Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Hayao Miyazaki called an AI-animation demonstration “an insult to life itself” in 2016, after watching a computer-generated figure move in a grotesque, zombie-like way. He tied his reaction to human pain and disability. He was not responding to ChatGPT or the later wave of AI-generated Studio Ghibli-style images.
What did Hayao Miyazaki say about AI?
In footage from the documentary Never-Ending Man: Hayao Miyazaki, Miyazaki watched a demonstration of a computer-generated figure moving in an unsettling, zombie-like fashion. The presenter described AI as a way to create movements people might not imagine. Miyazaki reacted with disgust and said he would not use the technology in his own work.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Hayao Miyazaki | $31.49 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
The Art of Spirited Away | $28.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
The Art of Howl's Moving Castle | $16.59 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
The Art of My Neighbor Totoro: A Film by Hayao Miyazaki | $15.53 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
The Worlds of Hayao Miyazaki: The Influences and Inspiration Behind the Iconic Films | $15.19 | Buy on Amazon |
Animation World Network’s 2016 transcription records him saying, “I am utterly disgusted,” and, “I would never wish to incorporate this technology into my work at all.” He concluded: “I strongly feel that this is an insult to life itself.” Animation World Network’s account describes the same demonstration and response.
Why did he call it an insult to life?
Miyazaki explained his reaction through a personal memory. He recalled seeing a friend with a disability struggle to raise an arm to give someone a high five. The demo’s distorted movement reminded him of a body in difficulty, not an exciting new animation effect. In the Associated Press’s transcription of the documentary footage, Miyazaki says: “Whoever creates this stuff has no idea what pain is.”
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
#1 Best Overall
That context matters: his objection was not simply that a computer had made an unusual movement. He connected the movement to bodily suffering and the people whose lives can include it. The remark is his response to that particular demonstration, rather than a formal statement of Studio Ghibli policy.
Was Miyazaki talking about ChatGPT or AI image generators?
No. The footage dates to 2016 and concerns AI-assisted animation and movement. ChatGPT and the later text-to-image systems were not the subject of the demonstration. Le Monde’s explanation of the later controversy specifically distinguishes the older animation demo from generative AI.
Rank #2
- New
- Mint Condition
- Dispatch same day for order received before 12 noon
- Guaranteed packaging
- No quibbles returns
The old clip was later brought into debates about AI image generation, including the 2025 trend of images imitating Studio Ghibli’s visual style. That later discussion should not be confused with what Miyazaki was shown or what he said in 2016.
Does the remark state Studio Ghibli’s current position?
No. It records Hayao Miyazaki’s personal reaction in the documentary footage. The Associated Press reported in 2025 that Studio Ghibli declined to comment on the viral image trend. A 2026 Creative Bloq report attributed a more nuanced view to Goro Miyazaki: that the studio was not negative toward AI technology itself, while making substantial money from the trend would be a problem. That is a later report about Goro Miyazaki, not a new statement by Hayao Miyazaki or an official policy announcement.
Rank #3
- New
- Mint Condition
- Dispatch same day for order received before 12 noon
- Guaranteed packaging
- No quibbles returns
What about copyright in Ghibli-style AI images?
The 2016 remark is not a legal ruling about the later image trend. In its 2025 coverage, the Associated Press quoted attorney Josh Weigensberg of Pryor Cashman explaining that broad artistic style is generally not copyrightable, while more specific, discernible elements in a work may raise a different question. That is an attributed explanation, not legal advice or a court decision. AP also reported that OpenAI did not respond to its question about whether it had a license to train on Ghibli or Miyazaki work; that report does not establish whether such a license existed.
Quick Recap
Best Value
Rank #4
- New
- Mint Condition
- Dispatch same day for order received before 12 noon
- Guaranteed packaging
- No quibbles returns
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
