AI “art” is Destroying a Generation of Creatives – Revisiting Ghibli’s ‘Whisper of the Heart’ in the age of AI
TikTok’s obsession with generative AI has once again been at the forefront of my mind as I scroll through the latest trend of using ChatGPT’s ‘Studio Ghibli filter’, which transforms any photo you input into the art style of Studio Ghibli, an animation studio created by Hayao Miyazaki in 1985 which has animated and produced countless critically acclaimed films such as Spirited Away and My Neighbour Totoro.
What to many seems like a harmless trend meant to honour and appreciate the films that shaped their childhoods, is in fact doing more harm than good to the artistic community. It is even an affront to Miyazaki himself, as the animator/director has openly been opposed to AI art for years, calling it an “insult to life itself”. How is it that the work of a man who has dedicated decades of his career to fighting habitat destruction and inspiring creativity in others has been stolen for a mere internet trend? Why is art so important in times of fear and unrest?
“You’re wonderful. There’s no need to rush. Please take your time to polish your talent.”
The 1995 coming-of-age film, Whisper of the Heart, written by Hayao Miyazaki and directed by Yoshifumi Kondō, was the studio’s eighth film since its creation in 1985. We follow Shizuku, an ordinary high school girl who dawdles on an aimless and ambitionless path, spending most of her time reading borrowed novels from the library, as she notices the same name previously checked out on all her books. This leads her to meet Seiji, a classmate who just so happens to be the grandson of the owner of an antique shop she had discovered one day, and the two form a friendship as they spend time together in the shop. Unlike Shizuku, Seiji has a strong passion for violin carving and one day hopes to master his craft and train under a master. Motivated and in awe of his dedication, Shizuku explores her love of novels and storytelling, setting out to write her own novel, facing the many enthusiasms and challenges that come with it.
The film traverses the minds and aspirations of young creatives as they navigate love, friendship, and their relationship with their own art. It showcases two people at different stages of their artistic journeys: someone who has it figured out and has years of practicing their skill, and someone who has only just breached the world of writing, in a hurry to catch up. Though Shizuku hates her writing and struggles with the disparity between her and Seiji’s skills, she nevertheless pushes through until her novel is finished.
What we can learn from Whisper of the Heart is not just that our ambitions and skills take time, but that the process of creating is a deeply personal journey that draws from our life experiences and the relationships we have with other people. ChatGPT is simply a mimic that holds no true intimacy with the world and only seeks to copy what is already there—the work is done for them.
This is precisely what Miyazaki warned about when he said, “Whoever creates this stuff has no idea what pain is whatsoever.” This apathy doesn’t just stay contained in a computer—it spreads to all of us, too. We now live in a world where people turn to AI for a family portrait instead of commissioning an actual artist, or even attempting to pick up a pencil themselves. People like Seiji and Shizuku, who take the leap to create, will become harder and harder to find as AI art grows and expands. Instead of taking years to master a skill, we will instead be spending that time pouring out hundreds of thousands of “works” that take five seconds to generate.
Regardless of what the future holds, it is imperative that we never forget the message of a film as important as Whisper of the Heart: that to create is the most deeply human thing we could ever do, and to stop creating would be to leave our humanity behind.
By Maya
Tariffs, Tensions, and Trade: Trump’s Tariffs and China
Over $300 billion worth of Chinese goods were affected by Trump’s new tariffs, escalating economic tensions between two of the largest economies in the world. As of April 2025, Donald Trump declared new import tariffs targeting China, with rates as high as 145%— a move that drew swift retaliation from Beijing. He implemented a 10% tax on goods from many nations, including China. This means a $10 product would include a $1 tax, costing $11. Trump says these tariffs will allow consumers to buy more American-made goods and increase the tax raised, allowing more investment for the US. He claims that immigrants have “pillaged” America and that “cheaters” have abused it.
For China, BBC reports that Trump imposes import taxes on Chinese goods coming into the US, giving the cost of a $10 product a price tag of $24.50. However, China responds with a 125% tax on American goods. Here’s a chart of the raised tariffs between China and the US from Al Jazeera:
According to the BBC, this trade war between two of the world’s largest economies is still escalating, and China is sending back Boeing planes that the US has ordered in retaliation for the tariffs. Kelly Ortberg, the CEO of Boeing, had returned two planes and would return another due to these trade tensions. Considering the number of imports between China and the US, this trade war is unsustainable. China still ships everything to the US, from iPhones to children’s toys.
