AI Cartoon Ultimate Guide (ChatGPT 4o)
How to Create Stunning AI Cartoons in 12 Unique Styles (with Prompts)
I’m going to show you how to create amazing-looking AI cartoon images with ChatGPT’s new AI image generator.
Creating cartoons with AI is easy and fun. It is also a useful skill for marketing.
With AI, you don’t need to be talented, you just need to know what to ask.
Look at these incredible examples of AI-generated cartoons I made. (I show the prompts too!)
1. Studio Ghibli Style
Ghibli is the Japanese cartoon style that’s been going viral ever since ChatGPT launched its new AI image generation abilities in GPT-4o
Ghibli is dreamy, nature-filled, and full of soft emotional storytelling. Think: hand-painted backdrops, big expressive eyes, and a warm atmosphere.
What it’s great for:
Emotional scenes
Fantasy and natural settings
Peaceful, storytelling vibes
Prompt Example:
A 2D illustration in Studio Ghibli style of a young woman and a fluffy white dog in a flower-filled meadow, soft colors, painterly textures, expressive faces
Key prompt words:
Studio Ghibli, hand-drawn, fantasy, natural scenery, emotional tone, watercolor style
Note: I made all of these cartoon images by first uploading 3 photos to make the cartoons based on. These are the 3 photos I uploaded to ChatGPT.
2. 3D Pixar Style
Pixar-style images are bright, polished, and full of personality. Everything looks shiny, smooth, and animated.
I love the look of these Pixar ones.
They are so cute and really come to life with that 3D look. AI is able to nail this style quite easily too.
What it’s great for:
Friendly branding
Kids/family content
Characters that pop
Prompt Example:A 3D cartoon character in Pixar style, smiling woman with glasses and a fluffy white dog, brightly lit, realistic textures, cinematic lighting
Key prompt words:
Pixar, 3D cartoon, cinematic lighting, soft lighting, animated film style
Before I get to the next ones, here is a video I just made on this topic if you are interested:
3. Stop-Motion Claymation
I love this one!
I didn’t know the term “Stop-Motion Claymation” and I bet most people didn’t either.
That’s one of the coolest things about AI. You don’t need to know how to do much, you literally just need to know the name for the style you want to make. Then you are an instant artist!
Claymation gives your image a handmade, physical texture. Think “Wallace & Gromit” or “Coraline” — slightly quirky but super memorable.
What it’s great for:
Artistic vibes
Niche or indie feel
Character and personality
Prompt Example:A claymation-style digital image of a smiling woman and dog made of clay, stop-motion texture, handcrafted look, warm colors
Key prompt words:
Claymation, stop-motion, handcrafted, textured, Aardman style, sculpted look
4. Chibi Style
This Japanese-inspired style features tiny bodies, huge heads, and adorable expressions. Very exaggerated and ultra cute.
What it’s great for:
Avatars and icons
Anime-inspired branding
YouTube thumbnails
Prompt Example:A chibi cartoon of a young woman with glasses and a small white dog, big eyes, tiny body, pastel background, cute and happy
Key prompt words:
Chibi, kawaii, big head, tiny body, cute, Japanese cartoon style
5. Ligne Claire (Tintin Style)
This is a nice-looking style, and one that a lot of people haven’t heard of.
This is fairly minimalistic, and it makes the models look quite attractive.
Clean lines, flat colors, and a clear sense of detail. This is the style of classic Franco-Belgian comics like Tintin or Asterix.
What it’s great for:
Vintage comic book feel
Easy-to-read designs
Editorial or retro aesthetics
Prompt Example:A Ligne Claire cartoon of a woman with glasses and a dog in a field, clear lines, flat colors, minimal shading, classic comic look
Key prompt words:
Ligne claire, clear line, flat shading, vintage comic, Tintin style
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6. South Park Style
This is a funny cartoon I used to watch when I was a teenager.
The iconic cutout look. Simple shapes, no gradients, big expressions. You know it when you see it.
What it’s great for:
Humor
Satire
Quick characters and jokes
Prompt Example:A South Park style cartoon of a woman and dog standing in a plain background, flat shapes, minimal detail, goofy expressions
Key prompt words:
South Park, cutout animation, simple shapes, basic design, flat colors
7. Comic Book Style
This is a classic comic book style from the 1960s. You can feel the vintage look. It reminds me of what my dad probably liked when he was a kid.
