# Making videos (/docs/characters/videos)







Characters do video too. You generate a starting frame of your character in a scene, then animate that frame into a short clip. The face stays steady the whole way through.

## Make a video [#make-a-video]

From the character's dashboard, click **Generate Video**.

1. **Pick a motion model.** This is the model that turns a still image into a moving clip.

<img alt="Choosing a video motion model" src="__img0" />

2. **Generate a starting frame.** This works exactly like generating an image: choose an image model, describe the scene, set the aspect ratio, and generate. When the frames come back, pick the one you want to animate.

<img alt="The starting-image step, where you create the frame the video animates from" src="__img1" />
3\. &#x2A;*Enhance the frame (recommended).** Before you animate, sharpen the starting frame so the video has crisp detail. See [Enhancing](/docs/characters/enhancing). The clip animates the frame you accept, so enhancing it first carries that quality into the video.
4\. &#x2A;*Describe the motion.** Keep it simple, for example "waving at the camera" or "turning to look over her shoulder". Then generate.

SimpliGen animates the frame into a short clip, holding the character's face steady throughout.

## Tips [#tips]

* **The starting frame defines the look.** Get the frame right (and enhance it) before you animate.
* **Keep motion prompts simple.** One clear action animates more reliably than a busy description.
* **Video takes longer to render** than a still image. That is normal.
* **Match the aspect ratio** to where the clip will be posted (for example 9:16 for short-form vertical video).

## Next steps [#next-steps]

<Cards>
  <Card title="Enhance" href="/docs/characters/enhancing">
    Sharpen the starting frame, or any image.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Generate images" href="/docs/characters/images">
    Make stills of your character.
  </Card>
</Cards>