How to Create Consistent AI Characters Across Images and Video
You have a character you like. Here’s how to keep that person recognizable in the next image—and check the result before moving into video.
One reference, carried into an image and a clip
This existing Character Builder example follows a woman with curly red hair, a patterned headscarf and an oversized dark T-shirt. Compare those details at each step.
The reference
An eight-panel sheet gives you several views of the face, outfit and silhouette.
The scene
Place the character in a new setting with Nano Banana. Compare the face and clothing with the sheet before moving into video.
The motion
Play the existing LTX 2.3 Pro example. Watch the face, headscarf and shirt throughout the movement.
This example shows the reference, the scene image and the video. Results depend on your inputs and the movement you request; inspect the full clip before reusing it.
Start with a reference you would be happy to use again. Then change the scene around the character, review the still, and only move into video when that frame works. Repeating a description alone gives the model room to reinterpret the face and outfit.
Need to create the reference first? Character Builder makes a portrait reference or an eight-panel sheet. This guide explains how to use that result and spot what changes.
Choose the reference for the shot
| Your next shot | Start with | Check before generating |
|---|---|---|
| A close-up or a talking character | A clear portrait | Face shape, hairline, eyes and distinguishing details |
| A wide shot with a recognizable outfit | A full-body view | Silhouette, clothing, footwear and accessories |
| Several angles or a storyboard | A character sheet for planning, then the relevant view | Front, profile and back agree on the same design |
An eight-panel sheet is useful for seeing the whole character. It is not automatically the best file to upload to every model. A model may treat it as a collage or mix details between panels. Use the portrait or full-body view that fits your shot, and check which inputs the selected model accepts.
For the sheet-building step, see how to make an eight-panel character reference.
Build the next scene in four steps
1. Pick the identity you want to keep
Use a clear photo or a previous render you trust. Decide which details matter: face, hair, outfit, silhouette or a particular accessory. If wardrobe must match, include a view where it is visible. Avoid asking a small or obscured face to carry the whole identity.
2. Describe what changes in the scene
Attach the reference in a workflow that supports image input. Describe the action, setting and framing separately from the details you want to keep. Start with one change so you can see where continuity begins to slip.
Prompt to adapt, not the recorded prompt of the example above:
Use the attached image as the character reference. Keep her curly red hair, patterned headscarf, oversized dark T-shirt and green cargo trousers. At a skatepark, she turns toward a friend just outside the frame and lifts one headphone from her ear. Waist-up, eye-level framing, soft late-afternoon light. Keep the face clearly visible.
Change the setting or action to fit your story. If the first result changes the face, simplify the angle or composition before adding more instructions.
3. Compare the still with the reference
Look at the two images together. Check the jaw and nose, hairline, clothing shapes and the details that make this character recognizable. A similar colour palette is not enough. Reject or edit an image that already loses the identity; it is a weak starting point for motion.
4. Animate the frame that works
For image-to-video, use the approved scene image as the starting frame. Begin with a short shot and a simple action. Review the beginning, middle and end, especially when the head turns, a hand crosses the face or the subject becomes small in frame.
Reference-image video modes and image-to-video are different inputs. Check the selected model’s modes and limits before uploading a sheet or several images. A reference helps guide the result; it does not lock every frame.
When the character changes, fix the specific problem
| What you notice | What to try next |
|---|---|
| A different-looking face after changing the angle | Use a clearer view closer to the intended angle; simplify the shot |
| The face matches, but the outfit changes | Add a relevant full-body reference if supported, or correct the still before animation |
| A character sheet appears as a grid in the result | Use one suitable panel instead of the whole sheet |
| The still looks right, but the face drifts in motion | Reduce movement or occlusion and test a shorter shot |
| Small accessories disappear | Make them visible in the reference and check whether they are essential at that framing |
These are troubleshooting steps, not guaranteed fixes. Keep the same reference and change one thing at a time so you can judge what helped.
Questions before your next generation
How many reference images do I need?
Start with one clear reference for a workflow that accepts a single image. Add another view when it resolves a specific problem, such as a profile or an outfit in a wide shot. Check the model’s input limit first. More references do not automatically improve consistency.
Should I upload the whole character sheet?
Keep the full sheet as your design reference. For generation, choose the portrait, full-body view or other panel that fits the shot and the supported inputs. A sheet helps you plan; it does not guarantee that a model will interpret all eight panels correctly.
Why does the face change when I turn an image into video?
Check the starting image first. A small or obscured face, a new angle or a demanding movement can make continuity harder. Try a short, simpler shot and inspect the face and outfit throughout the clip before extending the sequence.
Do I need this for a single image?
Not necessarily. If the character will never return, direct prompting may be enough. A reusable reference is most useful when the same person, mascot or outfit needs to appear again.
Make the next useful asset
If you still need the character, open Character Builder. If you already have a reference, create the next scene in Image. When that still is ready, choose a video model with the input mode your shot needs.