Animation API

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.

How It Works

Provide a prompt - Describe the animation you want to create
Optionally add an image - Use a starting image for the animation
Optionally add audio - Include audio for synchronized effects
API generates the animation - AI creates smooth animated video
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
Set end_seconds to control output duration and provide audio long enough for that clip.
See the input file guide for supported audio formats.

Code Examples

Basic Animation from Prompt

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 ended with status: {result.status}")
    if result.error:
        print(f"Error: {result.error.message}")

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: ".",
  }
);

if (result.status === "complete") {
  console.log(`✅ Animation complete!`);
  console.log(`Downloaded to: ${result.downloadedPaths}`);
} else {
  console.error(`Job ended with status: ${result.status}`);
  if (result.error) console.error(result.error.message);
}

Animation from Image

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 ended with status: {result.status}")
    if result.error:
        print(f"Error: {result.error.message}")

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: ".",
  }
);

if (result.status === "complete") {
  console.log(`Downloaded to: ${result.downloadedPaths}`);
} else {
  console.error(`Job ended with status: ${result.status}`);
  if (result.error) console.error(result.error.message);
}

Animation with Audio

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 ended with status: {result.status}")
    if result.error:
        print(f"Error: {result.error.message}")

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: ".",
  }
);

if (result.status === "complete") {
  console.log(`Downloaded to: ${result.downloadedPaths}`);
} else {
  console.error(`Job ended with status: ${result.status}`);
  if (result.error) console.error(result.error.message);
}

Pricing

Animation estimates credits from both fps and end_seconds. Increasing either increases the number of frames to render. Read credits_charged from the completed job for the final total.

Resolution Limits

width and height are required and must each be at least 64 pixels. Maximum dimensions depend on your subscription and the tool limits. See Resolution Limits.

Try this in our Google Colab Cookbook: Run this API with sample code. Just add your API key.

API Reference

Animation API Reference

View full API specification

Image to Video

Convert static images to dynamic videos

Text to Video

Generate videos from text descriptions

Get Started

Integration

Billing

Tools

Overview

How It Works

Use Cases

Best Practices

Using Source Images

Audio Synchronization

Code Examples

Basic Animation from Prompt

Animation from Image

Animation with Audio

Pricing

Resolution Limits

API Reference

Animation API Reference

Image to Video

Text to Video

​Overview

​How It Works

​Use Cases

​Best Practices

​Using Source Images

​Audio Synchronization

​Code Examples

​Basic Animation from Prompt

​Animation from Image

​Animation with Audio

​Pricing

​Resolution Limits

​API Reference

Animation API Reference

​Related Tools

Image to Video

Text to Video

Overview

How It Works

Use Cases

Best Practices

Using Source Images

Audio Synchronization

Code Examples

Basic Animation from Prompt

Animation from Image

Animation with Audio

Pricing

Resolution Limits

API Reference

Related Tools