Deposed Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad (left) has been a target for the AI-generated memes [Getty]
Anime fans in the MENA region are making animations of real-life events using the new Studio Ghibli AI image generator tool.
The programme allows users to transform photos into animations in the unique style of the famous Japanese animation house.
Among the scenes most popularly captured are the attempted assassination of Donald Trump, Tesla cars set ablaze, and portraits of the UK's King Charles.
Snapshots from recent events in the Arab world have also been transformed into ethereal cartoons that capture the spirit of resistance or were made just for laughs.
One fan has used the generator to manufacture images of the Sudan war, including scenes inspired by the army's victories this week against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the Sudanese capital.
One appears to show General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, head of the Sudanese army, celebrating another victory against the militia group in Khartoum, surrounded by cheering soldiers
Studio ghibli style
القوات المسلحة السودانية - حرب الكرامة 💚🇸🇩#SudanIsGreen#الخرطوم #الخرطوم_حرة pic.twitter.com/WqpMXEsFYX
— ᴍᴀᴢᴇɴ ツ (@MzSbr) March 26, 2025
Another popular image shows the moment former President George W. Bush was informed that the World Trade Center had been targeted on 9/11 as he listened to a book reading for school children.
An accompanying image shows a plane crashing into the Twin Towers, in a tweet expressing shock about the trend.
no fucking way dude, this studio ghibli thing has gone way too far pic.twitter.com/CVtafrKbFN
— doomer (@uncledoomer) March 26, 2025
A meme of Bashar Al-Assad supposedly wearing underwear was also generated, which has been popular with Syrians celebrating the dictator's downfall. Others have shared an anime image of Syria's new interim president Ahmed Al-Sharaa, wearing a suit and sitting in front of a microphone.
An image of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the surrounding Jerusalem hillside - symbols of Palestinian resistance - has also been transformed into a stunning animation, with the caption: 'Studio Ghibli Palestine.'
Studio Ghibli Palestine 🇵🇸 pic.twitter.com/IWz4g4ePgd
— ara 🥀 (@kebarab) March 26, 2025
Finally, a tweet showing an anime image of the Turkish Olympic shooter Yusuf Dikec has been viewed by more than 9.5 million people. This captures an image of Dikec standing with one hand in his pocket as he effortlessly picked up a silver medal at the Paris games, with subsequent memes of the super-cool photo transforming the athlete into an overnight online sensation.
Image generation has been one of the most popular uses of AI, with a huge number of animation styles available to users.
However, Studio Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki has expressed only disdain for AI, describing it as "an insult to life itself".