AI video generation is revolutionizing content creation, allowing anyone to produce stunning visuals with just a few well-chosen words. Whether you're crafting a cinematic sci-fi intro, a whimsical animated loop, or a surreal music video background, the key to success lies in writing a clear and effective prompt.
In this blog post, we’ll walk you through how to craft a prompt for AI video generation and provide a comprehensive list of possible words and categories to bring your vision to life. Let’s dive in!
Why a Great Prompt Matters
AI video generation tools like Runway, Kaiber, and Pika rely on text prompts to interpret your creative intent. A vague or poorly structured prompt can lead to lackluster results, while a detailed, specific one can produce jaw-dropping visuals. Think of your prompt as a blueprint: the more precise your instructions, the closer the AI gets to your vision.
How to Write a Prompt for AI Video Generation
A strong prompt combines several key elements to guide the AI effectively. Here’s a breakdown of what to include:
1. Subject or Scene Description
Define the main focus of your video. Is it a character, creature, object, or environment? Be clear about what’s in the spotlight.
- Example: “A futuristic city,” “a majestic lion,” or “a medieval knight.”
- Tip: Specify the perspective, like “a close-up of a cyberpunk hacker” vs. “a wide shot of a dystopian skyline.”
2. Style or Aesthetic
Choose the visual style to set the tone. This could be a specific art style, genre, or even a reference to a film or artist.
- Example: “Cinematic,” “cartoonish,” “hyper-realistic,” “in the style of Studio Ghibli,” or “Blade Runner vibes.”
- Tip: Referencing a well-known work helps the AI align with your aesthetic.
3. Mood or Atmosphere
Convey the emotional tone to shape the lighting, colors, and pacing.
- Example: “Mysterious,” “epic,” “serene,” or “chaotic.”
- Tip: Pair mood with visuals, like “a gloomy forest shrouded in mist” or “a vibrant festival under golden sunlight.”
4. Motion or Action
Since videos are dynamic, describe what’s happening. This includes character actions and camera movements.
- Example: “A dragon soaring through clouds,” “a camera panning across a desert,” or “a slow zoom-in on a ballerina spinning.”
- Tip: Use terms like “aerial shot,” “first-person perspective,” or “360-degree rotation” for camera motion.
5. Environment or Setting
Detail the background or location to ground the scene.
- Example: “A neon-lit cyberpunk street,” “a snowy mountain peak,” or “an underwater coral reef.”
- Tip: Include time of day or weather, like “at sunset” or “during a thunderstorm.”
6. Technical Details
Specify technical aspects like resolution, aspect ratio, or duration to ensure the output fits your needs.
- Example: “4K resolution,” “16:9 aspect ratio,” or “a 10-second loop.”
- Tip: Some tools allow you to control quality, like “highly detailed” or “low-poly.”
7. Optional Modifiers
Add keywords to refine the output or exclude unwanted elements (using negative prompts, if supported).
- Example: “Photorealistic,” “vibrant colors,” “soft lighting,” or “no blurry textures.”
- Tip: Negative prompts are great for avoiding common issues like low-quality renders.
8. Context or Purpose (Optional)
If the video serves a specific purpose, mention it to guide the AI.
- Example: “An intro for a sci-fi YouTube channel” or “a looping background for a music video.”
Prompt Structure Template
Here’s a simple formula to combine these elements:
`[Subject/Action] in [Environment/Setting], [Style/Aesthetic], [Mood/Atmosphere], [Camera Movement], [Technical Details], [Modifiers].`
Example Prompts
- “A majestic eagle soaring over a misty mountain range, cinematic style, epic and awe-inspiring mood, aerial tracking shot, 4K resolution, hyper-realistic, vibrant colors.”
- “A neon-lit cyberpunk city at night with flying cars, in the style of Blade Runner, gritty and mysterious atmosphere, slow pan across the skyline, 16:9 aspect ratio, photorealistic, no low-quality textures.”
- “A whimsical fairy dancing in a glowing forest, Studio Ghibli-inspired, magical and serene mood, soft zoom-in, 1080p, pastel colors, highly detailed.”
The Ultimate List of Words for AI Video Prompts
To help you craft vivid prompts, here’s a categorized list of descriptive words and terms. Mix and match these to create endless combinations!
1. Subjects/Characters
- People: warrior, astronaut, ballerina, hacker, wizard, child, elder, explorer, musician, scientist.
- Creatures: Dragon, phoenix, unicorn, wolf, kraken, robot, alien, dinosaur, fairy, ghost.
- Objects: Spaceship, ancient artifact, glowing orb, vintage car, futuristic gadget, magical sword.
- Abstract: Swirling energy, fractal patterns, flowing liquid, shimmering portal.
2. Actions/Motions
- Character Actions: Running, dancing, fighting, meditating, crafting, flying, exploring, transforming.
- Environmental Motions: Waves crashing, leaves falling, clouds drifting, lava flowing, stars twinkling.
- Camera Movements: Zoom-in, zoom-out, pan, tilt, orbit, tracking shot, first-person, drone shot, slow-motion, time-lapse.
