New Delhi: Move over action figures and Studio Ghibli-inspired portraits — the internet has a quirky new obsession: the Nano Banana trend. This viral sensation lets users transform their regular photos into ultra-realistic miniature figurines using Google Gemini’s AI, and social media is buzzing with creative outputs from around the globe.
What started as an experimental AI feature has quickly become a trend across platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and Reddit, with users showcasing their lifelike, custom-made “nano” versions of themselves or their favorite characters in playful and creative settings.
What is the Nano Banana Trend?
The trend allows users to generate custom 3D figurine-style images using AI prompts and a photo of their choice. These figurines appear hyper-realistic and are typically placed in detailed miniature environments like desks, bookshelves, or hobby workstations.
Despite the unusual name, “Nano Banana” is not about bananas at all — it refers to the tiny scale of the figurine and the internet’s love for catchy, meme-worthy names.
How to Join the Nano Banana Trend: A Step-by-Step Guide
Want to create your own figurine-style image? Here’s how:
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Open Google Gemini
Access the AI tool via the Google Gemini app or the official website. Log in with your Google credentials. -
Upload a Clear Photo
Select a high-quality image of yourself (or anyone else). The clearer the photo, the better the results. -
Enter the Right Prompt
The magic is in the wording. According to a post shared by Google Gemini on X, try this:“Create a 1/7 scale commercialised 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 modelling process of this figurine. Next to the computer screen is a toy packaging box, designed in a style reminiscent of high-quality collectable figures, printed with original artwork. The packaging features two-dimensional flat illustrations.”
Other Things You Can Do with Nano Banana Prompts
The trend has evolved beyond just figurines — here are a few variations users are exploring:
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Modify an image:
Use prompts like:“Using the provided image, please [add/remove/modify] [element] to/from the scene. Ensure the change is [describe how it should blend in].”
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Merge two images:
Combine visuals using:“Create a new image by combining elements from the provided images. Take the [element from image 1] and place it with/on the [element from image 2]. The final image should be a [describe final scene].”
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16-Bit Retro Art:
Want to go full retro? Try:“Reimagine me as a 16-bit Video Game character and put me in a 2D 16-bit platform video game.”
Why It’s Trending
Part of the trend’s success lies in its creativity and nostalgia factor. The figurines evoke the feel of high-end collectibles, while the DIY nature of the prompts appeals to digital artists, anime lovers, gamers, and pop culture fans alike.
So whether you’re a fan of toy photography, custom collectibles, or just want to hop on the latest internet craze, the Nano Banana trend is your chance to shrink yourself into a tiny, hyper-detailed version and show it off to the world.