Big bold lines, action poses, halftone textures. Think superhero comics with a splash of drama.
What it’s great for:
Action-themed visuals
Branding with edge
Strong visual presence
Prompt Example:A comic book style portrait of a woman with glasses and her dog, bold outlines, dramatic shadows, halftone effect, comic panel look
Key prompt words:
Comic book, halftone, bold lines, superhero, dynamic pose
8. Bande Dessinée (Franco-Belgian Comics)
This is an interesting look that you might want to consider.
It has a kind of modern yet classic look.
A slightly more refined version of comic art — often used in Asterix, Lucky Luke, etc. Simple but rich in personality.
What it’s great for:
Nostalgic content
Editorial stories
Balanced, classic cartoon look
Prompt Example:A Bande Dessinée cartoon of a smiling woman and dog in a French countryside, simple line work, expressive faces, cartoon realism
Key prompt words:
Bande Dessinée, Franco-Belgian comics, expressive, colorful, clean lines
9. Kawaii Style
Kawaii means “cute” in Japanese.
I lived in Asia for more than 10 years and I know that everyone in the region knows about this word and concept.
This style is ultra-cute, pastel-toned, and full of happy energy. Think plushies, sparkles, and bright-eyed characters.
What it’s great for:
Branding for cute products
Social media avatars
YouTube thumbnails
Prompt Example:A kawaii-style illustration of a young woman and dog in a pastel background, big shiny eyes, soft shapes, joyful expression
Key prompt words:
Kawaii, pastel, big eyes, rounded shapes, adorable, happy tone
10. The Simpsons Style
A super cartoon classic.
I used to watch every Simpsons episode when it came out a few decades ago.
Yellow skin, overbites, giant eyeballs, and four fingers — The Simpsons style is instantly recognizable and packed with satirical energy. Everything feels a little wacky but grounded in slice-of-life humor.
What it’s great for:
Pop culture references
Light satire and parody
Retro or nostalgic visuals
Prompt Example:A Simpsons-style cartoon of a smiling woman and her dog, yellow skin, large round eyes, flat colors, standing in front of a suburban home, minimal shading
Key prompt words:
Simpsons style, Matt Groening, yellow skin, cartoon flatness, classic TV cartoon, comical exaggeration
11. Classic Disney Animation Style
Disney is perhaps the most iconic cartoon style of all time.
It's definitely up there anyway.
This is the magic. Think of that hand-drawn beauty from Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, or even The Little Mermaid. Elegant curves, big sparkling eyes, and rich color blends define this look.
What it’s great for:
Fantasy stories
Fairytale branding
Elegant, emotional characters
Prompt Example:A classic Disney-style 2D animation of a young woman and dog in a magical garden, soft curves, sparkling eyes, pastel tones, 1950s animation style
Key prompt words:
Classic Disney, 2D animation, fairytale, elegant, soft lines, cel animation, vintage cartoon magic
12. Family Guy Style
This was my absolute favorite cartoon while I was growing up.
It is hilarious.
The Family Guy look is clean, modern, and cartoonishly exaggerated — round heads, simplified expressions, and thick outlines. It’s satirical, irreverent, and designed to look like a TV sitcom drawn in MS Paint but sharper.
What it’s great for:
Humor and parody
Casual, irreverent branding
Fast, visual storytelling
Prompt Example:A Family Guy-style cartoon of a woman with glasses and a small dog standing in a living room, thick outlines, basic shading, oversized eyes, sitcom lighting
Key prompt words:
Family Guy, Seth MacFarlane style, thick lines, simplified features, flat cartoon, TV sitcom
Tips for Getting Amazing AI Cartoons
🔍 Be clear and specific
The more style detail you give, the better the result. “3D Pixar-style with soft lighting” beats “make a cartoon.”
🎨 Reference studios or known creators
Using “Ghibli,” “Pixar,” or “Aardman” gives the AI a clear direction.
📐 Think about format
Use widescreen (16:9) for YouTube, square (1:1) for IG. Match the layout to where you’ll post it.
🧪 Experiment!
Try mixing terms like “Pixar + Claymation” or “Ghibli with halftone comic overlay.” Wild combos sometimes work.
3D Pixar + Claymation Combo
Cartario — Create Best AI Images
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Love this. Making a Ligne Claire style cartoon of one of my books. Starting with first chapter of this - Thank you Andrew. https://malcolmrobertlambe.substack.com/p/standover-man-2c9