PUBLICIDADE

The world of Japanese animation gained special prominence with the Ghibli style, a charming visual style that won over fans around the world.

Imagine yourself walking through a forest where the wind whispers through leaves of such a vivid green that they seem to dance.

Or maybe you're in a small town with crooked rooftops, where the sunset paints the sky with shades of orange and purple, as if the whole world were a living canvas.

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This is the universe of the Ghibli style — an aesthetic that is not just visual, but an invitation to feel.

Have you ever wondered where this magic came from? How it flourished and why, even decades later, it continues to warm hearts?

And what's more: have you ever thought about how you could transform your own photos into something straight out of a Studio Ghibli film, without spending a dime?

Let's embark on this story together, with an open heart and the curiosity of someone who wants to discover a hidden treasure.

The origin of the Ghibli style

It was 1985, and Japan was about to get a gift no one knew they needed.

Hayao Miyazaki, an animator with dreamy eyes and skilled hands, joined forces with Isao Takahata and Toshio Suzuki to found Studio Ghibli.

The name “Ghibli” comes from an Arabic word meaning “hot desert wind,” and it’s no coincidence: they wanted to breathe fresh air into animation, something that would move people in a new way.

It all started with Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, released a year before the studio was officially founded in 1984.

This film already had the embryo of what would become the Ghibli style: settings that looked like paintings, with vast fields and immense skies, characters full of soul and a message about taking care of the Earth.

Think of it as the first step of a child who, without knowing it, is about to travel the world.

It was a success, but no one imagined how much that hot wind would grow.

When My Neighbor Totoro arrived in 1988, the Ghibli style began to truly take shape.

Who doesn't remember that scene of Totoro waiting for the bus in the rain, with an umbrella that barely covers him? Or the sisters exploring a house full of dust and mysteries?

There, Studio Ghibli showed that it didn't need big battles or amazing effects to enchant — all it needed was a careful look at everyday life, mixed with a touch of fantasy that makes you believe in forest spirits.

How did the Ghibli style come to life?

If I asked you to imagine the Ghibli style, what would come to mind? Maybe a moss-covered bridge with lanterns swaying in the wind, like in Spirited Away.

Or the floating castle of The Castle in the Sky, with fluffy cotton candy clouds in the background.

This look didn't happen overnight. It was cultivated, like a garden that requires patience and love.

Miyazaki and his team drew everything by hand, frame by frame.

Can you believe it? Every leaf swaying, every ray of sunlight shining through the trees was thought out with a care that today seems like something from another world.

They used soft colors, almost like watercolors, to create an atmosphere that embraces you.

In Princess Mononoke, for example, the forest is not just a setting — it breathes, it lives, almost as if it could tell you stories all by itself.

But it wasn't just technique. The Ghibli style grew because it had something to say.

While other cartoons focused on frenetic action, Ghibli stopped to show silence: the sound of rain, the sound of a river, the song of a bird.

This connected people to the little things in life, the ones we sometimes forget to look at.

And, little by little, this special way of seeing the world began to spread, like seeds carried by the wind.

Why Does Ghibli Touch Us So Much?

Now, tell me: why do you think the Ghibli style became so beloved?

I have a theory. I think it's because it speaks to that part of us that still believes in magic, even when life gets gray.

When I watched Howl's Moving Castle for the first time, I was about 12 years old. Seeing Howl flying with Sophie, with that golden hair flowing and the sky changing colors, made me feel that the world could be more beautiful than it seemed.

It's not just me. Ghibli has this power to cross cultures.

A child in Brazil, a teenager in Japan or a grandmother in France — everyone can see themselves in the films.

It's the way they mix the real with the fantastic: a girl facing spirits to save her parents, a pilot pig who loves adventures, a bread delivery man who flies in a starry sky.

They are human stories, but with a touch of dream that makes us want to get up and create something beautiful too.

And look how funny time is: in 2025, the Ghibli not only survived, it was reborn.

With artificial intelligence, today you can take a photo of your dog or your trip to the beach and turn it into a Ghibli scene.

This went viral on social media — have you seen those posts with “My street in Ghibli style”? It’s like the warm wind from the studio has found a new way to blow.

Turning your photos into Ghibli-style images

Now comes the part I know you've been waiting for: how do you bring this magic into your own memories?

I've done this before with a picture of my cat sleeping in the window, and I swear it looked like he had turned into a cute little ghost. Totoro. The best part? It's easy, fast and costs nothing. Let's go step by step, as if I were leading you by the hand.

Step 1: Find the Right Tool

There are several free options out there, but I like the insMind and of the FlexClip.

These are websites that you open on your cell phone or computer, without having to download anything.

They have Ghibli filters that use AI to do the heavy lifting.

If you prefer an app, the CapCut is also great — and comes with templates made by Ghibli fans.

Step 2: Choose Your Photo

Take that special image: it could be you with your friends, a sunset that left a mark on you or even your pet.

The trick is to use a photo with good light and details — the sharper it is, the better the result.

I tested it with a photo of my nephew running in a park, and it looked like he was in a Miyazaki film!

Step 3: Apply the Ghibli Filter

Node insMind, for example, you upload the photo and click on the “Ghibli Style” option.

The AI kicks in and, in just a few seconds, transforms everything: the sky takes on pastel tones, the trees become more vivid, and even the people look hand-drawn.

Node CapCut, just search for “Studio Ghibli Effect” in the templates and apply.

Step 4: Add Your Touch and Save

If you want, adjust the colors or contrast a little.

I like to make the tone warmer, to remind me of Ghibli films in the fall.

Then, just download it and that's it! Your photo is now a Ghibli work of art, ready to share or keep as a souvenir.

An Extra Tip

Try different photos! I once included a picture of my grandmother knitting, and the result was so sweet that she even asked to have it framed.

It's a way to give new life to your memories, as if they gained wings to fly in a magical world.

Why is it worth trying?

Doing this isn't just fun—it's almost therapeutic.

On a busy day, sitting down for five minutes and transforming a photo into a little piece of the Ghibli universe made me smile like a child.

And there's more: it's a way of paying homage to something we love, of bringing that warm wind into our lives.

You can post it on Instagram, send it to friends or even create an album just with your Ghibli creations.

The Ghibli style isn't just a way of drawing — it's a way of seeing the world.

It was born from the hands of Miyazaki and his friends, grew with stories that mix the simple and the extraordinary, and today lives in each of us who have ever been moved by a film from the studio.

So now with free tools like insMind It is CapCut, you can carry this magic in your pocket.

So, how about giving it a try? Take a photo you love and let Ghibli breathe some charm into it.

But who knows, maybe you'll discover that, deep down, you've always had a little piece of this world inside you? I've already started — and you, will you embark on this adventure with me?