AI's Impact on Anime: Studio Ghibli's Irreplaceable Legacy in the Face of Technological Advancements

AI coming for anime but Ghibli's Miyazaki irreplaceable, son says

Artificial intelligence risks taking Japanese anime artists' jobs but nothing can replicate Hayao Miyazaki, the creative lifeblood of the studio behind classics such as "Spirited Away," his son told AFP. Thanks to ChatGPT's new image generator, the internet is awash with pictures imitating Studio Ghibli's whimsical style, raising fresh debate over potential copyright infringements. Movies such as "My Neighbor Totoro" and "Howl's Moving Castle" are famous for their lush nature and fantastical machinery, painstakingly drawn by hand. While the studio has not commented directly on the image trend, Goro Miyazaki, 58, predicted that artificial intelligence could one day replace animators. "It wouldn't be surprising if, in two years' time, there was a film made completely through AI," he said in an interview last week. But whether audiences would want to watch a fully AI-generated animation is another matter, he added. Despite the rapid changes, new technology also brings "great potential for unexpected talent to emerge," added Goro, Studio Ghibli's managing director. He was speaking at the Ghibli atelier in western Tokyo, days before San Francisco-based ChatGPT maker OpenAI released its latest image generator. OpenAI, which is already facing a barrage of copyright lawsuits, said generating images in the style of individual living artists is banned, but "we do permit broader studio styles." "Our goal is to give users as much creative freedom as possible," the US company said. Bittersweet Japan is grappling with a shortage of skilled animators, partly because most spend years in low-paid jobs to learn the ropes. Digitally savvy Gen Z may be also less enthusiastic about the manual labor involved, Goro said. "Nowadays, the world is full of opportunities to watch anything, anytime, anywhere," making it harder to imagine making a living from the physical act of drawing, he added. Goro's father founded Studio Ghibli with Isao Takahata in 1985, a year after directing the post-apocalyptic "Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind." After Takahata's death in 2018, Hayao -- now 84 and a heavy smoker -- continued to create films with 76-year-old producer Toshio Suzuki. "If those two can't make anime or can't move, then what happens?" Goro said when asked about Ghibli's future. "It's not like they can be replaced." Despite his age, Hayao won his second Oscar last year with "The Boy and the Heron" -- likely his last feature film. Anime cartoons are usually for children, but Takahata and Hayao, men "from the generation that knew war," included darker elements that appeal to adults, Goro said. "It's not all sweet -- there's also a bitterness and things like that which are beautifully intertwined in the work," he said, describing a "smell of death" that permeates the films. "That's actually what makes the work so deep." For younger people who grew up in peacetime, "it is impossible to create something with the same sense, approach and attitude that my father's generation had," Goro said. Even "Totoro," with its cuddly forest spirit creatures, is in some ways a "scary" movie that explores the fear of losing a sick mother, he explained. 'Insult to life' As the Ghibli-style AI images proliferated, a 2016 video of Hayao resurfaced that many said showed his disdain for the technology. "I strongly feel that this is an insult to life itself," the director says in the short clip, taken from a documentary. However, he was in fact reacting to an AI-assisted computer graphic of a zombie-like creature, which he calls "extremely unpleasant" in the full footage. Goro joined Studio Ghibli in 1998 and directed animations including the 2006 feature "Tales from Earthsea" and 2011's "From Up on Poppy Hill." He also oversaw the development of the Ghibli Museum and newly opened Ghibli Park in Japan. Goro enjoyed drawing as a boy and said he learned a lot watching his father's and Takahata's work, although he didn't think he could live up to their talent. "My mother, who was also an animator, told me not to pursue this career because it's a tough and busy job," Goro said, adding that his father was rarely at home.

