A wave of Studio Ghibli-inspired images has taken over social media after OpenAI’s latest update to its ChatGPT-4o model.
A wave of Studio Ghibli-inspired images has taken over social media after 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.
Ghiblification (GHIBLI), a Solana-based token, soared to a $28.3 million market cap before dropping to $18 million. Another token, GhibliCZ (GHIBLI), referencing Binance co-founder Changpeng Zhao, spiked to $14.6 million before falling to $4.3 million. At least 20 other Ghibli-related tokens have emerged, with one on Solana recording a 52.54% jump in just one hour, reaching a $23 million market cap.w
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. Neither directly mentioned Ghibli-themed coins, but their posts added to the overall excitement. Some traders see this surge as a potential revival for the struggling meme coin market, which has dropped 57% in value since December.
Pump.fun’s new decentralized exchange, PumpSwap, has played a role in this sudden rise. Since its launch, new token creation has jumped from 17,624 to 30,701. GHIBLI is the second major success in under a week, following Morning Routine (ROUTINE), which hit a $19 million market cap before dropping to $1.4 million. While meme coins have been volatile, some traders are optimistic about the renewed interest.
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 has continued.
The success of these tokens follows a familiar pattern. CHILLGUY, a Solana meme coin based on the “Just a chill guy” meme, saw a peak market cap of $643 million in November before losing 95% of its value. The market remains unpredictable, with some traders hoping the Ghibli trend will bring stability.
Meanwhile, decentralized exchange Hyperliquid has delisted Solana-based meme coin JELLYJELLY, citing concerns over a $6 million leveraged position that threatened a liquidation crisis. The decision highlights the risks associated with meme coins, even as their popularity surges.
Ghibli-themed tokens have become the latest internet-driven crypto craze, with some investors speculating that other anime or film-inspired tokens could follow. Whether this trend will lead to long-term success or fade like previous viral coins remains to be seen.
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