How the ghybly trend ends

 The “Ghibli trend”—where people used ChatGPT’s new image-generator with GPT‑4o to turn their photos into Studio Ghibli‑style anime art—had a sudden rise in March 2025, but it’s already fizzled out for several reasons:

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🎬 How it unfolded

Burst of popularity: Inspired by Grant Slatton’s viral Ghibli-style family portrait, users flooded social media applying the aesthetic to everything—pets, memes, selfies.  

OpenAI restrictions: Many users reported ChatGPT blocks on producing “Ghibli-style” due to copyright concerns, slowing down the trend.  

⏸️ Why it ended so suddenly

1. It became a fad

Reddit users pointed out it was just another viral filter:

> “It’s a fad.”

“Glad to see people move on.”  

2. Backlash from artists & creators

Veteran filmmakers like Studio Ghibli’s Hayao Miyazaki called AI‑generated art “an insult to life” and “utterly disgusting”  

Editorials called it "AI slop" and "an insult to artists" over concerns about AI's impact on authentic hand‑drawn craft .

3. Ethical, legal & privacy concerns

Reports warned about privacy risks, copyright infringement, heavy AI‑data usage, environmental costs—and that the images lacked true emotional depth .

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⚠️ What this all means

Short‑lived: A typical social media trend that peaked and vanished in just weeks.

Tech pushback: Platforms and creators began restricting or de‑prioritizing the feature.

Ethical reckoning: Sparked broader discussion on AI’s limits, artistic integrity, and data privacy.