McDonald’s Mexico is getting grilled online, not for its food, but for a series of AI-generated images that stirred up a heated reaction from Ghibli fans.
On March 29, the fast-food chain posted a bunch of dreamy, Ghibli-style illustrations on its official Facebook page, apparently created using the newest image tools from ChatGPT. The art was clearly trying to capture the look and feel of Studio Ghibli’s classic movies, but instead of going viral in a good way, it blew up for all the wrong reasons.
A Marketing Move That Backfired
The images featured burgers, fries, and McDonald’s meals drawn in a soft, whimsical art style that strongly resembled films like Spirited Away and Totoro. With their gentle brush strokes and fantasy vibe, it was obvious the goal was to spark some nostalgia and grab attention online.
But the internet caught on quickly: these weren’t drawn by a human. They were made using AI, most likely powered by OpenAI’s ChatGPT, which recently added image generation features. Instead of impressing people, the campaign set off a wave of criticism.
The post’s comment section filled up fast with complaints. A lot of people accused McDonald’s of copying Ghibli’s signature style without giving credit or paying real artists.
“Now they’re cutting corners with AI instead of hiring actual artists?” one user wrote.
“This is just lazy. They’ve got the budget to pay someone,” said another.
The general feeling was that McDonald’s took the easy way out by using AI instead of working with real illustrators. For a company with tons of resources, fans saw this as a bad move.
Related: “AI Art is Better Than Most Human Artists”: xQc Roasts Traditional Artists in Viral Rant
What Would Miyazaki Say?
You can’t talk about Ghibli-style art without bringing up Hayao Miyazaki. He’s the co-founder of Studio Ghibli and a big believer in traditional, hand-drawn animation. And when it comes to AI, he’s made his opinions crystal clear.
In the 2016 documentary Never-Ending Man: Hayao Miyazaki, Miyazaki was shown an AI-generated animation, which he found creepy and lifeless. He responded strongly, calling it an “insult to life itself.” He even talked about a friend with a disability and said that the AI’s awkward movements showed zero understanding of real human emotion or pain.
That moment says a lot about how seriously Miyazaki takes the art form.
Part of what made the backlash so intense is that people know just how much effort goes into making Ghibli films. Take Princess Mononoke, for example, it nearly bankrupted the studio. Every frame was hand-drawn, and the film’s success was a matter of survival for Ghibli at the time.
That kind of commitment is what fans think gets erased when AI mimics the style without context or effort.
Despite the backlash, McDonald’s hasn’t removed the images or responded to the criticism. The posts are still live, and there’s been no official comment. Whether they’re ignoring the controversy or standing by the campaign, it’s clear they didn’t expect this level of pushback.
