AI-generated images and videos have been spreading across the internet, and one of the latest developments from OpenAI is an image generator that transforms photos into Studio Ghibli’s art style.
An AI filmmaker, Pj Accetturo, has wasted no time jumping on the trend, creating a The Lord of the Rings trailer in Ghibli style that has been met with praise online. But what does this mean for the future of the animation industry? Let’s talk about it below.
The Lord of the Rings Meets Studio Ghibli in an AI-Generated Video Trailer
A new version of ChatGPT allows people to create pictures in the style of the renowned Studio Ghibli. From historical photos to popular memes, users have been experimenting with the technology, transforming ordinary images into the distinct style popularized by the studio’s founder, Hayao Miyazaki.
But still images aren’t the only media getting the Ghibli treatment. An AI-driven animator has also created a The Lord of the Rings trailer using an artistic approach similar to what can be seen in films like Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, and Howl’s Moving Castle.
PJ Accetturo, who goes by @cartlundmonson, posted the video on X, captioning it, “What if Studio Ghibli directed The Lord of the Rings?”
In this video, he recreated the official trailer for the first movie in the series, The Fellowship of the Ring, making it look as if it were produced by the Japanese animation studio and directed by Miyazaki. He also shared a side-by-side comparison of the original trailer and the one he generated.
The filmmaker, whose AI-generated video trailer received 13,000 reposts and 84,000 likes, later revealed that he remixed it using OpenAI’s Sora. Accetturo also told his 16,000 followers on X the prompt he used in Sora.
Additionally, he shared that he spent nine hours re-editing the video and used software like Luma AI and Kling AI, spending $250 on credits.
Most of his followers responded positively to his idea of merging two of the world’s most popular franchises, with comments such as, “I think I have only commented once before in my life on Twitter, but this deserves serious recognition. This is phenomenal work,” and “Someone needs to finance a whole movie. This is incredible.”
However, not everyone appreciated the video. Some users criticized it, saying, “I can't get over how utterly evil this is,” and “I see no copyright or plagiarism issues here at all.”
Others who admire Miyazaki’s dedication to art also shared their thoughts on the trend. One user wrote, “Imagine being Miyazaki, pouring decades of heart and soul into making this transcendent, beautiful, tender style of anime, and then seeing it get sloppified by linear algebra.”
Hayao Miyazaki on AI-Generated Art and The Lord of the Rings
Fans of Hayao Miyazaki’s art style from Studio Ghibli movies have been enjoying OpenAI’s image generator and see it as harmless. But not everyone is amused by the trend, knowing how it would affect the director.
The Oscar winner, who founded Studio Ghibli in 1985, has always preferred to create his movies the traditional way, relying on hand-drawn animation and intricate detailing.
In a 2016 documentary, a group of creatives presented him with a demo of an AI-generated animation, explaining that their goal was to “build a machine that can draw pictures like humans do.” Miyazaki responded, “I feel like we are nearing the end of times. We humans are losing faith in ourselves.”
"I would never wish to incorporate this technology into my work at all. I strongly feel that this is an insult to life itself," he added.
Miyazaki has also voiced his dislike for Western movies such as Indiana Jones and The Lord of the Rings, believing they promote violence, war, and discrimination.
Studio Ghibli has not yet commented on ChatGPT’s latest update and the Ghibli-style AI-generated images, nor have they addressed Accetturo’s AI video trailer.
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