3. Environments/Settings
- Natural: Forest, desert, ocean, mountain, jungle, tundra, waterfall, savanna, volcano, cave.
- Urban: Cityscape, cyberpunk metropolis, medieval village, futuristic utopia, abandoned ruins.
- Fantastical: Floating islands, underwater kingdom, alien planet, enchanted castle, cosmic void.
- Specific Locations: Marketplace, temple, spaceship interior, haunted mansion, secret laboratory.
4. Styles/Aesthetics
- Artistic: Oil painting, watercolor, pencil sketch, digital art, pixel art, stained glass, mosaic.
- Genres: Sci-fi, fantasy, horror, steampunk, cyberpunk, dystopian, retro-futuristic, noir.
- Inspirations: Studio Ghibli, Pixar, Marvel cinematic, Tim Burton, Wes Anderson, Akira, Star Wars.
- Rendering: Photorealistic, hyper-realistic, cartoonish, anime, 3D render, low-poly, claymation.
5. Moods/Atmospheres
- Emotional: Epic, serene, melancholic, joyful, ominous, tranquil, chaotic, nostalgic, suspenseful.
- Tonal: Dark, vibrant, warm, cold, ethereal, gritty, dreamy, surreal, futuristic, retro.
6. Lighting and Color
- Lighting: Soft, harsh, diffused, backlit, neon, glowing, candlelit, dramatic, natural.
- Color Palettes: Vibrant, muted, pastel, monochromatic, neon, earthy, metallic, iridescent.
- Time/Weather: Sunrise, sunset, twilight, foggy, rainy, stormy, snowy, clear skies.
7. Technical Terms
- Resolution: 720p, 1080p, 2K, 4K, 8K.
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9, 4:3, 1:1, 9:16 (vertical), 21:9 (ultrawide).
- Frame Rate: 24 fps, 30 fps, 60 fps.
- Duration: 5 seconds, 10 seconds, 30 seconds, looping.
- Quality: High detail, low detail, crisp, smooth, textured.
8. Modifiers
- Detail: Intricate, minimalistic, ornate, simplistic, polished, raw.
- Texture: Glossy, matte, metallic, organic, crystalline, weathered.
- Effects: Particle effects, lens flare, motion blur, depth of field, chromatic aberration.
- Negative Prompts: No blurry images, no artifacts, no low resolution, no distorted faces.
Tips for Crafting Effective Prompts
1. Be Specific but Concise
Provide enough detail to guide the AI without overwhelming it. For example, “a futuristic city with neon lights” is better than a vague “a cool city” or an overly wordy paragraph.
2. Test and Refine
AI video generation is iterative. Start with a simple prompt, review the output, and tweak it by adding or removing keywords.
3. Use References
Mentioning films, artists, or games (e.g., “in the style of Cyberpunk 2077”) can help the AI align with your vision.
4. Check Tool-Specific Guidelines
Different tools have unique syntax or limitations. For example, Runway might prioritize certain keywords, while Pika emphasizes motion. Always check the tool’s documentation.
5. Balance Creativity and Constraints
If the tool struggles with complex scenes (e.g., multiple characters), simplify your prompt or focus on one element at a time.
6. Leverage Negative Prompts
If supported, use negative prompts to avoid issues like “blurry textures” or “unwanted watermarks.”
Example Workflow: Creating a Sci-Fi Intro
Let’s say you want a video for a sci-fi short film intro. Here’s how you might approach it:
1. Draft Prompt:
“A spaceship orbiting a glowing blue planet, cinematic sci-fi style, epic and mysterious mood, slow zoom-in, 4K, hyper-realistic, vibrant colors, no blurry textures.”
2. Review Output:
If the spaceship looks too cartoonish, refine the prompt:
“A highly detailed spaceship orbiting a glowing blue planet, in the style of Interstellar, epic and mysterious mood, slow zoom-in, 4K, photorealistic, metallic textures.”
3. Iterate Further:
If the planet lacks detail, add: “with swirling clouds and faint rings” to enhance the description.
Things to Keep in Mind
- Tool Limitations: As of April 2025, some AI video tools struggle with consistent character faces, complex multi-character scenes, or long-duration videos. Check your tool’s capabilities before crafting an ambitious prompt.
- Ethical Considerations: Ensure your prompt adheres to the tool’s content policies, avoiding requests for explicit or harmful material.
- Stay Inspired: Browse platforms or creative communities for trending AI video prompts and tool-specific tips to spark ideas.
Final Thoughts
Writing a prompt for AI video generation is both an art and a science. By combining a clear structure with vivid, descriptive words, you can unlock the full potential of AI tools to create breathtaking videos. Use the template and keyword lists above as your starting point, experiment with different combinations, and iterate until your vision comes to life.
Ready to create your next masterpiece? Share your video idea or the tool you’re using. Happy generating!
~ Adrian Lee @adrianvideoimage with Grok
*Originally published on Adrian’s Journal on April 24, 2025.*
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