> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://carat.im/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Character animation

> Create animated videos with stories using your own 2D/3D characters.

This guide walks you through creating your own original character, maintaining consistent appearance across multiple scenes, and producing animation videos.

<img src="https://assets.carat-api.im/moqoavjxc/01K8R1D3242KQVFKYA3P8RE5B6.jpeg" alt="AI character animation example" className="rounded-lg shadow-lg mb-8" style={{width: '100%', aspectRatio: '16/9', objectFit: 'cover', objectPosition: 'center'}} />

<Steps>
  <Step title="Plan and create character">
    First, plan the main character for your animation and generate a base image.

    **Request ideas:**

    ```text theme={null}
        Suggest 3 character concepts for animation. I'd like an 'adventure-loving squirrel'.
    ```

    **Generate base image:**

    ```text theme={null}
        Great. Create a base image in Pixar 3D style, 9:16 vertical ratio.
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Plan episode">
    Plan the story to use with your character.

    ```text theme={null}
        Create a 4-panel storyboard (plan) for the squirrel character going on a 'treasure hunt adventure'.
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Generate scene images (maintain consistency)">
    Reference the 'base image' from step 1 to generate scene images that maintain consistent character appearance.

    ```text theme={null}
        Create all 4 planned scene images at once. For consistency, use the squirrel base image created earlier as a reference image and use the Nanobanana image model.
    ```

    <Tip>
      This step is the most important. Using a reference image helps maintain character consistency.
    </Tip>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Create video and final edit">
    Convert scene images to video and add audio to complete as one animation.

    **Convert scenes to video:**

    ```text theme={null}
        Convert each of the 4 scene images into natural 5-second videos.
    ```

    **Merge:**

    ```text theme={null}
        Merge the 4 generated video clips in order.
    ```

    **Speed up:**

    ```text theme={null}
        The merged video is too slow, speed it up to 1.5x.
    ```

    **Add audio:**

    ```text theme={null}
        Add 'epic adventure BGM' to the merged video.
    ```
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Info>
  **If you need dialogue**

  Instead of video generation, you can use the [Lip sync](/en/features/video/lip-sync) feature to create 'talking videos' for each scene.
</Info>

<Tip>
  **Looking for an easier way?**

  Use the **'Create Character Video'** feature in the [Mini Agent](/en/how-to-use/mini-agent) menu to make this process easier.
</Tip>