Anand Mahindra’s AI-Generated Ghibli Portrait Goes Viral—But One Hilarious Detail Has the Internet in Splits

In the world of corporate titans and industry leaders, it’s not every day that someone breaks the internet with a piece of whimsical anime art. But Anand Mahindra, Chairman of the Mahindra Group and a long-time social media favorite, has once again reminded us why he’s one of the most relatable and endearing business figures online.

Recently, Mahindra shared an AI-generated portrait of himself styled after the iconic works of Studio Ghibli—the legendary Japanese animation house behind films like My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away, and Howl’s Moving Castle. What followed was an internet frenzy filled with laughter, appreciation, and a healthy dose of good-humored roasting.

But what made this post go truly viral wasn’t just the Ghibli aesthetic or Mahindra’s openness to experimenting with AI. It was one tiny, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it detail that sent Twitter (now X) into overdrive: the motorcycle he was riding had no brake lever.

Yes, you read that right. An Indian business mogul known for his company’s automobile excellence was rendered on a motorbike—without brakes. The irony was delicious.

X user “Engineers View” shared an AI-generated image of Mahindra, reimagining him sitting on a bike in the dreamy Ghibli world. “Now it’s perfect,” the user captioned. Mahindra, clearly amused, reshared the post, responding, “Have to learn how to do this Ghibli stuff” with a grinning emoji.

Now it's perfect pic.twitter.com/PQmEH3Tard

— Engineers View (@Engineers_View1) April 2, 2025

The Rise of AI Art Meets Studio Ghibli Whimsy

Over the past few months, the internet has witnessed an explosion of AI-generated art in the whimsical, soft, and richly detailed style of Studio Ghibli. Thanks to platforms like OpenAI’s DALL·E and Midjourney, even those with zero artistic ability can create breathtaking, anime-inspired portraits of themselves, their pets, or even everyday objects like toaster ovens reimagined as Ghibli protagonists (yes, that’s a thing).

The Ghibli trend has taken over timelines, reels, and stories across social media platforms. What makes this style so compelling is the way it marries fantasy and reality—bringing a magical warmth to even the most mundane settings. From dreamy rural backdrops to twinkling night skies and expressive character features, Ghibli-inspired AI art has become the aesthetic du jour of digital creativity.

So, when Anand Mahindra joined the trend, it was only a matter of time before it went viral.

Mahindra’s Post: “I Need to Learn This Ghibli Stuff!”

Anand Mahindra is no stranger to social media success. Known for his witty, insightful, and often heartwarming posts, he has amassed a loyal following not just in India but globally. Whether he's celebrating a grassroots innovator or posting nostalgic throwbacks, Mahindra brings a human touch to boardroom-level leadership.

On this occasion, he shared the Ghibli-style image with the caption: “Have to learn how to do this Ghibli stuff. Somebody made this for me. I’m riding without brakes, apparently…”

Boom.

In one stroke, he combined pop culture, cutting-edge AI, and self-deprecating humor. The post racked up thousands of likes, shares, and quote tweets within hours. But more importantly, it ignited a storm of comments from fans, AI artists, and memers alike.

The Missing Brakes: Twitter Roasts (Lovingly)

 

As users zoomed in on the delightfully Ghibli-fied portrait, one glaring detail popped out: the classic green motorbike Mahindra was riding had no visible brake lever.

Given Mahindra’s deep ties to the automobile industry, this oversight quickly became meme gold. Here are a few of the most viral responses:

- “Mahindra is taking ‘ride or die’ very seriously.”
- “This bike is powered by pure optimism.”
- “The future is electric—and apparently brakeless.”
- “Maybe it’s an AI metaphor for how fast tech is moving—no brakes, just vibes.”

Even parody accounts joined in, with mock headlines like: “Mahindra unveils new AI-powered bike with invisible brakes.”

But through all the teasing, there was an undercurrent of admiration—both for the quality of the AI artwork and for Mahindra’s ability to laugh at himself.

Why This Went Viral: A Masterclass in Internet Culture

Virality isn’t just about funny content—it’s about timing, relatability, and emotional engagement. This post hit all the right notes:

1. AI Hype: With AI art surging in popularity, anything tapping into that trend already has a head start.
2. Nostalgia Meets Novelty: Studio Ghibli’s visual style tugs at the heartstrings of millennials and Gen Z alike.
3. Self-Aware Humor: Mahindra’s playful acknowledgment of the “no brakes” detail made the post feel authentic.
4. High Meme Potential: A billionaire on a brakeless anime bike? That’s meme fuel for weeks.
5. Visual Appeal: The image itself was stunning. Classic Ghibli aesthetics with a personalized twist.

The Broader Takeaway: AI Is Getting Good—But It’s Not Perfect

While the image looked like it could be a still from a Miyazaki movie, the missing brake lever is a reminder of AI's limitations.

AI image generators can produce astonishing visuals—but they often struggle with nuanced object placement and functionality. In some cases, hands have too many fingers; in others, like this, critical vehicle parts vanish into the ether.

That’s where the human eye still wins. We know that a motorcycle without brakes isn’t just a design flaw—it’s a death wish.

AI and Humor: An Unexpected Combo

What’s beautiful about moments like these is how they humanize technology. Yes, AI is advancing rapidly. But sometimes, it forgets to add brakes, and we all get to laugh together.

Even better, when leaders like Mahindra engage with this tech, it encourages more public experimentation. If a global business leader can share AI art with a chuckle, maybe the rest of us can too.

The Future of AI Art: Where Do We Go From Here?

With the Ghibli-style trend only growing, we’re likely to see even more creative applications of AI-generated visuals:

- Personalized Storybooks
- Marketing Campaigns
- Fan Fiction Covers
- Interactive Worlds

But even as the tools become more advanced, moments like this remind us that the human in the loop—laughing, sharing, tweaking—is what really makes it all worthwhile.

In Conclusion: The Brakeless Bike That Stopped the Internet

Anand Mahindra’s Ghibli-style AI portrait wasn’t just another celebrity post. It was a snapshot of where we are in 2025—caught between timeless stories and futuristic tools, finding joy in the beautifully flawed creations of our digital age.

And while the bike may not have had brakes, the post itself was unstoppable.