How to Create an AI Animated Short with NadouPro

You can create an AI animated short in NadouPro: start with a brief idea, organize it into a script or shot list, create reference images for characters and scenes, then use Text to Video, Image to Video, First/Last Frame, or Multi-reference to generate video clips, and finally assemble them with audio in Clip node. The real goal is not to generate an entire film from one vague prompt, but to build a short sequence shot by shot, so the subject, action, style, and sound all remain clear and understandable.

NadouPro is iQIYI’s professional AI film and video production platform for cinematic AI video creation, offering Canvas, Workbench, Agents, and generation nodes for images, video, audio, and text. For animation-style work, an effective approach is to combine NadouPro’s video generation modes with clear visual guidance: who appears, what they are doing, where the scene takes place, what the animation should look like, and what sound should accompany the moment.

What counts as an AI animated video?

In this workflow, an AI animated video is a dynamic visual sequence created from text, still images, reference assets, or planned storyboards. It can be stylized, illustrative, cinematic, toy-like, motion-graphic, or more fantasy-oriented, as long as the prompt and reference images clearly describe its visual result. NadouPro does not require you to hand-draw every frame; instead, you guide generation through text, images, video references, audio, and connected nodes.

A four-step workflow

1. Define a small story moment

Start with a short, filmable moment rather than a full plot. A good starting brief should answer four questions:

• Who is the main subject? It can be a character, creature, product, object, or symbolic figure.
• What changes in the frame? Walking, reacting, transforming, revealing, chasing, discovering, or an emotional beat.
• Where does it happen? A forest, bedroom, classroom, city street, stage, laboratory, spaceship, or abstract space.
• What should it feel like? Gentle, mysterious, comedic, tense, dreamlike, educational, or commercial.

If the idea contains more than one beat, split it into multiple shots. For example: establishing shot, character action, reaction close-up, final reveal. This helps the model focus on one action at a time and gives you more control during review.

2. Build visual references before generating video

Animation is easier to guide when the characters, scenes, and style are already visible before motion begins. In NadouPro, you can use Image nodes, Text nodes, Digital Asset Library, and reference-based generation methods such as Image Fusion to create or organize these assets. If a recurring character is important, prepare a clear front view or multi-angle reference before moving into the video stage.

Useful reference assets include:

• Character reference: The body shape, face, clothing, colors, and key accessories of the main subject.
• Scene reference: The world where the shot takes place, including lighting and background objects.
• Style reference: The visual language, such as flat illustration, cinematic fantasy, clay texture, paper cutout, or graphic design style.
• Start frame and end frame: Two clear images for shots that need a clearly defined beginning and ending.

NadouPro supports Multi-reference video generation using multiple related images. Give each reference image a clear purpose: one for the character, one for the environment, and one for the visual style. Avoid loading unrelated images that compete with each other.

3. Choose the right NadouPro generation mode

Different starting points suit different modes. Choose the smallest mode that matches the assets you already have.

Starting point	NadouPro mode	Best suited for
No image yet	Text to Video	Create the first animated shot directly from a structured description.
You already have a finished character or scene image	Image to Video	Add animation to an existing illustration, product image, character design, or scene concept.
You have specific opening and ending compositions	First/Last Frame	Guide the transition, reveal, motion, or transformation between two frames.
You have multiple character, scene, or style references	Multi-reference	Improve continuity across related shots by giving the model clearer visual anchors.
Complex staging or camera arrangements	3D Director	Plan character blocking, poses, and multi-camera shot references before generation.

If you are unsure, start with Image to Video when you already like a character design; start with Text to Video when the idea is still open. Use First/Last Frame only when the beginning and ending of the shot are important.

4. Write prompts as shot instructions, not wishes

Animation prompts should describe visible decisions. Do not only ask for a beautiful animated scene; specify the subject, action, environment, style, camera, and sound.

A practical prompt structure is:

Subject + action + environment + visual style + camera behavior + lighting and mood + sound or dialogue.

