Ghibli, I Choose You
AI continues to be questioned by the world with arguments about its ethics and practices and is undoubtedly the hot topic of the current world of art.
Despite this, the output is definitely eye-catching, and, in this case, who could say no to a chubby Charmander à la Totoro?
Everyone’s favorite Pokémon is given the Ghibli treatment through the magic of the AI lens, combining the two worlds into one that feels cozy and familiar, while still appearing intriguing and mystical.
Originally posted to a Facebook page called “The Art of AI”, the images show reimagined takes on Pokémon, illustrated in the iconic style of Studio Ghibli; cutesy Squirtles and Psyducks that look like they could be your best friend contrast with impressive-looking Gyrados or Jolteon, portrayals that do justice to their daunting descriptions in the Pokémon world. The renders stay true to the original idea of the creatures, doing well to keep the world’s basic identity intact while managing to inject the homeyness one feels when watching Ghibli movies.
The images have gained notoriety, having been reposted countless times on social media platforms, most notably by the official French Pokémon Company Twitter Page. Being a titan in the pop culture field, this franchise has always been subjected to various reimaginings and retellings, but the combination with the equally large and impressive world of Studio Ghibli creates an entirely different beast. Both worlds are impeccably represented in this collaborative reimagining.
It’s true that AI takes the shadow of an infectious threat to the world of art, as it often samples from art made by people who have not allowed reproduction - it’s understandable that people will be upset, and in this case, it is also necessary. But giants such as Pokémon and Ghibli are icons marked in the history of pop culture and their style is unmistakably recognizable, inspiring tons of people over the past decades. When your favorite neon yellow mouse-squirrel looks like it rolled right out of Howl’s Moving Castle, it double-strikes our hearts with nostalgia and the fantasy of a dream collaboration.
About the Author:
Born and raised in the Philippines before coming to Tokyo. He thinks you’re pretty cool.
