Social media has recently been swept away by a wonderful style: your friends, the accounts you follow, and even some unexpected brands, their avatars and shared photos all seem to have taken on a dreamlike color, full of the gentleness and whimsy of “Spirited Away” and “My Neighbor Totoro.” This trend, known as “Ghiblification,” is spreading across the internet at an astonishing rate.
The Internet is Turning into Ghibli! (And You Can Too)
Have you also noticed that recently, your social media feeds have been filled with a large number of charming, dreamlike images? They seem to have jumped directly out of the classic animated films of Studio Ghibli, whether it’s familiar scenes or users’ personal photos, all carrying that unique warmth and imagination that makes them instantly recognizable. The mysterious bathhouse in “Spirited Away,” the adorable Totoro in “My Neighbor Totoro”—these scenes that once only existed in our memories are now being presented to us in a brand new way 1.
This “Ghiblification” trend, as its name suggests, refers to transforming ordinary photos and even popular internet memes into the signature hand-drawn aesthetic of the renowned Japanese animation studio, Studio Ghibli, especially the works of its key figure, Hayao Miyazaki 1. Whether it’s turning a pet cat into the Baron Humbert von Gikkingen from “The Cat Returns” or transforming your own backyard into the tranquil countryside of “My Neighbor Totoro,” this magical transformation has sparked huge discussions and sharing frenzies on major social media platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, and Reddit 2.
So, how exactly is this “magic” that is sweeping the internet being achieved? The answer lies in a recent major leap in artificial intelligence technology.
ChatGPT Unleashes Magic
The driving force behind this visual style craze is the significant upgrade to ChatGPT’s image generation capabilities released by OpenAI on March 25, 2025 1. One of the most notable features of this update is the ability to skillfully transform existing images uploaded by users into completely new artistic styles 1. Users quickly grasped the fun of this feature and began experimenting with turning their own photos, and even various images from the internet, into “Ghibli-style” creations, sharing the results on social media and thus igniting this phenomenal trend 2. Social media platforms, including Instagram and X (formerly Twitter), have been flooded with these Ghibli-style images 1.
Style transfer refers to the ability of artificial intelligence to learn the unique visual characteristics of an art style (such as the soft colors, delicate lines, and imaginative compositions in Ghibli animation) and apply them to a completely different image. Imagine uploading a photo of your pet and then selecting “Ghibli style.” The AI can instantly generate a cute character image that looks like it came straight out of a Miyazaki animation 1. This simple yet powerful function has greatly stimulated users’ creativity and desire to share.
On social media, we can see all kinds of “Ghiblified” examples. One popular example involved a user who took a photo of their cat and asked ChatGPT to convert it to the Ghibli style, resulting in an anime image resembling a character from Miyazaki’s films 6. Others have turned their family photos into warm animated scenes, as if they were from a scene in “Ponyo”; some have transformed ordinary landscape photos into fantastical “Castle in the Sky”-like vistas 1. Even OpenAI CEO Sam Altman joined the trend, briefly changing his profile picture on X to a Studio Ghibli-style portrait of himself 1. This widespread adoption and sharing on platforms like Twitter quickly turned the trend into a viral phenomenon 1.
However, this carnival driven by free users did not last long. Due to overwhelming user demand and potential copyright issues, OpenAI subsequently temporarily restricted free users’ access to the image generation function 5. Nevertheless, this “Ghiblification” wave has fully demonstrated the huge potential of AI image generation technology and users’ love for this creative and fun interactive method.
The ease of use of this technology is a key factor in its rapid popularity. Users only need to simply upload an image, select a style, and they can get amazing results in a short time 2. This low barrier to entry allows both technology enthusiasts and ordinary users to easily participate in this creation, further accelerating its viral spread.
Of course, while AI art is booming, it is also accompanied by some discussions about copyright. OpenAI is also aware of this issue and has adopted a relatively cautious attitude, such as avoiding imitating the styles of living artists 1. This shows that while enjoying the convenience and fun brought by AI, we also need to pay attention to the ethical and legal issues it may bring.
