由 Neil 
1. Introduction
Have you ever dreamed of seeing yourself or your favorite photo turned into a whimsical Studio Ghibli-style artwork? Whether it’s the magical world of My Neighbor Totoro or the emotional depth of Spirited Away, the iconic Ghibli style is loved for its soft hand-drawn feel, vibrant colors, and emotional storytelling.
Thanks to AI, especially ChatGPT with image generation, it’s now easier than ever to create your own Ghibli photo, even without any drawing skills. In this article, we’ll walk you through how to make Ghibli photos with ChatGPT, including tips to improve your prompts for better AI image results.
We’ll also introduce two free ChatGPT alternatives—EasyControl Ghibli and Picsman’s Studio Ghibli Image Converter—so you can try the Studio Ghibli filter and turn your photo into anime instantly!
2. How to Generate Studio Ghibli Image with ChatGPT
With the newest ChatGPT model (ChatGPT-4o), OpenAI has introduced native image generation, making it possible to create Ghibli-style artwork with just a prompt—or even a photo upload.
Here’s how you can create your own anime-inspired masterpiece.
🔸 (1) Convert a Real Photo into Ghibli Style
The easiest method is to upload a real photo to ChatGPT and use it to transform your image into a beautiful Ghibli-style illustration.
It is worth noting that, in addition to generating images using ChatGPT’s chat function, we can also use Sora within ChatGPT to create images with prompts.
Sora is an advanced feature within ChatGPT that allows users to generate images using prompts and access various external tools for enhanced interactions.
Below is a comparison between ChatGPT-4o and ChatGPT-Sora based on the same text prompts. Pick the one you prefer.
From the results, we can see that Sora offers greater precision and visual fidelity compared to basic in-chat prompts.
This time, let’s choose Sora and begin our journey to generate an amazing image.
Once inside the Sora interface, simply upload your image and use a clear, descriptive prompt like:
‘Please turn this image into a Studio Ghibli-style digital painting. Make it look like a hand-drawn anime scene with warm lighting, soft background, and cinematic detail.’
Or:
‘Add a Ghibli-style anime filter to this image to make a charming hand-drawn anime-style illustration.’
Sora interprets your instructions with fine-tuned accuracy, applying Ghibli-inspired aesthetics—lush environments, soft shading, emotional tone, and whimsical charm.
After waiting for some time, you’ll receive a high-quality AI-generated image that looks like it stepped right out of a Ghibli film.
💡 Tip: Sora is especially powerful for reinterpreting real photos with specific artistic direction, making it ideal for fans of Ghibli films and anime art.
🔸 (2) Generate Ghibli Style Images From Scratch with Prompts
If you’re not uploading an existing photo but want to generate an image from scratch, you can use text prompts to create stunning Studio Ghibli artwork.
But how do you write effective prompts for AI image generation? How do you make sure the AI understands your creative intent?
Here’s how you can do it 👇
3. Tips to Improve AI Prompts for Ghibli Images
Crafting prompts is an art in itself. Here’s how to describe a scene so the AI captures the animation style and emotional atmosphere you want.
🔹 Prompt Writing Framework
Use this framework to guide your descriptions:
[Subject] + [Scene Details] + [Visual Style] + [Color Scheme] + [Perspective] + [Mood & Action] + [Lighting] + [Background]
Example Prompt:
‘A girl wearing a red dress is dancing under a cherry blossom tree, with petals drifting in the wind. The art style is Ghibli, with bright and highly saturated colors. The overall atmosphere is warm and romantic, the girl’s movements are light and graceful, and sunlight filters from above, creating a soft glow effect. The picture ratio should be 16: 9.’
