What is the new Chibi trend that social media is crazy over, and how can you create your Chibi images?

In recent weeks, the internet has been captivated by a new trend that is cute and creative. A few weeks ago, the Ghibli art had taken social media by storm, where people all around the world were creating Ghibli-style images with their loved ones. And this time it is the Chibi images that have gone viral with the trend. These miniature, anime-inspired characters are making waves online, and the users are now able to transform their photos into 3D-style Chibi versions of themselves that remind us of Japan's beloved gashapon toys.
"Chibi" is a Japanese slang term meaning "small" or "short." In the arena of art and collectibles, it represents the characters with oversized heads, large eyes, and compact bodies, features that are a depiction of cuteness. This style has been popular in anime and manga for years, but recent AI tools have brought Chibi art into the digital spotlight.

The Chibi figures are being generated in the most attractive ways by AI tools like ChatGPT, within virtual glass capsules. These digital creations show a detailed 3D Chibi figure inside a transparent capsule, kept delicately between two fingers. The figures are often dressed in casual attire and posed playfully, with soft lighting and blurred backgrounds enhancing their lifelike appearance. This presentation style is similar to the aesthetic of gashapon toys, which makes this art even more real.
It is quite easy to follow the trend and create one of your own Chibi versions. All it requires is a clear, coloured photo of yourself and ChatGPT-4o. One can just upload their photo and use the prompt below to get started. The AI will do the rest, turning the photo into a cute, big-eyed Chibi character inside a tiny glass capsule—just like those gashapon toys from Japan. Here is a prompt that can be used:

“Create a realistic, portrait-style close-up of a transparent glass capsule held gently between two adult fingers. Inside the capsule, place a full-body, detailed 3D Chibi-style figure of a person with expressive features, dressed in casual clothes and posed playfully. The Chibi should have a polished, lifelike 3D look. Use soft, natural lighting and a slightly blurred background to make the miniature figure stand out.”


Several other AI-powered platforms like Chibi Creator, Chibi Doll Creator 3D, and Chibify can also create Chibi figures

The Chibi figure trend fits perfectly into the world of "kawaii", a Japanese word that means cute or adorable. But kawaii isn’t just about looks. It’s about things that feel soft, sweet, and playful, like big eyes, tiny hands, and cartoon-like charm. In Japan, kawaii can be spotted everywhere from anime and fashion to everyday things like notebooks and snacks. Chibi characters, with their small bodies and oversized heads, are a perfect example of this cute style.