The Battle for AI Image Hegemony
OpenAI’s decision to release such powerful image generation capabilities at this time may not be a coincidence. Just a short time before, on March 12, 2025, Google released its latest Gemini 2.0 Flash Exp model 10. This model also has powerful image generation and editing capabilities and emphasizes its multimodal features, capable of accepting various inputs including text, images, and even audio, and generating corresponding text, images, and audio output in the future 10. It is worth mentioning that Gemini 2.0 Flash Exp also has the ability of “conversational image editing,” allowing users to gradually refine and modify the generated images through natural language dialogue 12.
These two tech giants in a short time successively released groundbreaking image generation functions, undoubtedly demonstrating the fierce competition in this direction in the field of artificial intelligence. OpenAI’s rapid response is likely stimulated by Google’s continuous progress in image generation 11.
Artificial intelligence technology is developing at an astonishing speed, and major companies are vying to launch more powerful and convenient AI tools. Whether it’s ChatGPT’s style transfer or Gemini 2.0 Flash Exp’s multimodal capabilities, they all indicate that in the future, AI will achieve deeper integration and application in various media such as images, text, and audio 11.
FunBlocks AI: Riding the Ghibli Wave
In this wave of AI image generation, FunBlocks AI, with its keen insight and rapid action, integrated Google’s latest Gemini 2.0 Flash Exp model into its AIFlow platform at the first opportunity 14. This means that FunBlocks AI users can immediately experience image generation and modification functions similar to, or even more powerful than, ChatGPT 14.
After AIFlow integrated Gemini 2.0 Flash Exp, users can generate exquisite images by simply describing them in text, or intelligently modify existing images 14. More impressively, FunBlocks AI has innovatively introduced a “smart Prompt generation” step 14. When a user submits an image generation request, AIFlow first uses a large language model (LLM) to deeply analyze the user’s intent, then automatically generates a professional and detailed image generation Prompt, and finally calls the Gemini model to generate the image 14.
This two-stage approach greatly improves the quality of image generation and the user experience 9. Many users often feel confused about how to write effective Prompts when using AI image generation tools. FunBlocks AI’s innovative solution cleverly solves this problem. Users only need to describe their ideas in simple language, and the AI can automatically complete complex Prompt engineering and generate amazing images 9. This undoubtedly greatly enhances the overall user experience of AIFlow, allowing users to easily visualize any idea and scene, thus becoming more productive 9.
FunBlocks AI’s emphasis on user experience is reflected in its optimization of the Prompt generation process 9. By introducing LLMs for Prompt analysis and optimization, FunBlocks AI lowers the barrier to entry for users, making it easy for even those without professional knowledge to create high-quality AI images 9. This user-centric design philosophy is an important factor for FunBlocks AI to stand out in the fierce market competition 9.
In addition, FunBlocks AI’s choice to develop based on powerful foundation models like Gemini 2.0 Flash Exp also reflects a wise strategy 14. By leveraging the powerful capabilities of existing advanced models, FunBlocks AI can focus more on optimizing the user interface and developing unique features, thereby providing users with better products and services 14.
Your Creative Toolbox: FunBlocks AI Tools
In addition to the powerful image generation and modification functions in AIFlow, FunBlocks AI Tools has also added two practical gadgets: FunBlocks AI Avatar Studio and FunBlocks AI Watermark Eraser .
A. FunBlocks AI Avatar Studio: Your Ghibli Transformation Station
FunBlocks AI Avatar Studio is a powerful artificial intelligence avatar generation tool. Users only need to upload a photo or paste an image link to instantly transform the photo into a digital avatar in various artistic styles 18. Avatar Studio offers an extremely rich selection of artistic styles, covering everything from surrealism to cartoon animation, from classic oil paintings to trendy graffiti 19.
The most exciting thing is that FunBlocks AI Avatar Studio also keeps up with the trend and has built-in the popular Ghibli style! Users only need to upload their photos, select the Ghibli style, and they can instantly generate an exclusive avatar full of Ghibli animation charm 19. Whether you want to have the mysterious temperament of the protagonist in “Howl’s Moving Castle” or the cute image of Kiki in “Kiki’s Delivery Service,” Avatar Studio can easily help you achieve it 19. Moreover, the generation process is extremely simple, truly achieving one-click generation without any design skills 19.
