ai-avatar-video

name	ai-avatar-video
description	AI avatar video guide. Talking head animation, image-to-video workflow, face animation tips.
allowed-tools	[]
disable-model-invocation	false

AI Avatar Video Guide

Use /pocket-knife:image-to-video to animate a portrait or character image into a talking-head or expressive avatar video. The skill uses fal.ai Wan 2.2 5B, which accepts a static image and a motion prompt, returning an MP4.

How Image-to-Video Works for Avatars

The model interprets the source image and applies motion guided by your text prompt. For avatar use:

• Subtle head movements, blinking, and lip movement are achievable with targeted prompts
• Full body movement works best when the character is clearly isolated from the background
• Realistic results require a high-quality, well-lit source image

Ideal Source Image Properties

Property	Requirement
Resolution	512×512 minimum; 1024×1024 or higher preferred
Subject	Clear face or full body, well-lit
Background	Simple or solid — busy backgrounds reduce animation quality
Format	JPEG or PNG hosted at a public HTTPS URL
Pose	Neutral, forward-facing for talking head; side views work for profiles

The image must be a publicly accessible HTTPS URL — local file paths are not supported. Upload the image to a CDN, cloud storage bucket, or image host first.

Motion Prompt Formula for Avatars

[Facial/body action] + [Style descriptor] + [Camera behavior] + [Technical quality]

Examples:

Effect desired	Prompt
Talking head, professional	"person speaking naturally, subtle head nods, lips moving, professional lighting, cinematic"
Animated character	"character blinking and smiling, slight head tilt, warm lighting, smooth animation"
Dramatic avatar	"person delivering a speech, confident gestures, dramatic lighting, cinematic close-up"
Subtle life animation	"gentle blinking, micro-expressions, natural breathing movement, soft studio light"
Fantasy avatar	"elf character turning head slowly, glowing eyes, magical ambient light, fantasy style"

Workflow: Static Portrait to Avatar Video

Step 1 — Prepare the source image

• Use /pocket-knife:ai-image-generation to generate a portrait with a specific character design
• Or use /pocket-knife:background-removal to isolate a real person on a clean background
• Upload the result to a public image host (e.g., Imgur, Cloudinary, or an S3 bucket with public access)

Step 2 — Animate with image-to-video

• Run /pocket-knife:image-to-video with the public image URL
• Use an avatar-specific motion prompt (see examples above)
• Generation takes 1–3 minutes; the skill polls automatically

Step 3 — Add voice (optional)

• Generate speech with /pocket-knife:elevenlabs-tts using a voice that matches the avatar's character
• Layer audio over the video in any video editor (CapCut, DaVinci Resolve, Premiere)

Face Animation Tips

For realistic talking motion:

• Include "lips moving" or "speaking" explicitly in the prompt
• Add "natural head movement" for lifelike micro-motion
• Avoid over-specifying — "nodding vigorously" often produces distortion

For cartoon or illustrated characters:

• Add "smooth animation" and "cartoon style consistent" to maintain style
• Illustrated characters with exaggerated features animate more predictably than photorealistic ones

For minimal motion (looping background avatar):

• Use "very subtle breathing motion, gentle blinking, nearly static, ambient movement only"
• This works well for profile pictures, loading screens, and background presenters

Common Issues

Issue	Cause	Fix
Face distorts mid-video	Complex background distracting the model	Use background-removal before animating
No lip movement	Prompt too vague	Add "lips moving", "speaking" explicitly
Stiff, no motion	Low-contrast source image	Use sharper, higher-contrast portrait
Wrong motion applied	Ambiguous prompt	Be specific: "slight head turn to the right" not "move"
Image URL rejected	Private or expired URL	Re-upload to a public host with permanent link

Use Cases

Use case	Source image	Motion prompt
Course presenter avatar	AI-generated instructor	"speaking to camera, natural nods, professional"
Brand mascot animation	Illustrated character	"blinking, friendly smile, slight wave, cartoon"
Social media avatar	Product photo + person	"looking at camera, subtle smile, modern aesthetic"
Game character cutscene	Fantasy character art	"dramatic head turn, intense expression, cinematic"

Workflow with Other Skills

1. /pocket-knife:ai-image-generation — generate the portrait
2. /pocket-knife:background-removal — isolate subject if needed
3. /pocket-knife:image-to-video — animate the portrait
4. /pocket-knife:elevenlabs-tts — generate matching voice narration
5. Combine video + audio in your editor of choice