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

# Animation Tool - Magic Hour Docs

> Transform static images into dynamic animated videos with smooth motion.

export const ToolSection = ({type = "image", outputs = [], title = "", productSlug = "", apiSlug = ""}) => <>
    {outputs && outputs.length > 0 && <Tabs>
        {outputs.map((output, idx) => <Tab key={idx} title={`Example Output ${idx + 1}`}>
            <Frame>
              {type === "video" ? <video controls preload="metadata" playsInline className="rounded-lg h-80" src={`${output.src}#t=0.001`} type={`${output.src?.endsWith("mp4") ? 'video/mp4' : "video/webm"}`}>
                </video> : type === "audio" ? <audio controls preload="metadata" className="w-full" src={output.src}>
                  Your browser does not support the audio element.
                </audio> : <img height="320" className="rounded-lg h-80" src={output.src} />}
            </Frame>
          </Tab>)}
      </Tabs>}

    <CardGroup cols={2}>
      <Card title="API Spec" icon="webhook" horizontal href={`/api-reference/${type}-projects/${apiSlug}`}>
        See API details
      </Card>
      <Card title="Product Page" icon="video" horizontal href={`https://magichour.ai/products/${productSlug}`}>
        Learn more about {title}
      </Card>
    </CardGroup>

  </>;

## Overview

Animation transforms static images into dynamic animated videos with smooth motion and camera effects. The API creates engaging stop-motion style animations, adding movement, depth, and visual effects. You can optionally provide an image as a starting point and add audio for synchronized effects.

<ToolSection
  title="Animation"
  productSlug="animation"
  apiSlug="animation"
  type="video"
  outputs={[
{
  src: "https://videos.magichour.ai/clttnhtz5000bqp36hd2xrent/video.mp4",
},
{
  src: "https://videos.magichour.ai/cltweykuq003lrck44hd2e5ty/video.mp4",
},
]}
/>

## How It Works

1. **Provide a prompt** - Describe the animation you want to create
2. **Optionally add an image** - Use a starting image for the animation
3. **Optionally add audio** - Include audio for synchronized effects
4. **API generates the animation** - AI creates smooth animated video
5. **Download the result** - Retrieve your animation video

## Use Cases

* **Music videos** - Create visually engaging content for songs
* **Social media content** - Eye-catching animated posts and stories
* **B-roll footage** - Generate supplementary video content
* **Creative projects** - Artistic animations and motion graphics
* **Animated avatars** - Moving profile pictures and characters

## Best Practices

### Using Source Images

When providing a starting image:

* **Match the style** - The prompt should complement your image
* **High quality** - Better images produce better animations
* **Clear subjects** - Well-defined subjects animate more smoothly

### Audio Synchronization

When adding audio:

* **Match the mood** - Audio should complement the visual style
* **Consider timing** - Longer audio = longer video
* **Supported formats** - MP3, WAV, AAC, FLAC

## Code Examples

### Basic Animation from Prompt

<CodeGroup>
  ```python Python theme={null}
  from magic_hour import Client
  import os

  client = Client(token=os.getenv("MAGIC_HOUR_API_KEY"))

  result = client.v1.animation.generate(
      assets={
          "audio_source": "none"
      },
      end_seconds=1.5,
      fps=8,
      height=256,
      width=512,
      style={
          "art_style": "Studio Ghibli Film Still",
          "camera_effect": "Dramatic Zoom In",
          "prompt": "A majestic tiger walking through a misty jungle at sunset, magical atmosphere",
          "prompt_type": "custom",
          "transition_speed": 5
      },
      name="Tiger Animation",
      wait_for_completion=True,
      download_outputs=True,
      download_directory="."
  )

  if result.status == "complete":
      print(f"✅ Animation complete!")
      print(f"Downloaded to: {result.downloaded_paths}")
      print(f"Credits charged: {result.credits_charged}")
  else:
      print(f"❌ Job failed with status: {result.status}")
      if hasattr(result, 'error_message'):
          print(f"Error: {result.error_message}")
  ```

  ```javascript Node.js theme={null}
  import { Client } from "magic-hour";

  const client = new Client({ token: process.env.MAGIC_HOUR_API_KEY });

  const result = await client.v1.animation.generate({
    assets: {
      audioSource: "none",
    },
    endSeconds: 1.5,
    fps: 8,
    height: 256,
    width: 512,
    style: {
      artStyle: "Studio Ghibli Film Still",
      cameraEffect: "Dramatic Zoom In",
      prompt: "A majestic tiger walking through a misty jungle at sunset, magical atmosphere",
      promptType: "custom",
      transitionSpeed: 5,
    },
    name: "Tiger Animation",
    waitForCompletion: true,
    downloadOutputs: true,
    downloadDirectory: ".",
  });

  console.log(`✅ Animation complete!`);
  console.log(`Status: ${result.status}`);
  console.log(`Downloaded to: ${result.downloadedPaths}`);
  ```
</CodeGroup>

