How to turn your photos into Chibi style figures: A step-by-step guide to viral trend after Ghibli

The internet has a new obsession and it is small, cute and packed inside a capsule! After the buzz around Studio Ghibli-style art, netizens are now turning their attention to an even more adorable trend — Chibi figurines. These tiny anime-style characters are making waves online, thanks to a fresh visual trend that transforms real people into pocket-sized, big-eyed versions of themselves.

What is the Chibi figure trend?
In Japanese, "Chibi" is a slang term for something small or short. In the world of art and toys, it refers to mini figures with big heads, large eyes, and compact bodies — all designed to dial up the cuteness factor. Now, thanks to AI tools like ChatGPT-4o, users can create realistic 3D-style Chibi versions of themselves or their friends from just a single photo.

Held between fingers, captured in a capsule
One of the most eye-catching ways these Chibi figures are being displayed is inside virtual glass capsules, much like the gashapon toys found in Japan. The trend involves generating a close-up image of a transparent capsule held between two fingers. Inside sits the detailed 3D Chibi figure, dressed casually and posed playfully. With soft lighting and a blurred background, the image looks as real as any toy one might collect.

How to make viral Chibi figures on ChatGPT?

Here is the prompt that I used to create the Chibi figure using a real-life image. Just upload your image on ChatGPT, apply the given prompt, and the AI will do its work.

Prompt:

Develop a realistic, portrait-oriented close-up image of a transparent glass gashapon capsule held gently between two adult fingers. Inside the capsule, place a full-body, highly detailed 3D chibi-style figurine of a person with expressive features, dressed in casual attire and posed playfully. The chibi figure should have a lifelike, polished 3D appearance. Use soft natural lighting and a subtly blurred background to enhance the realism and focus on the miniature inside the capsule.

What types of images are needed to create Chibi figures

The best part? All it takes is a clear, coloured photo showing the full face and some outfit detail. So, whether you are an anime fan or just love cute things, the Chibi figure trend might be your next favourite online craze.