In the ever-evolving world of artificial intelligence, a quirky yet captivating trend has taken social media by storm in 2025: the Nano Banana 3D figurines phenomenon. Powered by Google’s Gemini 2.5 Flash Image model, affectionately dubbed “Nano Banana,” this AI tool allows users to transform ordinary photos into hyper-realistic, miniature 3D figurines with just a few clicks and a well-crafted prompt. From selfies to pet pictures, celebrities to fictional characters, the Nano Banana trend has democratized digital creativity, enabling anyone with a Google account to craft collectible-style figurines without technical skills or costly software. This article explores the origins, mechanics, cultural impact, and creative potential of this viral AI trend, which has captivated millions across platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and X.
The Rise of Nano Banana: A Viral Sensation
The Nano Banana trend emerged in late August 2025, following Google’s release of the Gemini 2.5 Flash Image model on August 26. The name “Nano Banana” originated as an internal codename at Google DeepMind, a playful moniker that stuck with the online community due to its catchy, offbeat charm. Unlike previous AI-driven photo trends, such as ChatGPT’s Ghibli-style portraits, Nano Banana stood out for its ability to create photorealistic 3D figurines that resemble high-end collectibles found on toy store shelves. By September, the hashtag #NanoBanana was trending globally, with users showcasing figurines of themselves, their pets, and even public figures like politicians and cricket stars.
The trend’s meteoric rise can be attributed to three key factors: ease of access, creative flexibility, and social media shareability. Google made the tool free to use through the Gemini app and Google AI Studio, requiring only a Google account and an internet connection. This accessibility allowed users of all backgrounds—artists, influencers, and casual hobbyists—to experiment with the tool. The ability to customize figurines with detailed prompts, such as specific poses, bases, or packaging, fueled creativity, while the visually striking results were tailor-made for platforms like Instagram and X, where users eagerly shared their creations. Google’s own promotion on X, including a post from the @GeminiApp handle, amplified the trend, encouraging users to “try a pic of yourself, a cool nature shot, a family photo, or a shot of your pup” to join the craze.
How It Works: From Photo to Figurine
Creating a Nano Banana 3D figurine is remarkably straightforward, making it accessible even to those with no prior experience in AI or graphic design. The process involves uploading a photo to the Gemini app or Google AI Studio, selecting the Nano Banana model (often marked by a banana icon), and entering a descriptive prompt to guide the AI. A widely shared example prompt, posted by Google India on X, reads: “Create a 1/7 scale commercialized figurine of the characters in the picture, in a realistic style, in a real environment. The figurine is placed on a computer desk. The figurine has a round transparent acrylic base, with no text on the base. The content on the computer screen is a 3D modeling process of this figurine. Next to the computer screen is a toy packaging box, designed in a style reminiscent of high-quality collectible figures, printed with original artwork.”
This prompt, which takes seconds to process, generates a lifelike figurine posed on a transparent acrylic base, often accompanied by professional-grade packaging that mimics brands like BANDAI or TAKARA-TOMY. The AI’s ability to render intricate details—such as facial expressions, clothing textures, or dynamic poses—sets it apart from competitors like ChatGPT or MidJourney, which struggle with prompt adherence and facial accuracy. Users can tweak prompts to adjust styles (e.g., anime, plush toy, or retro video game art), lighting, or backgrounds, allowing for endless customization. For instance, one user transformed a dog photo into a figurine named “Firecracker Fido,” complete with a colorful bandanna and a mock packaging box, in just 20 seconds.
The Nano Banana model supports common image formats like JPEG, PNG, and WEBP, and its speed—often generating images in under 20 seconds—has been a major draw. Free users can generate up to 100 images per day, though paid Gemini subscribers enjoy higher prompt limits and faster processing. The tool also incorporates safety filters to block harmful content, and Google advises users to avoid uploading sensitive or private images without consent, ensuring ethical use.