In addition to the Ghibli style, Avatar Studio also supports various other popular anime and cartoon styles, such as Japanese anime, American comics, cyberpunk, steampunk, and more 19. No matter which style you like, you can find your unique avatar in Avatar Studio. The generated avatars are also of very high quality and can be used in various scenarios such as social media and game platforms 19.
FunBlocks AI keenly captures users’ demand for personalized avatars and their pursuit of popular artistic styles. Integrating the Ghibli style into Avatar Studio, undoubtedly inspired by the recent viral trend on platforms like Twitter, is an important move for it to stand out among many AI avatar generation tools 1.
B. FunBlocks AI Watermark Eraser: Easily Remove Watermarks
FunBlocks AI Watermark Eraser is an artificial intelligence-based watermark removal tool . It can help users quickly and efficiently remove various types of watermarks from images, including semi-transparent watermarks, complex textured watermarks, and text watermarks .
For users who need to use online images but are troubled by watermarks, this tool is undoubtedly a godsend . Whether it’s professional designers who need clean materials or individual users who want to share watermark-free photos, Watermark Eraser can provide a convenient solution . Users only need to upload an image or paste an image link, click process, and the AI can intelligently identify and remove the watermark while trying its best to preserve the original details and colors of the image . The operation process is very simple and does not require professional image editing skills .
FunBlocks AI Watermark Eraser’s launch reflects its commitment to providing users with practical and convenient AI tools . This tool’s addition further improves FunBlocks AI Tools’ functionality and meets more of users’ needs in image processing .
Become Your Own Miyazaki: Immediately Experience FunBlocks AI Avatar Studio!
Still envious of others having avatars full of Ghibli style? Now, you can easily have one too! Hurry up and visit the FunBlocks AI official website (https://funblocks.net) and personally experience the powerful features of FunBlocks AI Avatar Studio! With just a click, you can turn your photos into Ghibli-style avatars full of dreamlike colors.
Don’t hesitate, let FunBlocks AI Avatar Studio help you realize your animation dreams and show your unique charm on social media! Remember to share your creative works and let more people feel the artistic fun brought by AI!
Conclusion
From the “Ghiblification” wave ignited by ChatGPT, with countless examples shared on Twitter and other platforms, to FunBlocks AI quickly responding and launching related tools, we have seen the huge potential and vitality of artificial intelligence technology in the field of images 1. FunBlocks AI, with its deep understanding of user needs and rapid application of cutting-edge technologies like Gemini 2.0 Flash Exp, brings users a more convenient, efficient, and interesting AI experience 14. Whether you want to have a unique Ghibli-style avatar, inspired by the social media trend, or need to remove image watermarks, FunBlocks AI can become your powerful assistant . This creative wave driven by AI is still continuing, and FunBlocks AI is standing at the forefront, leading us to explore more exciting possibilities .
