How to Animate an AI Character

This is the practical walkthrough we wish existed when we started. By the end you will have shipped a 4-second clip of a persistent AI character using Animator Hub.

1. Build the character once

Open /create and go through the custom creation flow. Pick gender, body shape, ethnicity, attire, and style. Save. The platform writes a character profile that future generations read from, no re-describing the same person in every prompt.

2. Generate a strong reference still

Ask for a single full-body or three-quarter shot in neutral lighting. This becomes the anchor for video. If the still has a flaw (warped hand, wrong attire), fix it now, video amplifies image problems.

3. Write the motion brief

Examples that work:

• "She turns slowly toward camera and tilts her head."
• "He leans against the wall, slow exhale, eyes drop then return."
• "Subject walks two steps forward into soft window light."

One subject, one or two verbs, one camera intent. Done.

4. Pick the camera

For tutorials, start with locked camera, eye level. Once that works, graduate to slow drift, then handheld.

5. Generate, trim, ship

Render at the standard tier for ideation, the cinematic tier for hero shots. Trim 6 frames from each end. Save to your gallery.

Troubleshooting

• Character looks different. Re-pin the reference image and lower the motion strength.
• Motion too aggressive. Cut verbs from the brief.
• Clip feels flat. Add one lighting cue ("warm window key, cool ambient").

Related

Image to animation workflow and the cinematic AI animation guide.