How To Actually Make Viral Animated Story Videos with AI

Introduction

Simple animated videos are making obscene amounts of money now. Although those earnings are incredible, some of these animations aren't all that impressive. In this article, I'm going to show you how to one-up these channels by making even better animated story videos. From the script to the final animated video, this beginner-friendly step-by-step tutorial will guide you both free and paid options, allowing you to take your animated story videos to the next level. You'll increase your views, engagement, and earning potential. Keep in mind that my methods can be adapted to almost any niche.

Starting with the All-Important Script

Begin by asking ChatGPT for some story ideas. Select the story you like and then ask ChatGPT to generate a script based on that story. Make sure to include how long you want your script to be and ask ChatGPT to give your characters names. At this point, decide if you want your story to be in first person or third person narration. Creating a third-person animated story video is quicker and easier; however, a first-person story can be more engaging and of much higher quality.

Script Example

To illustrate:

Third person: Inside the star glider, Jay and Maya were gathered around the main console where a holographic map of the galaxy was displayed.
First person: "Maya, look at this! A mysterious planet just appeared on our radar."

Make sure to include your choice in the prompt along with any other desired details. Then, ask ChatGPT to create scenes and number each scene, as this simplifies the next process.

Generating Images for Your Scenes

Next, ask ChatGPT to generate prompts for each scene. If your story is narrated, it's fine to have both characters in the same image. The result will look like this: Jay and Maya examined the map. However, if your story is in the first person, you should have only one character in each image. This can be achieved by giving ChatGPT the simple prompt.

Then, bring your characters to life. I prefer using ChatGPT for this process because I find it to be faster and one of the easiest ways to generate consistent characters. In ChatGPT, search for "consistent character" and select the appropriate option.

For ChatGPT Plus Users

Continue by answering the questions.
When describing your character, add "3D Pixar Animation style character" for the desired animated look.
Create a few reference images.
Generate images for each scene using ChatGPT.

For Free ChatGPT Users

Repeat the above process, but enter a specific prompt for consistent character prompts. Use these prompts in a free image generation software like Leonardo AI or Co-Pilot. Paste in your detailed character prompt along with your scenes from ChatGPT and hit generate for each scene.

Giving Your Characters a Voice

Use Eleven Labs for the best AI voices. Copy the individual character lines prepared earlier and paste them into Eleven Labs. Select a voice that best suits your character and hit generate. Repeat this process for each character's lines. If your story is in the third person, you can simply paste in the whole narration and select a fitting voice.

Bringing Characters to Life

Use Dream Machine by Luma to animate your scenes. This AI software produces some of the best animations to date. Free users get 30 generations each month, but Generations take long during high demand. Use it at midnight eastern time or opt for a paid plan. Dream Machine has a text-to-video feature, but uploading your own images often yields best results.

Simplistic Animation Option

Consider ImmersAI, which adds motion and depth to your images. This engages viewers, especially with narrated stories.

Creating a Lip Sync

Use D-ID to create talking avatars from images. For the best video quality option, I recommend Syn Labs. Create a project, upload your audio and video files, select the sync model, and hit generate. Free versions might have watermarks; consider paid plans to remove them. For a free alternative with a manageable watermark, try Peer. Upload your video, click lip sync, and add your audio.

Piecing Everything Together in CapCut

Import your clips into CapCut and drag them into the timeline. Match the clips to the relevant audio. Add transitions, sound effects, background music, and auto captions to increase production value. If there’s still a watermark, blur it in CapCut. Export your video and you've created an animated video worthy of generating thousands of dollars.

This is a remarkable achievement and probably easier than you anticipated. Remember, there are several other factors to consider for success on YouTube such as titles, thumbnails, descriptions, and more.

Keywords

ChatGPT
Animated Story Videos
ImmersAI
Eleven Labs
Dream Machine
CapCut
Leonardo AI
Syn Labs
AI Voices

FAQ

1. How do I generate a script for my animated story video? Use ChatGPT to generate a story idea, select a story, and then ask it to create a detailed script with scenes.

2. Can I generate character images using free tools? Yes, you can use Leonardo AI or Co-Pilot for free character image generation if you are not using ChatGPT Plus.

3. How can I give my characters a realistic voice? Use Eleven Labs for high-quality AI voices. Paste the character lines into Eleven Labs and select suitable voices for each character.

4. What software can I use to animate my scenes? You can use Dream Machine by Luma for advanced animations or ImmersAI for more simplistic motion and depth in images.

5. How do I sync my character's lip movements with their voice? You can use D-ID for images or Syn Labs for video quality; free alternatives include Peer, although they may add watermarks.

6. What is the final software to piece everything together? CapCut is an all-in-one editing software ideal for finalizing your animated story video. It allows you to add transitions, effects, music, and blur watermarks if needed.