Cultural Impact: A Global Creative Wave
The Nano Banana trend has transcended borders, resonating particularly strongly in India, where users have created figurines of cricket stars like Virat Kohli, Bollywood icons, and even political figures like Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who joined the fun after encouragement from younger followers. The trend follows the earlier Ghibli-style AI craze, but its focus on 3D collectibles has broader appeal, blending nostalgia for physical action figures with cutting-edge digital innovation. Social media platforms are flooded with figurines ranging from hyper-realistic “mini-me” avatars to whimsical cartoon characters, with users experimenting with fantasy settings, holographic effects, or elaborate packaging designs.
The trend’s popularity reflects a broader shift in digital creativity, where AI tools are making professional-grade art accessible to the masses. Unlike traditional 3D modeling software like ZBrush or Blender, which require significant skill and time, Nano Banana delivers studio-quality results instantly. This has empowered creators to explore new forms of self-expression, from designing figurines for personal branding to crafting digital collectibles for social media clout. In India, the trend has sparked a cultural moment, with influencers and everyday users alike turning selfies, pets, and memes into polished miniatures, often shared with hashtags like #NanoBanana and #GeminiAI.
Comparing Nano Banana to Competitors
While Nano Banana has dominated the 3D figurine trend, it’s not without competition. A comparative test by Mint in September 2025 pitted Gemini’s Nano Banana against ChatGPT (GPT-5), Qwen Image Edit, and xAI’s Grok AI. Nano Banana emerged as the leader due to its speed, photorealistic output, and superior prompt adherence. ChatGPT, while strong in understanding instructions, was slower and limited to two image generations per day, with inconsistent facial details. Qwen offered decent results but lacked the polish of Nano Banana, while Grok AI, once a top contender, struggled with complex edits and photorealism, though it excelled in video generation from static images.
Nano Banana’s edge lies in its ability to create not just figurines but entire scenes, complete with realistic lighting, shadows, and packaging mockups. For example, a prompt like “Create a 1/6 scale figurine in a glass display case with LED lighting, surrounded by pop-culture collectibles” produces a museum-quality showcase, a feat competitors struggle to match. However, users seeking to remove Gemini’s watermark or enhance resolution can use Qwen with a prompt like “Remove the Gemini logo at the bottom right and enhance the resolution while keeping all other elements the same.”
Creative Possibilities and Future Potential
The versatility of Nano Banana extends beyond figurines. Users have experimented with prompts to create anime-style characters, plush toys with oversized heads, or even 3D holograms using line art. For instance, a prompt like “Turn the object into a 3D transparent line art hologram” transforms a photo into a futuristic display, while another might place a figurine in a retro video game setting. The ability to blend multiple photos—such as combining a person and their pet into a single scene—adds another layer of creativity, making Nano Banana a tool for storytelling as much as art.
The trend has also sparked discussions about the future of AI in creative industries. While Nano Banana is primarily for personal amusement, its ability to produce high-quality digital mockups has implications for product design, marketing, and even 3D printing, as users can export figurine files for physical production. However, ethical concerns remain, particularly around using images of others without consent, a practice Google discourages. The tool’s SynthID watermark ensures AI-generated images are distinguishable from human artwork, addressing concerns about authenticity.
Why Nano Banana Matters
The Nano Banana trend is more than a fleeting social media fad; it represents a milestone in AI-driven creativity. By making 3D art accessible, fast, and free, Google has empowered a global community to reimagine their photos as collectibles, avatars, or digital keepsakes. The trend’s success—evidenced by over 200 million images created and 10 million Gemini app downloads by mid-September 2025—underscores the public’s appetite for intuitive, fun AI tools. Whether it’s a student turning a meme into a figurine, an influencer crafting a branded avatar, or a pet owner immortalizing their furry friend, Nano Banana has tapped into a universal desire for self-expression.
As AI technology advances, tools like Nano Banana are likely to evolve, offering even more sophisticated features like real-time animation or augmented reality integration. For now, the trend continues to dominate social media, inviting users to “go bananas” with their creativity. To join the craze, simply head to gemini.google.com, upload a photo, and let Nano Banana transform it into a miniature masterpiece.
Post a Comment