Learn to Create Ghibli-Style Images in Seconds: What’s the AI Trick?

When I first read about the trending topic How to Create Ghibli-style Image, I had a lot of questions – what is this Ghibli style, how can I turn my photos into Ghibli-inspired art, and what do I need to do for this? A friend of mine told me that it is the Studio Ghibli style, which is famous for Hayao Miyazaki’s animated films, such as Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro, and now with the help of AI image generation, you can turn your photos into this style.

I found this very interesting, because I wanted to turn my daughter’s photo into Ghibli style, and I wanted to know how to process it. Today I will tell you in detail about How to Create Ghibli Image, so that you can understand this new trend and you can also turn your photos into Ghibli-inspired art. So, let’s find out!

What is Ghibli Style?

Studio Ghibli style is a special animation style that has been popularized worldwide by the Japanese animation studio, Studio Ghibli. The studio was founded in 1985 by Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata, and Toshio Suzuki, and their films like Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, Howl’s Moving Castle, and Kiki’s Delivery Service have made them famous worldwide.

My daughter loves Chihiro from Spirited Away, and I wanted to make something like her. The Ghibli style is characterized by its hand-drawn aesthetic, watercolor-like backgrounds, soft lighting, and dreamy landscapes. Everything in this style looks so beautiful and magical, like a dream world.

How to Create Ghibli Image is currently a very viral social media trend. People are sharing their photos on X, Instagram, and TikTok by turning them into Ghibli-inspired art. I read that OpenAI’s ChatGPT launched a new AI image generation feature in the GPT-4o model on March 25, 2025, which allows people to turn their photos into Ghibli style. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman also joined the trend, and changed his profile photo on X to Ghibli style. But this trend put a lot of load on their GPUs, and they had to impose some rate limits. But the good thing is that now there are free AI tools available, so you can try it too.

Also Read: How to Borrow Money from Cash App? get up to $200 instantly!

How to Create Ghibli Image: Steps

You can use different AI tools for How to Create Ghibli Image, such as ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Grok 3. Let me tell you some simple steps, so that you can change your photos to Ghibli style.

Create Ghibli Style Image using ChatGPT

ChatGPT’s GPT-4o model has made it very easy to create Ghibli-style AI images, but this feature is currently only for paid users. But this feature is gradually rolling out to some free users. My friend told me that he used ChatGPT to change his dog’s photo to Ghibli style, and it looked great. Let’s take a look at the steps:

• Step 1: Go to ChatGPT’s website (chat.openai.com) and log in.
• Step 2: Select the GPT-4o model, as it has an image generation feature.
• Step 3: Upload your photo or describe a scene. For example, “Create a Studio Ghibli-style image of a girl with long hair in a magical forest with soft lighting.”
• Step 4: Submit your prompt, and ChatGPT will create a Ghibli-style image for you.
• Step 5: If you want to make any changes, change the prompt, such as “add more watercolor-like backgrounds” or “make the lighting softer,” and generate again.
• Step 6: Download the photo and share it on social media.

Create a Ghibli Style Image Using Google Gemini

If you don’t have a ChatGPT Plus subscription, you can use Google Gemini, which is free. I read that Google Gemini can also create Ghibli-style AI images, and it’s very easy. Let’s take a look at the steps:

• Step 1: Go to Google Gemini’s website and log in.
• Step 2: Write a prompt, such as “A serene Ghibli-style girl with flowing hair under a cherry blossom tree with soft lighting.”
• Step 3: Submit the prompt, and Gemini will create the image for you.
• Step 4: If you want to make any changes, change the prompt, such as “add more dreamy landscapes,” and generate again.
• Step 5: Download the image and share it.

Not sure which credit card to pick? Check out India’s best 5 credit cards for 2025!

