Today's Edition
RAJEEV CHERIAN (ABU DHABI)
Eid Al-Fitr celebrations in the UAE got a surreal, captivating twist courtesy of artificial intelligence (AI), with government departments and a top officials joining residents in the 'Studio Ghibli trend'.
Landmarks and destinations in the country, particularly Abu Dhabi and Dubai, were among those 'Ghibli-fied' - rendered in artistic images seemingly drawn in the iconic style of the highly acclaimed Japanese animation house Studio Ghibli.
AI tools, such as Open AI's ChatGpt, xAI's Grok3 and Google's Gemini, have made this possible.
On Instagram, the Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) posted Ghibli-style images depicting Eid in Abu Dhabi.
In DMT's carousel, there are scenes from a busy souk; the making of the distinctive Arabic treat luqaimat; an image of a child receiving Eidiya; as well as heartwarming Eid moments among families - all illustrated in the recognisable lines and colours that make up a Ghibli film.
Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), also shared a series of photos featuring some Dubai's cultural landmarks, "reimagined in the enchanting style of Studio Ghibli through the lens of AI".
In a post on X, Her Highness wrote: "AI is evolving rapidly, bringing new innovations that enrich our world every day. With continuous advancements, it now mimics creativity, understands diverse cultures, and helps preserve our rich heritage," Her Highness added.
Studio Ghibli, a Japanese animation film studio headquartered in Tokyo, was founded by animators and directors Hayao Miyazaki and Takahata Isao and producer Suzuki Toshio.
"The soft colour palettes, dreamy landscapes and nostalgic atmospheres transform Ghibli-style images into an immersive experience," said Riyas Rasheed, founder and creative director of a social media marketing agency in the UAE.
The Ghibli-style trend introduces more people to Japanese culture and animation artistry, he added. "It helps build curiosity as you scroll on, especially in carousel posts."
Rasheed also said that apart from breaking the monotony in social media albums, these approaches are vital in developing topical content. Many brands resort to such trends as a widely adopted strategy.
"Many brands are leveraging the Ghibli trend to attract consumers who appreciate nostalgia, aesthetics, and slow living. They incorporate Ghibli-inspired themes into their marketing, especially digital communications to create a sense of warmth, whimsy, and connection," he said.
Social media user Abdul Aziz noticed the new trend, mainly on Instagram. "This style gives a unique character to those portraits, breathing new life into daily life events, landmarks and individuals that can resonate easily with viewers," he said.