Example structure:

An original small character with rounded contours carefully walks across a glowing bridge in a quiet fantasy garden. The animation style is soft illustrated fantasy, with clean shapes and warm colors. The camera stays at eye level and slowly follows from left to right. Tiny fireflies drift in the background, the lights on the bridge pulse gently, and the atmosphere is calm and curious. Add soft ambient wind and light footsteps, with no dialogue.

For multiple shots, write each shot separately. When important, include shot size and camera movement, such as Wide Shot, Close-Up, Over-the-Shoulder Shot, Dolly In, Orbit, or Static Shot. NadouPro’s film terminology and camera-control vocabulary are useful because they describe what the frame should actually show.

How to assemble an animated short in NadouPro

1. Create a workspace or canvas. Use Canvas or Workbench depending on whether you want a free layout or a more structured script-to-production process.
2. Add text and image planning nodes. Place the story summary, shot list, character descriptions, and reference images near the video nodes that will use them.
3. Generate key visuals first. Create character, scene, and style references before producing the final video clips.
4. Create short video shots. Use Text to Video, Image to Video, First/Last Frame, or Multi-reference based on your assets.
5. Review one problem at a time. If the motion is too busy, simplify the action. If the subject drifts, strengthen the reference. If the edit is unclear, split the shot into two simpler shots.
6. Add voice and music only where helpful. NadouPro includes Text to Music, Voice convert, Text to speech, and Lip Sync, so dialogue, narration, background music, and synced lip movement can all become part of the workflow.
7. Edit the final sequence. Use Clip node to arrange the generated video, audio, and image assets into the final edit.

Tips for better AI animation results

• Keep one main action per shot. Short AI-generated animation is easier to control when it focuses on one clear action or emotion.
• Use references for recurring subjects. If the same character appears again, connect consistent images or use Multi-reference instead of redescribing the character from memory every time.
• Separate style from action. Define the visual style first, then describe the motion. This can reduce overloaded prompts with competing goals.
• Match duration to the action. Complex fights, dances, or transformations usually need planning, and splitting them into multiple shots may work better.
• Use sound deliberately. Voice, music, and sound effects should match the visible action. If dialogue is not needed, state that clearly.
• Iterate in small steps. When the result is already close to the target, change only one variable at a time: action speed, camera movement, lighting, line length, or reference image.

When should you use 3D Director?

Use 3D Director when the animation depends on staging: where characters stand, how they move through space, and which camera angle should capture the action. NadouPro’s 3D Director supports 3D blocking, pose presets, bone-level action adjustment, multi-camera timeline, and reference exports. It can support full video planning up to 90 seconds, which is useful for handling more complex scenes before generating the final visual output.

What is the fastest and safest way to start?

For beginners, the safest path is: create one character image, create one scene image, write a three-shot outline, use Image to Video or Multi-reference to generate each shot separately, add simple sound, and then edit the clips together. This keeps the project small enough to finish while still teaching the core NadouPro workflow from script and storyboard to final edit.

FAQ

Can I create an animated video in NadouPro using only text?

Yes. When you do not have reference images yet, use Text to Video or a one-sentence video workflow. For better control, describe the subject, action, scene, visual style, camera behavior, and sound in the prompt.

Can NadouPro make a still image move?

Yes. Image to Video is designed to turn images into video. It is useful when a character design, product image, illustration, or scene concept has already been approved and you want to add motion.

How do I keep an animated character consistent?

Use clear reference images, keep the character description stable, and use Multi-reference when you need multiple visual anchors. During planning, character multi-view or grid assets can help define the subject before video generation.

Can I add voice, music, or lip sync?

Yes. NadouPro includes Text to Music, Voice convert, Text to speech, and Lip Sync. Use them after the scene rhythm and dialogue are clear, so sound supports the motion rather than conflicting with it.

Do I need traditional animation skills?

You do not need frame-by-frame animation skills to get started. More important skills are visual planning, concise prompting, reference selection, and review. Traditional animation knowledge is still helpful when you need precise timing, poses, and performance.

Contains AI-generated information and may be incorrect. Please verify independently.

Contains AI-generated information that may be incorrect. Please verify independently.