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The best Manchester-based anime-style memes we’ve seen online as Ghibli craze takes over

Call them Manc 'ani-memes', if you will.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 16th April 2025

Now, the internet can be used for a lot of silly and pointless things – you might argue us sharing our favourite memes every morning is a prime example of that – but we have to admit, the second we saw a Manchester-inspired Studio Ghibli image on social media, we were hooked.

If you have absolutely no idea what we’re talking about, there is a current craze that has taken over the internet, which has seen recognisable memes and images recreated in the style of the iconic Ghibli anime films, created by legendary animator and filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki.

Once you’ve found one, you tend to start spotting them more and more frequently, and in the case of the chronically online like us, we’ve been inundated with them for weeks now.

People are using AI to create them in various different contexts, but it won’t surprise you to learn that our favourite Ghibli/anime memes are those based around Manchester. For example:

As it happens, this was the first and perhaps still the best we’ve seen to date, but it didn’t stop us from falling down an animated rabbit hole looking for others.

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To be honest, we didn’t actually have to do much searching ourselves as they’re absolutely all over the algorithm at the minute, and have been for a good month or so.

‘Ghibli memes’ may be an overgeneralisation of what is a rather specific and famed art style, but this ongoing flood of anime-style cartooons is being created by users giving prompts to ChatGPT, the increasingly popular large language model (LLM) and AI tool.

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Designed with OpenAI software, the artificial intelligence chatbot can do everything from write extensive study notes and flash cards to fixing blurry images, writing computer code, entire essays and quite literally countless other things.

In this instance, people are just reimagining moments from the zeitgeist and famous memes in this style by feeding the image to ChatGPT, along with an ‘in the style of Studio Ghibli’ prompt.

man city anime style art
One for the Blues…
man united studio ghibli meme
And the Reds.
All of these images have been designed using ChatGPT. (Credit: Eleventh Minute/centredevils via X)

Pretty cool, right?

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You’ll find that footballer Twitter (sorry, X*), in particular, is absolutely full of fan accounts recreating iconic club scenes in the Miyazaki art style, giving their favourite players big ‘Chibi’ eyes (another unique aspect of anime) and so on.

It’s all just a bit of a laugh, after all; even we here at The Manc put ChatGPT to the test back in June 2023 and asked it to design ‘the perfect day out in Manchester’ – to varying degrees of success, we might add.

How about a couple of Oasis ones?

As ever with machine-learning, the more information you feed it, the better the result and although we know these are original pictures being reimagined, it still goes to show just how impressive and varied AI is becoming.

We’ve also enjoyed some that aren’t necessarily Manc but are quintessential British humour or simply more universal memes.

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Exhibits E and F…

studio ghibli anime memes
Even after all these years, we feel like we still see this in some context at least once a week – and it still makes us laugh.
come dine with me anime
‘What a sad little life, Jane…’
Credit: brandsynario (via Instagram)/No Context Brits (via X)

Despite these memes riding a real wave right now, the Ghibli portrait fad is just that; there are plenty of other aesthetics being toyed with, too.

It was only last week that we saw a Muppets-style meme/Sesame Street spin on The Smiths (which we did get a chuckle from as well), and we’re sure something else will take over soon.

Actually, it already has, as we’ve now started coming across people making action figure versions of themselves and/or famous people, full decked out with accessories inside blister packs and everything.

On the other hand, many people are understandably concerned about what this means for artists and although there is no substitute for genuine human expression, whatever form that may come in, lots of people are railing against it as the possibility of AI-based pop music has been posited.

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With that in mind, maybe the best twist we’ve seen is our very own Stanley Chow subverting the trend and doing Ghibli stuff in his equally iconic style. We’ll take these geometric gems over computer-generated imitations any day.

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For now, it’s just a bit of fun and we confess we’ve got some light entertainment out of it, but the increasing possibilities being thrown up by AI in terms of art do pose a lot more complex questions.

We’ll finish with one final example because let’s be honest, there’s only really one thing on our minds at the minute – at least until the summer finally rolls around…

Let us know if you’ve seen any other fun examples and what you make of the whole Ghibli meme trend down in the comments.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Oasis Archives/No Context Brits (via X)

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A big preloved school uniform shop is opening in Greater Manchester this summer

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

A popular pre-worn school uniform shop where you can grab items at ‘affordable’ prices is reopening in Greater Manchester for the summer.

