The 2025 Trend That’s Turning Heads🎯
Have you noticed something cartoon-like taking over your social media feeds lately? From pet portraits to personal photographs and brand campaigns, everything’s starting to look like it belongs to a Studio Ghibli film, having a combination of soft pastels, whimsical details, and that signature dreamy charm. This is the Ghiblistyle art trend, and it’s officially 2025’s most significant creative wave! Creators all around the world are making it by using AI tools like OpenAI’s GPT-4o (updated in March 2025) and Social media is buzzing like crazy with hashtags like #GhibliYourself. But this trend is sparking some serious ethical debates. Should creators adopt this trend, or are there any hidden risks behind it?
Let’s get into it and explore how Readymade Work can guide you through this trend the right way.
Ghibli-inspired art brings magic to life – A picture from Shutterstock AI
Why Ghibli-Style Art Is On The Rise
If you’ve scrolled TikTok or Instagram lately, you’ve probably seen a selfie turned into a Ghibli-style character, a baby’s face revealed in front of large audiences, or even a brand ad that feels like it belongs in My Neighbor Totoro (An animated studio Ghibli film). So, what’s behind the hype?
First, there’s this nostalgia factor that is influencing its rise. Many people have seen the Ghibli’s hand-drawn animations and heart-touching stories/films since childhood and they have associated hearty connections with its whimsical vibes. This artistic masterpiece is a creation of Studio Ghibli which was founded by Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata in 1985. Now In the current chaotic digital world, the calming vibes of Ghibli feels like a breath of fresh air. Furthermore, the addition of OpenAI’s latest GPT-4o update has made it super easy for anyone to create Ghibli-style art without any hassle. You just upload a photo, type a prompt, and your Ghibli image is ready to post!
Social media has taken this trend to the next level. Challenges like #GhibliYourself are everywhere, with creators, influencers, and even brands joining in. In fact, several well-known brands have previously incorporated Ghibli-style animation in their advertisements to grasp the attention of the masses like McDonald’s Japan, which released a heartwarming anime-style ad featuring a family of three and celebrating simplicity and the love of family.
Totoro’s Statue – Khanh Nguyen from Pexels
Ad Campaign Inspired By Studio Ghibli’s aesthetic By McDonald’s – Japan
🤔The Ethical Debate: Can Creators Use Ghibli-Style Art?
Now, let’s address the main issue: is it okay to copy Ghibli-style art in your projects? This new style appears to be light-hearted fun, but it has ignited some heated debates recently on social media. Let’s take a closer look step-by-step.
Why Creators are so interested in it?
A- It’s Accessible: AI tools have made most parts of our lives easier by giving us handy & creative tools that allow us to create Ghibli-style art effortlessly, without any hard work. However, if you need more customized creations for your brands, where AI might struggle to fully understand your idea, Readymadework’s talented creators are available at your service. They will bring your desired Ghibli-style art to life, at very affordable prices.
B- Boosts Engagement: People in 2025 are more drawn towards the nostalgic, visually appealing content. A Ghibli-style ad or post is a big hit right now and can make your brand or profile stand out and get more shares.
C- Inspiration Opportunity: If this art is used as a starting point, it can spark creativity. There seems no harm in using the Ghibli aesthetic, but always strive to add your own unique story or characters to make it truly yours.
👀The Ethical Concerns Behind It:
Privacy Risks by rawpixel.com – Freepik
Copyright Issues: The main issue is that AI models like GPT-4o were trained using Ghibli’s original artworks, without explicit permission taken from Studio Ghibli. It can be seen as an intellectual property theft for using Ghibli’s style without consent. It is kind of disrespecting the extreme hard work and efforts put in by Ghibli’s artists.
Lack of Depth & Emotions: Ghibli’s art or any sort of art does not reflect merely the visuals. The art is about embracing emotions, storytelling, and human connection through illustrations. We can’t deny the truth that AI can exceptionally mimic the style, but it lacks the basic soul that makes Ghibli capture the spotlight. Your content might end up feeling too generic or empty with no connectivity.
Privacy issues: By uploading your photos to AI tools, you are exposing your sensitive data just to follow a trend. There are also circulating rumors that some AI platforms might be using facial data to create inappropriate or adult content. Cybersecurity experts warn that these tools can misuse metadata such as your location and demographical information, posing serious privacy concerns for the general public.
Potential for Misuse: Some creators have truly crossed the line by turning tragic events like 9/11 and historical tragedies into Ghibli-style illustrations, which may be perceived as lacking empathy and professionalism, potentially harming your public image.
The debates are going on between fans and artists. Some are calling this trend “lazy plagiarism,” with a view that it devalues human creativity. While some creators defend it, saying it’s just a form of inspiration. So, what’s the right move? We will guide you.
How to Respectfully Use Ghibli-Style Art⭐
Here’s the good news: you can adopt this art trend without crossing ethical lines only if you do it responsibly.
Here are some helpful recommendations by which you can create Ghibli-inspired designs using a smart way:
1- Use It as Inspiration, Not a Copy: Don’t mimic Ghibli’s style with AI tools as it is. Try utilizing it as a starting point and make a little extra effort to incorporate your creativity and originality. For example, if you love Ghibli’s portrayal of family, create a similar type of design but with your characters and story.
2- Work with Ethical Platforms Like Readymadework: If you’re not great with design or creative tools, but still want to create custom Ghibli-style art for a brand ad or to add a magical touch to your profile, Readymade Work has got your back. This platform basically connects you with skilled artists and industry experts who can make one-of-a-kind designs, influenced by the fairy-tale charm of Ghibli while ensuring every sketch is 100% original and ethically created. Plus, you’re supporting the real creators!
By DannyOliva – Shutterstock
3- Give Credit Where It’s Due: Giving credit to creators is a big deal and many people often overlook it. Everyone should be transparent if their design is taken from the creator or is inspired by a specific art style. Even a simple caption like “Inspired by the magical world of Studio Ghibli” goes a long way in showing respect and keeping things ethical.
Giving Credit to The Original Artist By FG Trade – iStock
4- Protect Your Privacy: With rising concerns around privacy threats, everyone should avoid uploading personal photographs to random AI tools. Instead, collaborate with Readymadework’s artists to create custom designs that bring your vision to life without putting your data at risk.
5- Be Mindful of Context: Be very careful adopting each trend. Please refrain from using Ghibli-style art or any form of art for sensitive topics. Keep things joyful on your part with soothing ideas like pets, nature vibes, or magical brand creatives.
🦋Embrace The Trend But With Caution
📈Why It’s Trending:
The Ghibli-style art trend in 2025 offers an enchanting opportunity to creators worldwide through which they can add charm and magic to their projects, but it’s essential to approach it responsibly. While AI tools have made it easy to create Ghibli-inspired designs, the ethical concerns around copyright, artistic integrity, and privacy can’t be ignored. The correct approach is to use this style as inspiration, not imitation, and to work with platforms like Readymadework that prioritize originality and ethical practices.
So, what do you think? Ready to give your 2025 campaigns a Ghibli-inspired twist? Visit ReadymadeWork now and connect with exceptional designers who can craft unique artwork specially made according to your needs. Let’s create the magic you’re looking for..