Table 1: Comparison of Image Generation Capabilities of ChatGPT and Gemini 2.0 Flash Exp (as of March 2025)
| Feature | ChatGPT (as of March 25, 2025) | Gemini 2.0 Flash Exp (as of March 12, 2025) |
| Style Transfer | Yes (sparked the Ghibli trend) | Yes |
| Multimodal Input/Output | Text to image, image to image | Text, image (experimental), and audio (coming soon) |
| Conversational Image Editing | Not explicitly mentioned | Yes |
| Text Rendering | Improved in GPT-4o | Stronger than competitors |
Table 2: FunBlocks AI Avatar Studio – Style Categories and Examples
| Style Category | Example Styles |
| Hyper-Realistic & Cinematic | Studio Photography, CGI Movie-Grade Portraits, Semi-Realistic Art |
| Anime & Cartoon | Japanese Anime, Comic Book Style, Ghibli Style, American Superhero, Chibi & Cute Style, Cyberpunk, Steampunk |
| Fantasy & Sci-Fi | Epic Fantasy, Fairy & Elven Style, Gothic & Vampire, Alien & Cosmic, Mecha Warrior |
| Retro & Artistic | Oil Painting, Chinese Ink Painting, Old-School Cartoon, Pixel Art, Pop Art |
| Trendy & Unique | Minimalist Line Art, Neon Glow, Black & White Silhouette, Street Graffiti, Caricature & Exaggerated Styles |
| Special Transformations & Costumes | Anime Character Cosplay, Fantasy RPG Look, Furry & Animal-Inspired, Sci-Fi Hacker & Cyber Assassin, Astronaut & Space Explorer |
References
- Legal questions arise as fans flood internet with Ghibli-style AI memes – KING 5, https://www.king5.com/article/news/nation-world/chatgpt-ghibli-style-ai-copyright-concerns/507-cf747827-4623-49b0-bdea-b0c76e39be54
- How To Create Studio Ghibli-Style AI Images On ChatGPT For Free – NDTV, https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/how-to-create-studio-ghibli-style-ai-images-on-chatgpt-for-free-8029848
- Studio Ghibli-style images: Here’s how to create AI-generated pictures on ChatGPT for free using OpenAI’s GPT-4o – The Economic Times, https://m.economictimes.com/news/international/us/entertainment/studio-ghibli-style-images-heres-how-to-create-ai-generated-pictures-on-chatgpt-for-free-using-openais-gpt-4o/articleshow/119600454.cms
- ChatGPT’s new image generator is wild, 5 ways to create fascinating images, https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/artificial-intelligence/chatgpt-image-generator-5-tips-for-better-images-9911431/
- OpenAI pauses free GPT-4o image generation after viral Studio Ghibli trend – Tech Edition, https://www.techedt.com/openai-pauses-free-gpt-4o-image-generation-after-viral-studio-ghibli-trend
- How to generate Ghibli-style AI portraits using Grok 3 — no ChatGPT subscription needed, https://www.livemint.com/technology/tech-news/how-to-generate-ghibli-style-ai-images-using-xai-grok-3-no-chatgpt-subscription-needed-elon-musk-11743214190572.html
- Gemini Flash – Google DeepMind, https://deepmind.google/technologies/gemini/flash/
- OpenAI Cools Down: ChatGPT Image Generation Temporarily Limited Due to GPU Overload, https://opentools.ai/news/openai-cools-down-chatgpt-image-generation-temporarily-limited-due-to-gpu-overload
- AI-generated Ghibli-style images overwhelm OpenAI servers | Digital Watch Observatory, https://dig.watch/updates/ai-generated-ghibli-style-images-overwhelm-openai-servers
- Release notes | Gemini API | Google AI for Developers, https://ai.google.dev/gemini-api/docs/changelog
- Vertex AI release notes | Generative AI – Google Cloud, https://cloud.google.com/vertex-ai/generative-ai/docs/release-notes
- You can now test Gemini 2.0 Flash’s native image output – 9to5Google, https://9to5google.com/2025/03/12/gemini-2-0-flash-native-image-output/
- Gemini 2.0 model updates: 2.0 Flash, Flash-Lite, Pro Experimental – The Keyword, https://blog.google/technology/google-deepmind/gemini-model-updates-february-2025/
- FunBlocks AIFlow New Experience powered by Google Gemini-2.0-flash – YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YoM-HMeRMKc
- Gemini models | Gemini API | Google AI for Developers, https://ai.google.dev/gemini-api/docs/models
- Experiment with Gemini 2.0 Flash native image generation – Google Developers Blog, https://developers.googleblog.com/en/experiment-with-gemini-20-flash-native-image-generation/
- Unlocking Gemini 2.0 Flash’s Hidden Image Generation Potential with FunBlocks AIFlow | by Woodpeng | Mar, 2025 | Medium, https://medium.com/@woodpeng/ai-image-generation-with-funblocks-aiflow-powered-by-gemini-2-0-flash-expunlocking-45a713365f7a
- FunBlocks AI – Your AI-powered workspace for enhanced creativity …, https://funblocks.net
- AI Avatar Studio – Instantly Create Stunning AI-Generated Avatars …, https://funblocks.net/aitools/avatar
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