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AI Studio Ghibli “Art” Is Way More Disturbing Than You Think.

Your humanity is being stolen from you.

9 min readApr 5, 2025

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What makes Studio Ghibli films so captivating? Maybe it’s the stillness and rumination in the air when Chihiro catches the train with No-Face or the way Kiki manages to find a sense of belonging in a world that seems desperate to reject her. Maybe it’s the compassion and empathy shown in Howl’s Moving Castle, where insides are more important than outsides — unless, of course, someone accidentally rearranges your haircare potions and dyes your hair ginger. Whatever it may be, Hayao Miyazaki’s films have a special knack for reaching deeper into your soul than any other and bringing a soft, warm glow to the pockets of feeling you didn’t think existed anymore. Personally, I can attest to this. Having been recently diagnosed as autistic, these films have greatly helped me understand my reality and my place in this world. After all, there’s a reason these movies are more than just cult classics — they are beloved pillars of millions of people’s identities, communities, and journeys of self-understanding. This is why the AI Studio Ghibli trend is so violating. As Miyazaki stated through Shun Kazama, “There is no future for people who worship the future and forget the past,” and sadly, this toxic trend is buried in the machinations of fascism.

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Will Lockett
Will Lockett

Written by Will Lockett

Independent journalist covering global politics, climate change and technology. Get articles early at www.planetearthandbeyond.co

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