Studio Ghibli producer and chairman Toshio Suzuki has explained why the studio remained largely silent during the explosion of AI-generated images mimicking its distinctive animation style. According to Suzuki, he deliberately avoided commenting because he believed the trend would quickly lose its appeal.
The comments came during an interview with Asahi Shimbun, published September 6, 2026. Suzuki said he received numerous interview requests when “Ghibli-style” AI images became a global trend but chose not to respond because he expected people to move on from it.
Toshio Suzuki Says AI Cannot Recreate Ghibli’s Creative Identity
Suzuki was particularly dismissive of AI-generated animation that attempts to reproduce the visual qualities associated with Studio Ghibli. He explained,
“While AI can easily produce a certain type of animation, anyone with even a little knowledge can see right through it. It doesn’t really mean much, and it’s not interesting either.”
The producer also contrasted generative AI with Hayao Miyazaki’s creative process. According to Suzuki, Miyazaki has intentionally limited his exposure to outside information while working on his projects and reportedly does not even know much about generative AI.
Suzuki argued that Ghibli’s identity comes from human creativity that cannot simply be reproduced through AI or computer graphics. He specifically pointed to subtle elements of Miyazaki’s animation as examples of details that technology struggles to replicate.
When asked about Studio Ghibli’s future in an increasingly AI-driven creative industry, Suzuki offered a broader vision, saying,
“Ghibli will evolve into a cultural entity demonstrating what it means for humans to create art.”