AI coming for anime but Ghibli's Miyazaki irreplaceable, son says

Tokyo (AFP) - Artificial intelligence risks taking Japanese anime artists' jobs but nothing can replicate Hayao Miyazaki, the creative lifeblood of the studio behind classics such as "Spirited Away", his son told AFP. Thanks to ChatGPT's new image generator, the internet is awash with pictures imitating Studio Ghibli's whimsical style, raising fresh debate over potential copyright infringements. Movies such as "My Neighbor Totoro" and "Howl's Moving Castle" are famous for their lush nature and fantastical machinery, painstakingly drawn by hand. While the studio has not commented directly on the image trend, Goro Miyazaki, 58, predicted that artificial intelligence could one day replace animators. "It wouldn't be surprising if, in two years' time, there was a film made completely through AI," he said in an interview last week. But whether audiences would want to watch a fully AI-generated animation is another matter, he added. Despite the rapid changes, new technology also brings "great potential for unexpected talent to emerge", added Goro, Studio Ghibli's managing director. He was speaking at the Ghibli atelier in western Tokyo, days before the San Francisco-based ChatGPT maker OpenAI released its latest image generator. OpenAI, which is already facing a barrage of copyright lawsuits, said generating images in the style of individual living artists is banned, but "we do permit broader studio styles". "Our goal is to give users as much creative freedom as possible," the US company said. Bittersweet Japan is grappling with a shortage of skilled animators, partly because most spend years in low-paid jobs to learn the ropes. Digitally savvy Gen Z may be also less enthusiastic about the manual labour involved, Goro said. "Nowadays, the world is full of opportunities to watch anything, anytime, anywhere," making it harder to imagine making a living from the physical act of drawing, he added. Goro's father founded Studio Ghibli with Isao Takahata in 1985, a year after directing the post-apocalyptic "Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind". After Takahata's death in 2018, Hayao -- now 84 and a heavy smoker -- continued to create films with 76-year-old producer Toshio Suzuki. "If those two can't make anime or can't move, then what happens?" Goro said when asked about Ghibli's future. "It's not like they can be replaced." Despite his age, Hayao won his second Oscar last year with "The Boy and the Heron" -- likely his last feature film. Anime cartoons are usually for children, but Takahata and Hayao, men "from the generation that knew war", included darker elements that appeal to adults, Goro said. "It's not all sweet -- there's also a bitterness and things like that which are beautifully intertwined in the work," he said, describing a "smell of death" that permeates the films. "That's actually what makes the work so deep." For younger people who grew up in peacetime, "it is impossible to create something with the same sense, approach and attitude that my father's generation had," Goro said. Even "Totoro", with its cuddly forest spirit creatures, is in some ways a "scary" movie that explores the fear of losing a sick mother, he explained. 'Insult to life' As the Ghibli-style AI images proliferated, a 2016 video of Hayao resurfaced that many said showed his disdain for the technology. "I strongly feel that this is an insult to life itself," the director says in the short clip, taken from a documentary. However, he was in fact reacting to an AI-assisted computer graphic of a zombie-like creature, which he calls "extremely unpleasant" in the full footage. Goro joined Studio Ghibli in 1998 and directed animations including the 2006 feature "Tales from Earthsea" and 2011's "From Up on Poppy Hill". He also oversaw the development of the Ghibli Museum and newly opened Ghibli Park in Japan. Goro enjoyed drawing as a boy and said he learned a lot watching his father's and Takahata's work, although he didn't think he could live up to their talent. "My mother, who was also an animator, told me not to pursue this career because it's a tough and busy job," Goro said, adding that his father was rarely at home.

'It's not like they can be replaced': Ghibli founder Hayao Miyazaki's son speaks out on the future of anime

Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping industries, and now, it has its sights set on anime. With AI-generated images mimicking the beloved Studio Ghibli aesthetic flooding the internet, concerns are growing over the future of hand-drawn animation. Could AI one day take over the painstaking artistry that brought us "Spirited Away" and "My Neighbor Totoro"? Perhaps. But there's one thing technology will never replicate: the irreplaceable genius of Hayao Miyazaki. For decades, Studio Ghibli has been synonymous with breathtaking landscapes, whimsical characters, and deeply emotional storytelling. But now, tools like ChatGPT's image generator are creating eerily familiar Ghibli-esque visuals, raising fresh copyright concerns and ethical debates. Speaking to AFP, Miyazaki's son, Goro Miyazaki, acknowledged that AI's growing capabilities could soon lead to an entirely machine-generated film. In fact, he believes such a project could emerge within the next two years. But the real question is: Would anyone actually want to watch it? "AI has great potential for unexpected talent to emerge," Goro admitted. Yet, he remained skeptical about whether technology could ever capture the human depth that makes Ghibli films so enduring. Studio Ghibli was founded in 1985 by Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata -- two creative titans whose films were shaped by their experiences, emotions, and philosophies. Even the most heartwarming Ghibli films, like "Totoro," are laced with deeper, sometimes darker themes. "My father's generation knew war," Goro explained. "Their films aren't just sweet -- they have a bitterness intertwined with beauty, a 'smell of death' that makes the stories feel real." This depth, he argues, is something AI simply cannot replicate. At 84 years old, Hayao Miyazaki is still creating, winning his second Oscar last year for "The Boy and the Heron." But what happens when the master himself is no longer around? Goro, who now serves as Studio Ghibli's managing director, put it bluntly: "It's not like they can be replaced." The animation industry is already facing challenges, with a shortage of skilled animators and younger generations less willing to endure the grueling, low-paid work required to perfect the craft. AI may be filling that gap, but can it replace the soul behind the brush? For all its advancements, AI lacks something fundamental -- human experience. Ghibli's worlds aren't just drawn; they're lived, dreamed, and deeply felt. And as long as that remains true, no amount of technology will ever fully replace what Miyazaki has built.

