.
How to Create Ghibli-Style Art:
To create your own Ghibli-style art, users simply need to upload an image to the ChatGPT website or app. After logging in, they can request the tool to "turn this into Ghibli art." The process is free, but there’s a limit of three images per day, after which users must wait for the tool to become available again.
However, the surge in demand has led to some technical challenges, with ChatGPT’s services facing outages. CEO Sam Altman commented on the situation, saying, “Can y’all please chill on generating images? This is insane. Our team needs sleep.” He added that the demand for the service was “biblical,” acknowledging the strain it had placed on the team.
can yall please chill on generating images this is insane our team needs sleep
— Sam Altman (@sama) March 30, 2025
The rapid rise of generative art tools has raised concerns among some artists. Chaitanya Limaye, an illustrator and animator, expressed frustration on Instagram, criticizing the tools for lacking the "soul" of traditional art. In his post, Limaye noted that generative art systems are built on the works of countless artists without their consent or compensation. He argued that the value of art lies in the process of creation, not in the instant output generated by machines.
Chaitanya Limaye’s post resonated with many, as he explained the deeper connection between artists and their craft. He urged users to be mindful of the ethical implications of using such tools, emphasizing that creating art involves more than just pressing a button—it requires thought, practice, and empathy.
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As the Ghibli-style trend continues to gain momentum, the debate over generative art's impact on the creative industry remains a hot topic. While some see it as harmless fun, others view it as a threat to the integrity of artistic work.
