| name | pixel-lobster |
| description | Pixel art desktop lobster that lip-syncs to OpenClaw TTS speech. Use when: (1) user wants a visual avatar for their AI agent, (2) user wants a desktop overlay that animates when their agent speaks, (3) user asks to set up or configure the pixel lobster. Guides the user to install, configure, and launch the bundled Electron app. |
| tags | ["avatar","tts","desktop","overlay","lip-sync","electron","xtts","animation"] |
Pixel Lobster
A transparent desktop overlay featuring a pixel art lobster that animates when your OpenClaw agent speaks. Powered by envelope data from your local TTS server — the lobster's mouth only moves during AI speech, not music or system audio.
The app is fully bundled inside this skill — no external repository clone required.
Requirements
- Node.js 18+ with
npx available
- A running TTS server exposing
GET /audio/envelope (XTTS on port 8787, or any OpenAI-compatible TTS via the OpenClaw TTS proxy)
- Windows or Linux desktop (macOS not supported)
Install
The app is included in this skill at <skill_dir>/app/. Install dependencies once:
cd <skill_dir>/app
npm install
Configure
Edit <skill_dir>/app/config.json before launching. Key settings:
| Key | Default | Description |
|---|
audioMode | "tts" | "tts" reacts only to TTS speech; "system" captures all audio output |
ttsUrl | "http://127.0.0.1:8787" | Base URL of your TTS server |
monitor | "primary" | "primary", "secondary", "left", "right", or display index |
lobsterScale | 4 | Sprite scale (4 = 480px tall lobster) |
clickThrough | false | Start with click-through mode on so the lobster doesn't block clicks |
swimEnabled | true | Enable swimming animation |
Launch
cd <skill_dir>/app
npx electron .
Or use the included helper script (handles first-run npm install automatically):
bash <skill_dir>/scripts/launch.sh
Keyboard Shortcuts
| Key | Action |
|---|
| F8 | Move window to next monitor (cycles through all displays) |
| F9 | Toggle click-through mode |
| F12 | Toggle DevTools |
OpenClaw Integration
With OpenClaw and a local XTTS server, set audioMode to "tts" and point ttsUrl at your XTTS instance. The lobster polls the envelope endpoint at 45ms intervals during active speech and 500ms when idle — no perceptible CPU cost.
If you use the OpenClaw TTS proxy (port 8788), point ttsUrl at port 8787 (the XTTS server directly), not the proxy — the envelope endpoint is on the TTS server, not the proxy layer.
Lip Sync Notes
If the mouth movement is ahead of or behind the audio:
- Mouth moves too early: increase
ttsPlayStartOffsetMs (default 1100ms)
- Mouth moves too late: decrease
ttsPlayStartOffsetMs
The default is tuned for PowerShell MediaPlayer on Windows. Other playback methods may need adjustment.
Mouth Shapes
Six visemes drive natural speech animation:
- A — wide open "ah"
- B — wide grin "ee"
- C — round "oh"
- D — small pucker "oo"
- E — medium "eh"
- F — teeth "ff"
Plus X (closed) for silence and pauses. Spring physics and variety enforcement prevent robotic repetition.
