How to Turn a Photo Into an Animated Character (You, Your Kid, or Your Pet)

To turn a photo into an animated character, upload the photo as the reference when you create a character, choose a style (cartoon, anime, watercolor, and so on), generate a character sheet, and then use that character in video scenes. In Paintbrush, you can drop the photo into the creation agent and type "make a cartoon character from my dog." It creates the character from your image, shows a preview for you to approve, and reuses that same character in every scene, with a voice and lip sync if you want it to talk.

The same steps work for a selfie, a family photo, a child's crayon drawing, a pet, a stuffed animal, or a product mascot.

What makes a good source photo

The model can only keep what it can see. A better photo gives you a more recognizable character.

• One subject. Crop out other people and pets.
• Even light. Daylight or soft indoor light. Harsh shadows get read as features.
• Full body if possible. The character sheet includes the whole body. If the photo only shows a face, the model has to invent the rest.
• Front-facing. A clear front view gives the best starting point. Paintbrush generates the side and back views from it.
• No heavy filters. Beauty filters and strong color grades get baked into the character.
• For pets: show the whole animal and any distinctive markings, such as a white patch, a spotted ear, or a curled tail.
• For drawings: scan or photograph them flat, with no glare. Bold lines and clear colors work best.

Method 1: Ask the creation agent

1. Create a project and choose a style, such as cartoon, anime, watercolor, or realistic.
2. Attach the photo. Use the image button, paste it, or drag it anywhere into the editor. You can attach up to four images per message, which helps if you have the same pet from a couple of angles.
3. Say what you want. "Make a cartoon character named Biscuit from my dog. Keep the brown ears and the white chest patch."
4. Approve the preview. The agent generates the character and shows it to you. Ask for changes in plain language, like "make the ears floppier" or "add a red collar," and approve when it looks right.
5. Put the character in a story. "Biscuit goes to the beach for the first time. Make it a 30-second video." The agent plans the scenes and shows you a credit estimate before generating video.

Uploads can also be used for style only. Say "use this painting for the color palette and style" and the agent uses the image for the look of a character or setting without copying its subject.

Method 2: Create the character manually

1. Add a new character to your project.
2. Under Based on, upload your photo.
3. Write a description that says what to keep and what to change: "A cheerful cartoon version of this golden retriever, big expressive eyes, same coat color, wearing a blue bandana."
4. Choose Standard or Pro quality and generate.

Paintbrush generates the front view, removes the background, and then generates matching side and back views. Together these form the reference sheet that keeps the character consistent in every scene. A Standard character costs about 12 credits.

Make your character move and talk

Once the character exists, @mention it in scene prompts: "@Biscuit chases a seagull across @Sunny Beach, wide shot." The reference sheet goes with every generation, so Biscuit stays Biscuit from the first shot to the last.

To make the character talk, assign one of the 20 built-in voices, then write lines in quotes in a scene and assign them to the character. On-screen lines are lip-synced, including on animal and cartoon faces. A golden retriever really can deliver a line. See how to make AI characters talk.

Ideas to try

• Your pet's adventure. A short film starring your cat, made as a birthday or memorial video.
• Your kid's drawing, brought to life. Upload a crayon monster and make a bedtime story where it is the hero. Pair it with our children's story guide.
• You as a cartoon host. A consistent stylized version of yourself for a YouTube channel intro or explainer series.
• A family story. Grandparents' wedding story told by an animated version of them, with their permission.
• A brand mascot from a sketch. Turn a napkin drawing into a character you can use in every product video.
• A toy come to life. A stuffed animal or action figure as the star of a short.

Troubleshooting

The character does not look like the photo

Name the features that matter in the description or a follow-up: "keep the curly red hair, the freckles, and the round glasses." The model gives more weight to features you name. If the photo is dark, blurry, or cropped, try a better one before rewriting the prompt.

My pet looks like a generic dog

Breeds share a lot of features, so markings are what make a pet recognizable. Describe them exactly: "white blaze down the nose, one brown ear and one white ear, black spot on the left hip." Attaching a second photo from another angle also helps.

The side or back view is off

Side and back views are generated from the front view. If the front view is cropped or the pose is unusual, the other angles have less to work from. Regenerate from a clearer, full-body front photo.

A real person looks too realistic

Choose a stylized project style, such as cartoon, anime, or watercolor, and say so in the description: "a friendly cartoon version of this person." A clearly stylized character is easier to keep consistent and avoids anything that could be mistaken for real footage.

Consent and rights

Only create characters from photos of yourself, people who have clearly agreed, or your own pets and artwork. Get a parent's permission before using a photo of someone else's child. Do not use photos of real people to make them appear to say or do things they did not. Stylized versions, like cartoon, anime, or watercolor, are a good default for real people, because the result is clearly a character rather than a fake recording.

FAQ

Will the character look exactly like my photo?

It will be a recognizable, stylized version. Distinctive features like hair color, markings, glasses, and clothing come through best. If something is missing, ask for it by name in a follow-up, such as "keep the gap in his teeth," and approve the updated preview.

Can I turn my pet into a cartoon video?

Yes. Upload a clear, full-body photo of your pet, ask for a cartoon character, and then put that character in scenes. It can even talk, with lip sync.

Can I turn a child's drawing into an animated character?

Yes. Photograph the drawing flat and upload it as the reference. Ask the agent to keep the drawing's shapes and colors and make it work as an animated character.

How many photos can I use?

Up to four images per message in the creation agent. Several angles of the same subject help the model understand it.

What replaced Sora cameos?

Since Sora shut down in 2026, creating a character from a photo in a story tool like Paintbrush is the closest way to put yourself or your friends into AI videos. See Sora alternatives.