Studio Ghibli stays silent on AI-generated art controversy

A screenshot of Ghibli-style images created by ChatGPT on Instagram (Instagram)

Studio Ghibli, the Japanese animation studio behind “Spirited Away” and “Howl’s Moving Castle,” has declined to comment on the rising controversy over AI-generated artwork mimicking its signature style.

When asked by The Korea Herald on Wednesday about its stance on the issue and possible legal action against ChatGPT's AI-generated images, a Studio Ghibli spokesperson responded by phone, saying, “We are not making any comments. This is the same for Japan and the rest of the world.”

AI-generated Ghibli-style illustrations are gaining explosive popularity in South Korea and around the world. Users of ChatGPT are now reporting that Open AI appears to have restricted the use of the model for this purpose, at least for free users.

According to data from industry tracker IGAWorks, ChatGPT recorded 1,252,925 daily active users in South Korea on March 27, a sharp rise from 799,571 on March 1, following the rollout of its new image-generation feature.

While Studio Ghibli has yet to take a stance, concerns are growing within South Korea’s creative industry.

On Thursday, Lee Bin, the creator of the popular Korean animated series "Hello Jadoo," voiced her discomfort, writing on social media that she found AI-generated images “difficult to look at.”