Amidst ChatGPT's Ghibli Trend, Ryan Reynolds Embraces A Different Take on Animation

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CANNES, FRANCE – JUNE 22: Ryan Reynolds speaks on stage during “Embrace Next Generation Storytelling” on June 22, 2022 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Arnold Jerocki/Getty Images)
Ryan Reynolds has never followed the rulebook. From breaking the fourth wall in Deadpool to his witty brand campaigns for Aviation Gin and Mint Mobile, he has proven he is not just an actor- he is a creative force who thrives on the unconventional. His knack for blending humor, heart, and chaos sets him apart in an industry that often plays it safe. Whether reinventing Pikachu or turning an antihero into a phenomenon, Reynolds brings a fresh, unique twist to everything he touches.
So, when the internet started swooning over the soft pastels and quiet magic of Studio Ghibli, it was only natural that Reynolds took the scenic route, just not the one everyone expected.
Ryan Reynolds does not do Ghibli, he does Reynolds
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Ryan Reynolds recently shared an Instagram story featuring an AI-generated animation of himself, vibrant, exaggerated, and entirely over-the-top. While the internet is busy turning their selfies into soft, pastel Ghibli-style portraits, Reynolds seems to have taken a different route. His animation, more Cocomelon than Spirited Away, adds a chaotic, satirical twist to the trend. With no caption and his signature deadpan delivery, it felt less like he was joining in, and more like he was playfully critiquing the entire thing.

via Imago
Credits: Imago
The actor's post lands at a time when AI-generated Ghibli-style images have flooded social media, with users feeding their photos into ChatGPT to receive something similar to Hayao Miyazaki's art. What many see as a harmless trend, others view as a flattening of Hayao Miyazaki’s legacy, reducing decades of hand-drawn artistry and cultural nuance to a shallow visual template. In that context, Reynolds’s animation feels like a pointed contrast, a reminder that true art cannot be replicated by algorithms, nor reduced to a trend.
Rather than following the crowd, Ryan Reynolds leans into the creative process and the people behind it, becoming something of a modern-day Rumpelstiltskin, spinning bold ideas into fully formed art.
Give Reynolds a creative thread, and he will weave it into something gold
Toss Ryan Reynolds a bizarre concept, and he will turn it into something heartwarming, hilarious, and probably marketable. Remember The Adam Project? Time travel, daddy issues, sarcasm, it should not have worked, but it did, because Reynolds turned a genre blender into a comfort film. He also launched the Group Effort Initiative, helping people break into Hollywood without needing a famous last name or a miracle. The man does not just play the game; he changes who gets to join it.
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via Imago
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 21: Ryan Reynolds is seen filming on location for “Imaginary Friends” in Coney Island on September 21, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by James Devaney/GC Images)
It is this instinct to support, rather than overshadow, that has defined Ryan Reynolds’s creative path. Whether he is empowering new voices through his initiatives or helping directors bring bold visions to life, he treats storytelling as collaboration, not performance. His sets are known for balancing creativity and chaos, with his golden sense of humor occasionally leaving team members questioning their life choices. His recent post, tucked in with all its oddball energy, is just another quiet gesture in that direction.
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What do you think of Ryan Reynolds' take on the Ghibli trend? Let us know in the comments down below!
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Edited By: Itti Mahajan
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