AI may be coming for anime but Ghibli's Miyazaki irreplaceable, says son

AI risks replacing Japanese anime artists, but Studio Ghibli's Goro Miyazaki says nothing can replicate his father Hayao's unique artistry. While AI-generated images raise copyright concerns, Goro highlights the depth of Ghibli's work, rooted in human experience, which AI struggles to authentically replicate.Artificial intelligence risks taking Japanese anime artists' jobs but nothing can replicate Hayao Miyazaki, the creative lifeblood of the studio behind classics such as "Spirited Away", his son told AFP. Thanks to ChatGPT's new image generator, the internet is awash with pictures imitating Studio Ghibli's whimsical style, raising fresh debate over potential copyright infringements. Movies such as "My Neighbor Totoro" and "Howl's Moving Castle" are famous for their lush nature and fantastical machinery, painstakingly drawn by hand. While the studio has not commented directly on the image trend, Goro Miyazaki, 58, predicted that artificial intelligence could one day replace animators. "It wouldn't be surprising if, in two years' time, there was a film made completely through AI," he said in an interview last week. But whether audiences would want to watch a fully AI-generated animation is another matter, he added. Despite the rapid changes, new technology also brings "great potential for unexpected talent to emerge", added Goro, Studio Ghibli's managing director. He was speaking at the Ghibli atelier in western Tokyo, days before the San Francisco-based ChatGPT maker OpenAI released its latest image generator. OpenAI, which is already facing a barrage of copyright lawsuits, said generating images in the style of individual living artists is banned, but "we do permit broader studio styles". "Our goal is to give users as much creative freedom as possible," the US company said. Bittersweet Japan is grappling with a shortage of skilled animators, partly because most spend years in low-paid jobs to learn the ropes. Digitally savvy Gen Z may be also less enthusiastic about the manual labour involved, Goro said. "Nowadays, the world is full of opportunities to watch anything, anytime, anywhere," making it harder to imagine making a living from the physical act of drawing, he added. Goro's father founded Studio Ghibli with Isao Takahata in 1985, a year after directing the post-apocalyptic "Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind". After Takahata's death in 2018, Hayao -- now 84 and a heavy smoker -- continued to create films with 76-year-old producer Toshio Suzuki. "If those two can't make anime or can't move, then what happens?" Goro said when asked about Ghibli's future. "It's not like they can be replaced." Despite his age, Hayao won his second Oscar last year with "The Boy and the Heron" -- likely his last feature film. Anime cartoons are usually for children, but Takahata and Hayao, men "from the generation that knew war", included darker elements that appeal to adults, Goro said. "It's not all sweet -- there's also a bitterness and things like that which are beautifully intertwined in the work," he said, describing a "smell of death" that permeates the films. "That's actually what makes the work so deep." For younger people who grew up in peacetime, "it is impossible to create something with the same sense, approach and attitude that my father's generation had," Goro said. Even "Totoro", with its cuddly forest spirit creatures, is in some ways a "scary" movie that explores the fear of losing a sick mother, he explained. 'Insult to life' As the Ghibli-style AI images proliferated, a 2016 video of Hayao resurfaced that many said showed his disdain for the technology. "I strongly feel that this is an insult to life itself," the director says in the short clip, taken from a documentary. However, he was in fact reacting to an AI-assisted computer graphic of a zombie-like creature, which he calls "extremely unpleasant" in the full footage. Goro joined Studio Ghibli in 1998 and directed animations including the 2006 feature "Tales from Earthsea" and 2011's "From Up on Poppy Hill". He also oversaw the development of the Ghibli Museum and newly opened Ghibli Park in Japan. Goro enjoyed drawing as a boy and said he learned a lot watching his father's and Takahata's work, although he didn't think he could live up to their talent. "My mother, who was also an animator, told me not to pursue this career because it's a tough and busy job," Goro said, adding that his father was rarely at home. "But I always wanted to do something creative."

AI may be coming for anime, but Hayao Miyazaki is irreplaceable, son says

Artificial intelligence risks taking Japanese anime artists' jobs but nothing can replicate Hayao Miyazaki, the creative lifeblood of the studio behind classics such as "Spirited Away," says his son. Thanks to ChatGPT's new image generator, the internet is awash with pictures imitating Studio Ghibli's whimsical style, raising fresh debate over potential copyright infringements. Movies such as "My Neighbor Totoro" and "Howl's Moving Castle" are famous for their lush nature and fantastical machinery, painstakingly drawn by hand. While the studio has not commented directly on the image trend, Goro Miyazaki, 58, predicts that artificial intelligence could one day replace animators. "It wouldn't be surprising if, in two years' time, there was a film made completely through AI," he says in an interview.