### Animation from Image

<CodeGroup>
  ```python Python theme={null}
  result = client.v1.animation.generate(
      assets={
          "audio_source": "none",
          "image_file_path": "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/runshouse/Sample_Assets/main/tomcruise.png"
      },
      end_seconds=1.5,
      fps=8.0,
      height=256,
      width=512,
      style={
          "art_style": "Van Gogh",
          "camera_effect": "Spin Bounce",
          "prompt": "Tom Cruise in an action pose, dramatic lighting, cinematic intensity",
          "prompt_type": "custom",
          "transition_speed": 5
      },
      name="Tom Cruise Animation",
      wait_for_completion=True,
      download_outputs=True,
      download_directory="."
  )

  if result.status == "complete":
      print(f"✅ Animation complete!")
      print(f"Downloaded to: {result.downloaded_paths}")
      print(f"Credits charged: {result.credits_charged}")
  else:
      print(f"❌ Job failed with status: {result.status}")
      if hasattr(result, 'error_message'):
          print(f"Error: {result.error_message}")
  ```

  ```javascript Node.js theme={null}
  const result = await client.v1.animation.generate({
    assets: {
      audioSource: "none",
      imageFilePath: "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/runshouse/Sample_Assets/main/tomcruise.png",
    },
    endSeconds: 1.5,
    fps: 8.0,
    height: 288,
    width: 288,
    style: {
      artStyle: "Van Gogh",
      cameraEffect: "Spin Bounce",
      prompt: "Tom Cruise in an action pose, dramatic lighting, cinematic intensity",
      promptType: "custom",
      transitionSpeed: 5,
    },
    name: "Tom Cruise Animation",
    waitForCompletion: true,
    downloadOutputs: true,
    downloadDirectory: ".",
  });

  console.log(`✅ Downloaded to: ${result.downloadedPaths}`);
  ```
</CodeGroup>

### Animation with Audio

<CodeGroup>
  ```python Python theme={null}
  result = client.v1.animation.generate(
      end_seconds=2.0,
      fps=8.0,
      height=256,
      width=512,
      assets={
          "audio_file_path": "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/runshouse/Sample_Assets/main/you-are-just-a-line-of-code.mp3",
          "audio_source": "file"
      },
      style={
          "art_style": "Cyberpunk",
          "camera_effect": "Pulse - Audio Sync",
          "prompt": "Digital code streams and neon circuits pulsing to the rhythm, futuristic tech aesthetic",
          "prompt_type": "custom",
          "transition_speed": 5
      },
      name="Code Audio Animation",
      wait_for_completion=True,
      download_outputs=True,
      download_directory="."
  )

  if result.status == "complete":
      print(f"✅ Animation complete!")
      print(f"Downloaded to: {result.downloaded_paths}")
      print(f"Credits charged: {result.credits_charged}")
  else:
      print(f"❌ Job failed with status: {result.status}")
      if hasattr(result, 'error_message'):
          print(f"Error: {result.error_message}")
  ```

  ```javascript Node.js theme={null}
  const result = await client.v1.animation.generate({
    endSeconds: 2.0,
    fps: 8.0,
    height: 256,
    width: 512,
    assets: {
      audioFilePath:
        "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/runshouse/Sample_Assets/main/you-are-just-a-line-of-code.mp3",
      audioSource: "file",
    },
    style: {
      artStyle: "Cyberpunk",
      cameraEffect: "Pulse - Audio Sync",
      prompt:
        "Digital code streams and neon circuits pulsing to the rhythm, futuristic tech aesthetic",
      promptType: "custom",
      transitionSpeed: 5,
    },
    name: "Code Audio Animation",
    waitForCompletion: true,
    downloadOutputs: true,
    downloadDirectory: ".",
  });

  console.log(`✅ Downloaded to: ${result.downloadedPaths}`);
  ```
</CodeGroup>

## Pricing

Animation uses credits based on video duration:

| Duration   | Approximate Credits |
| :--------- | :------------------ |
| 5 seconds  | \~150 credits       |
| 10 seconds | \~300 credits       |

## Resolution Limits

Animation has a maximum resolution of **1472px** (either width or height).

<Tip>
  **Try this in our Google Colab Cookbook:** [Run this API with sample
  code](https://colab.research.google.com/drive/1NTHL_lr_s-qBJ-mSecSXPzRLi9_V5JiU?usp=sharing). Just
  add your API key.
</Tip>

## API Reference

<Card title="Animation API Reference" icon="webhook" href="/api-reference/video-projects/animation">
  View full API specification
</Card>

## Related Tools

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Image to Video" icon="image" href="/tools/video/image-to-video">
    Convert static images to dynamic videos
  </Card>

  <Card title="Text to Video" icon="text" href="/tools/video/text-to-video">
    Generate videos from text descriptions
  </Card>
</CardGroup>