As the cost of living crisis sadly still continues to make its impact felt nationwide, Stockport‘s popular pre-worn uniform shop will throw open its doors for the fifth year running, and families are encouraged to clear out wardrobes, pass on school uniform items, and help local children head back to school for a fraction of the usual cost. 

The initiative has seen thousands of items donated and sold to the local community throughout the past few years, helping families save money while also keeping perfectly wearable school uniforms out of landfill.

Not only that, but the scheme has also raised thousands of pounds for local charities thanks to incredible public generosity – with all proceeds from this year’s shop going towards Emmie’s Kitchen.

A big preloved school uniform shop is opening in Greater Manchester this summer / Credit: Matthew Nichol (Supplied)

As always, the shop will be popping up inside the town’s Merseyway Shopping Centre for the summer holidays to provide locals with massive savings.

Before then though up until Monday 10 August, a dedicated donation bin will be available for shoppers to drop off clean, reusable, good-quality school uniform items ready to be resold at affordable prices. 

The pop-up shop will then return for one week only from Friday 14 – Friday 21 August, offering every item for 50p each, making it easier than ever for families to stock up on school essentials.

The scheme accepts items that are suitable for Stockport-based schools, however families with children outside of Stockport will find a variety of suitable items too. 

“It’s incredible to see how this initiative has grown over the last five years,” commented Victoria Nichol, who is the Centre Manager at Merseyway.

“What started as a simple idea has become something the whole community gets behind, with families returning year after year to donate uniforms, shop sustainably and support local charities.

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“School uniforms are only worn for a short time before children outgrow them, so if your child’s is still in great condition, why not pass them on? Every donated blazer, jumper, PE kit or pair of shoes could make a real difference to another local family, while also helping reduce clothing waste.

“It’s a small gesture that has a huge impact.”

Featured Image – Matthew Nichol (Supplied)

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BBC cancel three hit shows, including legendary stand-up series, Live at the Apollo

Danny Jones Danny Jones Live at the Apollo cancelled by BBC

The BBC have reportedly cancelled three of their hit TV shows, including the long-standing Live at the Apollo.

With the company facing even more cuts and the television industry facing the ever-changing obstacles set about by increasingly dominant digital platforms, the hit live stand-up series, which has run for over two decades, is the latest big IP on the chopping block.

But that’s not all: joining them in cancellation after long stints on the box are Celebrity Mastermind and the most recently rebooted version of British favourite, Blankety Blank, brought back with Bradley Walsh as host back in 2020.

With roughly 65 full-length seasons between them, and literally hundreds of episodes under their belt, the unfortunate trio have fallen foul for varying reasons.

While Walsh announced that he was quitting the programme after three series (the fourth was set to begin recording later this year) largely due to scheduling conflicts, the driving force behind the decision is the aforementioned cutbacks.

In case you hadn’t heard, the BBC has seen an approximately £500 million reduction in annual spending, which has meant that one or more productions were always going to be hit hard as a result.

They are aiming to save upwards of £100m annually, which is set to come in the form of 100-150 hours less originally telly by the end of 2028.

Issuing an official statement, they say: “We are incredibly proud of all three of these much-loved shows and would like to thank everyone involved, both in front of and behind the camera, for bringing them to screen and making them such a success over many years.

“Unfortunately, we have to make some really tough choices in light of our funding challenges, and these savings have been identified from the entertainment genre.”

With Live at the Apollo, in particular, having served as an important proving ground and spotlighting stage for rising comics, the UK mainstay originally hosted by Jack Dee is sadly going the way of Mock the Week by being pulled after 22 years on the air.

As you can see, it’s already been heavily mourned by performers around the comedy circuit and fans alike. It goes without saying that those within the industry know all too well how important it’s been.

Unfortunately, more announcements and cuts are expected throughout the remainder of the year as the BBC‘s entertainment arm tries to regain profitability.

This means that these three likely won’t be the last to be axed; who knows? Given that even the biggest of IPs don’t seem to be safe, maybe even mainline Mastermind could be in trouble…

It’s also worth noting that this news comes not long after the media giants launched their big campaign to reassert their domestic significance and beyond, with more and more people straying away from the TV licence in favour of modern streaming.

You can read the full ‘savings’ update right HERE.

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For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE

Featured Images — Publicity pictures (via BBC)

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