Princess Mononoke’s IMAX Comeback Shines Amid Ghibli AI Backlash!

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Studio Ghibli’s influential movie “Princess Mononoke” holds various meanings across multiple generations of anime enthusiasts. The film’s intense, primal violence conveys a strong message on the ongoing battle between humans, nature, and industrialization. Additionally, it tackles a pertinent issue that resonates with many – the hazardous implications of uncontrolled development. Interestingly, the movie’s latest IMAX rerelease, marking its reappearance in 330 cinemas since 2016 in the West, seems to be countering a recent dispute concerning an AI image generator copying Studio Ghibli’s distinctive art style.

In the recent past, a new feature was added to ChatGPT, an AI-driven tool developed by OpenAI. This update enables users to transform their images into styles reminiscent of Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli’s iconic animations. However, this update has sparked significant criticism due to concerns that it exploits the efforts of real artists to create low-cost replicas. OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, has been promoting these “Ghibli-inspired” images, but those who value Miyazaki’s artistry are advocating for the recognition of human creativity’s inherent worth. The success of Princess Mononoke‘s re-release at the box office supports their argument.

The Princess Mononoke Re-Release Is Dominating Despite Its Limited Screenings

I was absolutely thrilled to learn that, despite being shown in just 330 theaters, Princess Mononoke raked in an impressive $1.2 million on its domestic debut day, as reported by DiscussingFilm (previously Twitter). The film’s lasting impact and its pertinent political themes make the current resistance against OpenAI’s recent image generator feel like it was orchestrated for Miyazaki’s masterpiece to demonstrate yet again that authentic artistic passion and skill will always outshine what AI can produce in terms of art. Interestingly, Studio Ghibli has taken a stand against the use of generative AI in media before as well.

Studio Ghibli’s Hayao Miyazaki Has Always Held Strong Opinions Against AI-Generated Content

In a 2016 documentary produced by Kaku Arukawa and aired by NHK, a team of animators and designers presented an AI-generated animation they had created to Hayao Miyazaki and Toshio Suzuki, a Studio Ghibli producer. Lately, this story has been highlighted again as AI content inspired by Studio Ghibli floods social media. Recently, The Independent shared Miyazaki’s comments on the subject.

In response, Miyazaki passionately declared, “I’m absolutely appalled. If you truly desire to create unsettling content, by all means, proceed. I have no intention of using such technology in my creations. Frankly, I find this a desecration of life itself.

In contrast to other documentary crew members who tried to pacify the situation by explaining it was merely a personal endeavor without commercial intentions, one team member expressed their ambition to construct a device capable of drawing like humans. To put an end to the conversation, Miyazaki conveyed a somber prediction to the group: “It seems we are approaching the final days. Humans are gradually losing confidence in themselves.

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2025-03-28 23:11