The tool allows users to transform images into the signature Ghibli animation style, leading to an explosion of anime-style posts
A wave of Studio Ghibli-inspired images has taken over social media following OpenAI's latest update to its ChatGPT-4o model. The tool allows users to transform images into the signature Ghibli animation style, leading to an explosion of anime-style posts.
This surge in interest has fueled a boom in Ghibli-themed meme coins, with several tokens experiencing rapid gains. Crypto figures like Sam Altman and Elon Musk contributed to the trend's visibility. Altman posted a Ghibli-style AI image while announcing the new tool, and Musk, who has a history of influencing meme coins, shared a similar image.
While neither directly mentioned Ghibli-themed coins, their posts further fueled the excitement. Some traders believe this surge could revive the struggling meme coin market, which has dropped 57% in value since December.
This sudden rise is linked to Pump.fun’s new decentralized exchange, PumpSwap, which has seen a surge in new token creation since its launch, with 30,701 tokens created compared to 17,624 previously. GHIBLI is the second major success in less than a week, following Morning Routine (ROUTINE), which reached a $19 million market cap before dropping to $1.4 million.
Despite the volatility of meme coins, some traders are optimistic about the renewed interest. However, not everyone is enthusiastic about the trend. Studio Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki has long been critical of AI, calling it an “insult to life itself” in a 2016 documentary.
A resurfaced clip of his reaction to an AI-generated animation has drawn attention, with Miyazaki stating, “I feel like we are nearing to the end of times. We humans are losing faith in ourselves.” Despite this, the flood of Ghibli-style tokens continues.
The success of these tokens follows a familiar pattern with Solana meme coin CHILLGUY, which reached a peak market cap of $643 million in November before losing 95% of its value. As the market remains unpredictable, traders hope the Ghibli trend will bring stability.
Meanwhile, decentralized exchange Hyperliquid has delisted Solana-based meme coin JELLYJELLY due to concerns over a $6 million leveraged position that threatened a liquidation crisis. This move highlights the risks associated with meme coins despite their surging popularity.
Ghibli-themed tokens are the latest internet-driven crypto craze, with some investors speculating that other anime or film-inspired tokens could emerge. However, it remains to be seen whether this trend will lead to long-term success or fizzle out like previous viral coins.
