Recently, images depicting public figures and historical events reimagined in the distinctive animation (anime) style of Studio Ghibli have been spreading widely online.
This phenomenon has quickly become a hot topic among AI enthusiasts and fans of this unique art form. From images of former US President Donald Trump to the iconic "Tank Man" snapshot from the Tiananmen Square protests, and even other historical figures, few have escaped the charm of this popular artistic transformation.
Indeed, the trend has extended to include pop culture characters and internet memes, sparking a widespread wave of artistic experimentation and sharing across social media platforms.
GPT-4o: The AI Engine Behind Native Ghibli Anime Images
The credit for this widespread trend largely goes to OpenAI's latest update to the GPT-4o model.
This update introduced a "native image generation" feature directly within the ChatGPT platform, powered by the GPT-4o Image Generation tool.
Previously, ChatGPT relied on the separate DALL-E 3 model to create images. But with GPT-4o, the game has changed.
The model's name, with the "o" signifying "omni," reflects the company's goal of making it capable of handling text, code, images, video, and audio.
These capabilities grant GPT-4o an advanced understanding of multimedia, enabling a smooth connection between words and visuals.
It can produce stunning, high-fidelity images based on text prompts without needing to rely on external models.
Much like the Google AI Studio update that introduced the Gemini 2.0 Flash model for image creation, OpenAI's GPT-4o allows users to upload existing images and transform them into various artistic styles, including the famous Ghibli Studio aesthetic.
Comprehensive Step-by-Step Guide: Creating Studio Ghibli Images with GPT-4o (in 5 Easy Steps)
1. Visit the ChatGPT Website: Open Chat.com or ChatGPT.com and log in with your paid account (Plus, Pro, or Team).
- If you're a free user, check if the feature is available to you as explained in the next step.
- Before starting, ensure the "GPT-4o" model is selected from the dropdown menu in the bottom-left corner. Usually, this is the default model in ChatGPT.
2. Click the New Ellipsis Button (...): Locate the three dots (...) at the bottom of the chatbox and click on the "Create image" option.
Note for free users: If you see the word "DALL-E" within this option, it means the new native generation feature hasn't rolled out to your account yet, and image generation still relies on DALL-E.
3. Upload Your Image: Click the "+" button next to the text input box to upload the image you want to transform.
4. Write Your Prompt: In the text box, ask GPT-4o to convert the image into the Studio Ghibli style.
- Try simple prompts like: "Transform this image into a Studio Ghibli-style drawing."
- For more precise results, try prompts such as: "Turn this photo into a scene from a Studio Ghibli film, with warm colors and beautiful nature." The more detailed your description, the closer the results will be to your vision.
5. Get Your Results: Wait a few moments, and GPT-4o will generate a new image in the Ghibli style.
- Furthermore, you can experiment with combining multiple images and modifying your prompts to achieve the perfect outcome.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About the New Feature
Q: What is Studio Ghibli?
A: Ghibli Studio is a world-renowned Japanese animation studio famous for its visually stunning films and imaginative stories that often explore themes of nature and humanity.
Its art style is characterized by fluid lines, serene colors, and intricate details in backgrounds and landscapes.
Famous examples of their work include films like "Spirited Away," "My Neighbor Totoro," and "Princess Mononoke."
Q: Can I use GPT-4o for free to create Ghibli anime images?
A: Generally, the image generation feature in GPT-4o is currently available primarily to subscribers of the ChatGPT Plus, Pro, and Team plans.
For free accounts, the situation remains a bit unclear.
OpenAI's Sam Altman stated last Wednesday on X (formerly Twitter): "the popularity of images in ChatGPT has way surpassed our expectations (and our expectations were high). delaying the launch for free users for a bit, sorry."
However, our own tests today (Saturday) indicated that OpenAI might have started activating the feature experimentally or on a limited basis for some free accounts.
Your free account could be one of these test cases.
If you see the feature in your free account, it's a great opportunity to try it out! But it's important to understand that this free access might not be permanent or guaranteed for all free users.
Therefore, for full and consistent access to GPT-4o's features, including image generation, a paid subscription remains the most reliable option currently.
Q: What are the best prompts for GPT-4o to produce great Anime Ghibli images?
A: Try prompts like "Convert this image into a Studio Ghibli style drawing," "Make this picture look like a scene from Spirited Away," or "Draw this character in the Studio Ghibli anime style with a beautiful nature background."
The more specific you are in describing the desired style, the better the results will likely be.
Q: Can I turn my selfies into the Studio Ghibli anime style?
A: Yes, you can upload your personal photos (selfies) and request GPT-4o to transform them into the Studio Ghibli style.
Q: Are there other alternatives to GPT-4o for creating Ghibli Studio images?
A: Yes, other AI-powered tools can generate images in various artistic styles.
These include tools that directly use the DALL-E 3 model or other models like Midjourney and Stable Diffusion.
Additionally, some platforms offer limited free versions for creating Ghibli-style images using other AI models such as Gemini and Grok, although the quality of the results might differ from GPT-4o.
We also offer on our site the Aniface tool for creating anime-style images for free.