Create a Ghibli Style Image using Grok 3

xAI’s Grok 3 is another free AI tool that can create Ghibli-style images. My friend told me that he used Grok 3 to turn a photo of his pet cat into a Ghibli style, and it looked so cute. Let’s see the steps:

• Step 1: Go to Grok’s website (x.ai) or open the Grok chatbot on the X app.
• Step 2: Upload your photo (click on the paper clip icon).
• Step 3: Write a prompt, such as “Turn this image into a Ghibli anime style.”
• Step 4: Submit the prompt, and Grok 3 will create the image for you.
• Step 5: If you want to make changes, edit the prompt and generate again.
• Step 6: Download the image and share it on social media.

I wanted to use Grok 3 to turn a photo of my daughter into a Ghibli style, and I had to give a prompt like “Turn this into a Ghibli style studio.” I got the result in 30-40 seconds, and it was pretty good.

Other Free AI Tools

If you don’t want to use ChatGPT, Google Gemini, or Grok 3, you can also use other free AI tools, such as:

1. Craiyon: This is a web-based AI tool that creates Ghibli-inspired images with basic prompts. My friend told me that he created a photo of a magical forest using Craiyon.
2. Deep Dream Generator: It has a feature called Ghibli Diffusion, which gives 100 free images per month. I found it very easy to transform my daughter’s photo into a Ghibli style with it.
3. Runway ML, Leonardo AI, and Mage.space: These are advanced platforms that offer free trials, and you can use them to create Totoro-esque fluffiness or Spirited Away-inspired hues.

Ethical Concerns and Copyright Debate

But there are also some ethical concerns about this trend. I read that Studio Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki does not like AI image generation, and he called it “an insult to life itself.” They say that the art created by AI is a copy of their hand-drawn aesthetic, and this disrespects their hard work. Moreover, some people say that the AI ​​tools that create the Ghibli style may be trained on Studio Ghibli’s copyrighted work, which has started a copyright debate. I think we should enjoy this trend, but we should also respect Studio Ghibli’s hard work.

Some important tips

• Write the prompt well: The more detailed your prompt is, the better the results you will get. For example, write something like “A Ghibli-style girl with long hair in a magical forest with soft lighting and watercolor-like backgrounds”.
• Try different tools: If one tool does not give you good results, try other tools like Google Gemini or Grok 3. I got good results with Google Gemini.
• Be careful with Rate Limits: ChatGPT has a limit of 3 images per day for free users, so use your prompts carefully. I had to keep this limit in mind when taking a photo of my daughter.
• Respect Ghibli’s Legacy: Respect Studio Ghibli’s hard work, and keep ethical concerns in mind when using their style.

The How to Create Ghibli Image trend was a lot of fun for me, and I was very happy to transform my daughter’s photo into the Ghibli style. I think this trend can give your photos a magical touch, and you will get lost in the dreamy landscapes of Studio Ghibli. But while you enjoy this trend, don’t forget to respect the hard work of Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli. If you have any more questions, be sure to ask me. I will explain it to you in simple terms! Now take advantage of How to Create Ghibli Image and give your photos the Ghibli Style!

FAQ:

1. What is a Ghibli-style image?
A Ghibli-style image mimics Studio Ghibli’s animation style, featuring hand-drawn aesthetics, watercolor-like backgrounds, soft lighting, and dreamy landscapes, as seen in films like Spirited Away.

2. How can I create Ghibli-style images for free in 2025?
Use free AI tools like Google Gemini, Grok 3, or Craiyon. Upload a photo, add a prompt like “Turn this into a Ghibli style image,” and generate your Ghibli-inspired art in seconds.

3. Which AI tools can generate Ghibli-style images?
Tools like ChatGPT (GPT-4o), Google Gemini, Grok 3, Deep Dream Generator, and Craiyon can create Ghibli-style images. Some are free, while ChatGPT’s feature may require a subscription.

4. Are there ethical concerns with creating Ghibli-style AI images?
Yes, Studio Ghibli’s Hayao Miyazaki has called AI art “an insult to life itself.” There’s also a copyright debate, as AI may use Ghibli’s copyrighted work for training, raising ethical issues.

5. What makes a good prompt for Ghibli-style AI images?
A good prompt is detailed, e.g., “A Ghibli-style girl with long hair in a magical forest with soft lighting and watercolor-like backgrounds,” to capture Studio Ghibli’s dreamy aesthetic.