As the Studio Ghibli vs AI controversy hit social media platforms this past week, the Hayao Miyazaki classic, Princess Mononoke, saw a remastered IMAX re-release in North American theaters starting on March 26. A recent update to the OpenAI service brought along a new AI image generation tool that allows s to render any image in a Studio Ghibli style, flooding the internet with countless Ghibli-fied photos. Artists and fans of the legendary studio have been quick to voice their criticism, sparking debate over the morality and legality of AI images stealing others' art styles.

However, while staunch AI defenders attempted to explain how this development would benefit those who haven't put in the effort to learn how to create art, the real Studio Ghibli managed to shatter Princess Mononoke's original domestic box office record with its re-release. The film's success and the outpouring of on social media are good signs that people prefer the authentic product, even when its likeness is taken and made available for use by anyone.

Princess Mononoke Shatters Its Own International Box-Office Record With Re-Release

Fans Have Shown Their For One of Ghibli's All-Time Classic Fims

In an incredibly satisfying development, as countless non-artists took advantage of Hayao Miyazaki's and Studio Ghibli's established art style, Princess Mononoke grossed over $4 million in its limited IMAX release, doubling its entire original domestic theatrical run. The 1997 film has long been celebrated by fans and critics for its breathtaking visuals and themes of environmentalism, making its box office success rather poetic in the midst of all the controversy.

Following its successful opening, the North American distributor of Ghibli films, GKids, issued a statement regarding the ongoing debates. Vice President of distribution, Chance Huskey, said, "In a time when technology tries to replicate humanity, we are thrilled that audiences value a theatrical experience that respects and celebrates Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli's masterpiece in all its cinematic hand-drawn glory." GKids has screened Ghibli films in North American theaters in its annual "Ghibli Fest" since 2021, and fans are awaiting the announcement of this year's lineup.

The Studio Ghibli vs AI Controversy Continues

Hayao Miyazaki Has Already Made His Opinion on the Matter Known

As the controversy wages on, it's important to Hayao Miyazaki's own stance on AI-generated images, which surfaced in 2016, long before the technology became capable of all it is today. When shown a demonstration of an AI-assisted animation by Japanese media group, DWANGO, Miyazaki responded, "I strongly feel this is an insult to life itself," before later adding, "I feel like we are nearing the end of times. We humans are losing faith in ourselves."

It remains unclear whether Studio Ghibli or Hayao Miyazaki will take legal action against OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT and creator of the new Ghibli generation tool. Nevertheless, the IMAX release of Princess Mononoke has proven that audiences are still appreciative of the real thing, and artists are in need of now more than ever, as AI threatens the intellectual property of even the anime industry's biggest names.