🔹 Prompt Word Categories
Incorporate keywords from the following categories:
| 🎨 Category | 🧾 Vocabulary Examples |
|---|---|
| Style | Realistic, Hyperrealistic, Minimalist, Cartoon, Anime, Abstract, Impressionist, Surreal, Cyberpunk, Fantasy, Steampunk, Noir, Vintage, Futuristic, Watercolor, Oil painting, Pixel art, Line art, Concept art, 3D, 2D |
| Lighting | Natural light, Soft light, Harsh light, Backlighting, Rim lighting, Ambient light, Studio lighting, Low key, High key, Spotlight, Warm light, Cool light, Diffused, Golden hour, Silhouette, Underexposed, Overexposed |
| Material | Metallic, Glossy, Matte, Velvet, Glass, Crystal, Plastic, Wood, Leather, Stone, Fabric, Skin texture, Liquid-like, Transparent, Translucent, Rough, Smooth |
| Rendering Style | Photorealistic, Stylized, Hand-drawn, CGI, Voxel, Vector, Pixelated, Low poly, High poly, Isometric, Digital painting, AI-generated, Sketch, Flat shading, Cel shading, Ray tracing |
| Color Scheme | Monochromatic, Vibrant, Saturated, Desaturated, Pastel, Grayscale, Sepia, Cool tones, Warm tones, Earth tones, Neon, Contrasting, Complementary, Muted, Gradient, Color splash |
| Composition | Rule of thirds, Symmetrical, Asymmetrical, Centered, Balanced, Leading lines, Negative space, Framing, Depth of field, Foreground focus, Background focus, Minimalist, Golden ratio, Diagonal layout, Layered composition |
| Perspective / Angle | Eye-level, Bird’s-eye view, Worm’s-eye view, Over-the-shoulder, First-person view, Isometric, Wide-angle, Fisheye lens, Dutch angle (tilted), Depth perspective, Vanishing point, Foreshortening, Close-up, Macro, Aerial view |
🔹 Expert Prompt Tips
✅ Avoid Vague Terms:
Skip words like ‘cool’ or ‘pretty.’ Instead, say ‘sunlit meadow with pink sakura petals.’
✅ Use Art Terminology:
Mention ‘color palette,’ ‘depth of field,’ ‘lighting contrast,’ etc.
✅ Break Prompts Into Sections:
Divide your description into parts corresponding to different elements (subject, scene, style, etc.), making it easier for the AI to interpret and process
✅ Iterate Frequently:
If the first result doesn’t meet your expectations, refine your prompt based on feedback. You can add or reduce details, adjust the color scheme, or change lighting effects.
✅ Reference Art Styles:
If you have a source of inspiration or a reference image, describe it. For example: ‘In the style of Van Gogh’s Starry Night, but set in a modern city’ or ‘inspired by Spirited Away’s forest scenes.’
✅ Keep It Concise:
Details are good, but keep the prompt logical and not too long.
4. Free ChatGPT Alternatives for Ghibli Style Images
Not everyone has access to ChatGPT Pro, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy Ghibli AI conversions for free. Here are two great alternatives:
(1) EasyControl Ghibli
EasyControl Ghibli is a simple online tool for turning your photos into Studio Ghibli-style illustrations in just three steps:
🔸How to Use:
- Visit the EasyControl Ghibli website.
- Upload the photo you want to convert.
- Click ‘Generate’ and wait a few seconds for your image.
🔸Pros and Cons:
✅Very beginner-friendly
✅Completely free
❌Limited to filters—can’t generate new scenes from prompts
❌Only one free trial per user
(2) Picsman Studio Ghibli Image Converter
Picsman is a powerful and versatile AI photo editor that supports both photo-to-Ghibli filters and prompt-based Ghibli-style generation.
🔸Two Modes to Use:
1️⃣ Apply Studio Ghibli Filter
Upload your photo in Picsman’s AI Studio Ghibli Generator, click to apply the Ghibli filter, and you’re done! Perfect for quick transformations. Moreover, you can also select different styles on the left menu like Cartoon, Sketch, and Oil Painting etc.
2️⃣ AI Image Generation in Ghibli Style
Navigate to the AI Image Generator, enter your creative prompt, and let Picsman turn it into a magical anime scene. You can choose from a variety of styles: anime, realistic, cyberpunk, pixel art, Monet, and more.
🔸Features:
✅ Great for both beginners
✅ Free online editor with high-quality results
✅ Diverse Styles and AI filters
5. Practical Uses of Ghibli-Style AI Art
Wondering what to do with your newly created Ghibli-style images? Here are some creative ideas:
- Use them as social media avatars or profile headers
- Print them as gifts or posters
- Use them in visual storytelling, like digital comics or animations
- Create unique album art or digital collages
- Make custom art for weddings, events, or memory books
Whether you’re a fan of anime characters, photo-to-anime AI, or the nostalgic charm of Ghibli films, these tools unlock new ways to express yourself artistically.
6. Conclusion
Creating your own Studio Ghibli image is easier and more accessible than ever thanks to powerful AI tools like ChatGPT-4o, Picsman, and EasyControl Ghibli. Whether you want to convert a photo into anime, add a Ghibli filter, or generate a brand-new scene from scratch, you now have the tools and knowledge to do it all.
✅ Use ChatGPT to describe detailed prompts and generate Ghibli-style artwork
✅ Try EasyControl for quick photo filters
✅ Explore Picsman for full AI studio capabilities
So go ahead—let your creativity bloom like cherry blossoms in the wind and create your own anime masterpiece, just like the worlds of Studio Ghibli.
7. Sources
(2) https://openai.com/index/introducing-4o-image-generation
