I Used AI To Build Non-Animated Versions Of Studio Ghibli Characters And They're All So Beautiful

Haku was surprisingly hard to generate...

If you're anything like me, you grew up watching Studio Ghibli movies: wishing you could live in Kiki's town, becoming absolutely convinced that your parents were going to turn into pigs, and *maybe* developing a crush on Howl. Since Ghibli is known for its distinctive animation style, I wanted to see how their characters would look in a more photorealistic style.

Nausicaä from Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984)

books_baking_broadway / Via Artbreeder, Studio Ghibli

First up is Ghibli's (unofficial) first heroine, 16-year-old princess, pacifist, (and lowkey messiah figure), Nausicaä!

Pazu from Castle in the Sky (1986)

books_baking_broadway / Via Artbreeder, Studio Ghibli

Next, we have the two protagonists of Ghibli's first official film, Castle in the Sky (1986). Here is Pazu!

Sheeta from Castle in the Sky (1986)

books_baking_broadway / Via Artbreeder, Studio Ghibli

And here's Pazu's mysterious friend, Sheeta! Although she appears to have the same black eyes as most Ghibli characters, up-close shots reveal that her eyes are actually a dark bluish-gray.

The Kusakabe Sisters from My Neighbor Totoro (1988)

books_baking_broadway / Via Artbreeder, Studio Ghibli

Up next are the adorable Kusakabe sisters, 11-year-old Satsuki and four-year-old Mei. Fun fact: the same AI was used to generate both sisters, in order to keep consistency and make them look like family.

Kiki from Kiki's Delivery Service (1989)

books_baking_broadway / Via Artbreeder, Studio Ghibli

Everyone's favorite young witch, Kiki, is 13 years old. She is ethnically ambiguous in the film, but given that the town of Koriko, and Kiki's mother, look rather European, I opted to make Kiki look European rather than Japanese.

(Sadly, I wasn't able to insert a black cat in the background of the AI.)

Tombo from Kiki's Delivery Service (1989)

books_baking_broadway / Via Artbreeder, Studio Ghibli

And here's Kiki's nerdy friend and love interest, Tombo!

Ashitaka from Princess Mononoke (1997)

books_baking_broadway / Via Artbreeder, Studio Ghibli

Fun fact: Ashitaka's village was heavily inspired by the indigenous Ainu people of Japan.

San from Princess Mononoke (1997)

books_baking_broadway / Via Artbreeder, Studio Ghibli

Physically human and emotionally lupine, it was hard to capture San's intensity while also maintaining the fact that she's still only a teenager.

Chihiro from Spirited Away (2001)

books_baking_broadway / Via Artbreeder, Studio Ghibli

Ponytails like Chihiro's are notoriously difficult to generate on Artbreeder. Thankfully, I found a base that already had her signature bangs and hairstyle.

Haku from Spirited Away (2001)

books_baking_broadway / Via Artbreeder, Studio Ghibli

Okay, okay: I'll be the first to admit that it was incredibly difficult to create Haku's portrait, and it shows. It was particularly hard to strike the balance of Haku's androgyny (the Artbreeder filters automatically make the face hyper-feminine when you try to add longer hair) and keep him looking 12 while still giving him an otherworldly quality. I think the intensity is right but would have liked to make him look even younger.

Sophie Hatter from Howl's Moving Castle (2004)

books_baking_broadway / Via Artbreeder, Studio Ghibli

In creating the notoriously-insecure Sophie, I wanted to create a girl who's attractive, but plain enough to constantly convince herself that she is too boring to be noticed by others.

Sophie Hatter from Howl's Moving Castle (2004)

books_baking_broadway / Via Artbreeder, Studio Ghibli

And here's Sophie under her old-age curse! Like the Kusakabe sisters, I used the same AI base to make sure that Sophie's older and younger selves look like the same person.

Howl from Howl's Moving Castle (2004)

books_baking_broadway / Via Artbreeder, Studio Ghibli

Howl HAD to be hot; otherwise, I'd fail two decades' worth of Ghibli fangirls.

Ponyo from Ponyo (2008)

books_baking_broadway / Via Artbreeder, Studio Ghibli

Like Kiki, Ponyo is relatively ethnically-ambiguous, so I wanted to capture that in her face while maintaining her adorable red hair.

Sōsuke from Ponyo (2008)

books_baking_broadway / Via Artbreeder, Studio Ghibli

Last but not least is Ponyo's conscientious best friend, Sōsuke!

Thoughts? Any other characters you'd like to see? Let me know in the comments section below!