Studio Ghibli’s art style and the company’s various projects have inspired an array of AI-generated artwork. These films are beloved the world over, so it makes sense people would want to put a new spin on them. However, don’t expect Hayao Miyazaki to incorporate generative AI into anything he does. Miyazaki hates AI animation, and after being shown examples of it, the filmmaker stated, “If you really want to make creepy stuff, you can go ahead and do it. I would never wish to incorporate this technology into my work at all. I strongly feel that this is an insult to life itself.”
Those are harsh words, but they make sense. Miyazaki’s films are deeply personal, speaking to conditions of the human experience. Generative AI strips art of its humanity, ultimately presenting a hollow shell of what could’ve been. But while a genuine AI Studio Ghibli film isn’t in the cards, it doesn’t mean “Spirited Away” has remained in the medium of animation. A live-action stage production of “Spirited Away” premiered in Japan in 2022, and you don’t have to wait for it to come to a stage near you to see it. “Spirited Away: Live on Stage” is currently available to watch on Max.
“Spirited Away” has captured the hearts and minds of millions in a way few films can manage. It’s a story that almost doesn’t need further adaptations, as the movie is practically perfect just the way it is.
