Studio Ghibli fans have expressed strong disapproval of a live-action version of Spirited Away created using artificial intelligence (AI). The AI-generated images, which were compiled in a short video by artist Liber and shared on Instagram and Twitter, have been criticized for failing to capture the essence of the original animation and for being disrespectful towards Hayao Miyazaki, the creator of Spirited Away.
Spirited Away a 2001 animated fantasy film written and directed by Miyazaki, is highly regarded for its story and animation. It is often considered one of the best films of the 21st century and one of the greatest animated films ever made. The AI-generated images depict characters from the film as they would appear in a live-action adaptation, including Yubaba, Chihiro’s parents, No-Face, the White Dragon, Kamajī, the Kashira, Aogeru, Susuwatari, and the Radish Spirit.
we should let Hayao Miyazaki hunt this guy with a bow and arrow. https://t.co/14T1kyRMsr
— REDACTED Sportello (@BenShh1) January 15, 2024
Despite the video gaining over 6.2 million views on Twitter and 2 million likes on Instagram, it has received a considerable amount of negative feedback. Fans criticized the renders for not capturing the original animation’s essence, with one user tweeting, “Putting AI to generate images based on the masterpiece that is #Spiritedaway’s artwork must be one of the very few things that really made me angry! This is disrespectful to the hard work of #HayaoMiyazaki and Studio #Ghibli. This is so wrong.”
Hayao Miyazaki himself has been vocal about his disdain for AI in animation. In a 2016 NHK documentary series, Miyazaki criticized an animated video made by AI as “an insult to life itself,” stating that he “would never wish to incorporate this technology into my work at all.” He expressed his utter disgust at the use of AI in animation, emphasizing that machines could never replicate the genuine feel of human-created artwork and writing.
The controversy highlights the ongoing debate about the role of AI in creative industries and the importance of preserving the human touch in art and animation.
