Studio Ghibli’s distinct art style, warm colors, dreamlike landscapes, and hand-painted appearance, have captivated many anime fans. Many individuals want to replicate this look with the rise of AI-generated graphics. However, ChatGPT’s AI picture generator is not freely available to all users, prompting many to look for other ways to create Ghibli-style photos.
If you want to create Ghibli-inspired images without a ChatGPT subscription, here are some free AI tools and manual ways to help you get the appearance.
1. Free AI Tools for Ghibli-Style Image Generation
Even without ChatGPT, numerous AI platforms can create visuals that match Studio Ghibli’s artistic style. Here are some of the top free options:
1.1 Grok AI (by xAI)
- Grok AI, built by Elon Musk’s xAI, is a free AI model for X (previously Twitter) users.
- Though it might not exactly fit Ghibli’s aesthetic, it can produce navigable anime-style graphics.
- A decent beginning for trying out AI-generated art.

1.2 Leonardo.Ai
- A creative artificial intelligence application that lets users create graphics in fantasy and anime, among other artistic genres.
- Leonardo gives free daily credits, which is a great choice for casual players.
- Provides customization options for greater control over details and colors.
1.3 Deep Dream Generator
- A tool that uses AI filters to transform real photographs into creative artworks.
- Ideal for adding a hand-painted or watercolor touch to existing photographs.
- It is free to use, but advanced features cost an upgrade.

2. How to Make Ghibli Photo Without AI?
If you prefer a more hands-on method, it’s possible to manually produce Studio Ghibli-style images with a variety of editing tools and techniques.
2.1 Editing with Photoshop or Other Digital Tools
Photoshop and other graphic design programs allow you to create or edit photos in a Ghibli-inspired style.
- Apply Colour Filters: Adjust the hues and saturation to match Ghibli’s delicate, pastel tones.
- Add Hand-Drawn Details: Use brushes and layers to provide a more natural, illustrative appearance.
- Use blur and soft focus effects. This helps to recreate the old hand-painted animation style.
2.2 Using Mobile Apps for Artistic Effects
If you are not familiar with Photoshop, mobile apps can let you add anime-style effects to your images.
- Apps such as ToonMe, Prisma, and Artbreeder provide anime and watercolor-style filters.
- Some apps let you add an animated or hand-painted effect to an image after you upload it.
- Although some features might require a commercial version, many of these apps are free.
3. Essential Features of Ghibli-Style Art
To get a genuine Ghibli-like look, it’s crucial to consider a few factors whether you apply AI or hand editing:
Soft and Warm Color Palettes: The Ghibli aesthetic is defined by warm lighting, pastel hues, and vivid blues and greens.
Fantasy and Nature Elements: Beautiful scenery, magical castles, and fantastical villages are common in Ghibli photos and movies.

Hand-Painted and Textured Look: AI-generated photos can occasionally appear overly smooth, so a few little flaws will help us to give a more genuine vibe.
Subtle Shadows and Blended Colours: Ghibli-style shading uses natural, flowing lines rather than stark contrasts.
Q: Can I turn my real photos into Ghibli-style artwork?
Yes! Real photographs can be given artistic effects to create Ghibli-style pictures using AI technologies like Deep Dream Generator, Grok, and other mobile applications.
Yes, Bing Image Creator and Grok AI offer free AI image generation. Leonardo.Ai also provides free credits for image creation.
You must have a Plus, Pro, or Team subscription in ChatGPT in order to view Ghibli-style images. ChatGPT will create the image for you if you only describe the scene you want.
Final Thoughts
With free options like Grok AI, Bing Image Creator, and Leonardo.Ai, you can still produce Ghibli-style images without ChatGPT. You can create free graphics with an anime or fantasy theme with these tools. If you’d rather work by hand, there are more ways to create the enchanted, hand-drawn appearance of Studio Ghibli films using Photoshop, digital painting software, and smartphone apps.
Using AI or manual editing techniques, you can replicate Ghibli’s artwork’s captivating elegance by adhering to the best standards mentioned above. Give these techniques a try and fulfill your anime-themed ideas.