BBC also states that Commerce Ministry spokesperson He Yadong from China says that if the US truly wanted to solve the issue, it should remove all “unilateral tariff measures” against China. He quotes, “The person who tied the bell must untie it.”
Trump claims he is optimistic about improving trade relations with China, declaring that his tariffs would “come down substantially, but it won’t be zero.” He says that negotiations with countries were ongoing, but this was contradicted by the US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who said they had not yet begun. This was further confirmed by Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun in China, who said that China and the US had “not conducted consultations or negotiations on tariffs, let alone reached an agreement”.
Its effects on business shipments in the US are described as a nightmare, as they have minimal time to reorganize their supply chains. According to Rogelberg from Fortune, the tariffs have led to decreased shipments from China to the US, with some ports reporting a 35% drop in imports. This reduction leads to product shortages and higher consumer prices in the US. Small retailers are in a vulnerable spot right now as they lack the resources to find alternative suppliers. In response to these tariffs, many companies are shifting their supply chains to countries in Southeast Asia to reduce the impact of the tariffs on Chinese goods. Experts are concerned that the trade conflicts could lead to a slowdown in global economic growth and increase the volatility in international markets.
So, the escalation of tariffs between China and the US has led to shifts in global trade relations, and with negotiations at a halt, businesses and consumers are facing a rise in costs and uncertainty. China responded to this with its own tariffs, citing unfair trade practices by the US.
By Zainab
Between Two Worlds: Hiroshi Yoshida
In November of 1930, a Japanese artist by the name of Hiroshi Yoshida set out on a journey to India. Yoshida created 32 woodblock prints capturing idyllic scenes of buildings, rivers, and people, enveloping the culture that he saw. Woodblock Prints, through the lens of a Japanese man and through the delicate hand of an artist who saw the beauty of the unfamiliar. His works from this trip remain a stunning mix of Japanese traditional art techniques and Indian society.
Ukiyo-e: Japanese Woodblock Printing
Using the historic and traditional art style of Japanese Woodblock Ukiyo-e, Yoshida encapsulated moments in time during his travels in India. Ukiyo-e translates to pictures of the floating world, dating back to the 1670s, changing through the decades. Some of those changes include the subject. Early ukiyo-e focused on urban life and entertainment, especially Kabuki actors and courtesans, but later expanded to include landscapes and depictions of everyday life. One of the most recognisable and famous prints in the Ukiyo-e style is The Great Wave of Kanagawa by Hosukai. Ukiyo-e prints are created through a painstaking and meticulous process: an artist first sketches the design, which is then carved into wooden blocks, one block for each colour. Each print is carefully pressed by hand, layer after layer, until the final image emerges.
His Art: Style & Culture
Yoshida’s prints depict a range of architectural scenes, from the softly lit buildings of Udaipur’s palace at dawn to the shadowed gardens of the Taj Mahal under the cover of night. Yoshida plays with colour through his art by using the times of day. His prints are also bustling and full of daily life. Each print offers a vision both deeply observed and rendered in soft colours. Yoshida did not simply document what he saw. He interpreted it, using gentle colours, flowing lines, and atmospheric light to evoke a sense of wonder.
His images of non-traditional subjects in a traditional Japanese style show combining two cultures. His portrayal of Indian temples, street scenes, and rural life through the stylised techniques of ukiyo-e creates a picture where two worlds meet. The results are neither purely Japanese nor purely Indian. Purely existing in a floating space between.
The impact of Yoshida’s art reminds us of the power of art and an artist’s role in cultural exchange. Decades later, Yoshida’s art still whispers about bringing different cultures into the global view and the enduring beauty of the meetings of these cultures.
Yoshidas Impact
His impact lies in breaking through the cultural barriers that once separated the Eastern and Western worlds. By blending traditional Japanese woodblock techniques with depictions of South Asian life and landscapes, Yoshida created visuals that resonate across cultural contexts. His work not only helped evolve modern Japanese printmaking but also challenged Western audiences, with whom he was popular, to appreciate perspectives outside their own artistic traditions. This act of cultural exchange speaks to a broader global issue: the need for respectful intercultural understanding in a world with many cultures and divides. Yoshida’s art demonstrates how creative expression can contribute to mutual respect and empathy between cultures, offering a vision of coexistence through the blending of art.
By Jia
Elements Magazine 