DomoAI · Talking Avatar

DomoAI Talking Avatar

Create a speaking character from one image

Give your anime OC, mascot, pet or portrait a voice. Upload one front-facing image, add a script or audio, and DomoAI animates the mouth, expressions and small head movements to match. This guide covers what to upload, how to write for a character, and a step-by-step workflow.

1 image+ voice
6 × 6TTS emotions × tones
≈ 60 sto render 5 s

What you’ll need

  • One front-facing imageCharacter art, mascot, pet or portrait
  • A short scriptWritten for speech, ideally 5–30 s
  • A voiceText-to-speech, MP3/WAV/M4A up to 80 MB, or record
  • A DomoAI accountFree starter credits are enough to test
Create a free account
Who can speak

Any character with a visible face

DomoAI works with photos, drawings and pets. It supports anime styles (Japanese, flat-color, detailed), original characters and 50+ visual styles.

01

Anime & OC characters

Your original character as a channel host or storyteller.

02

VTuber avatars

Short talking clips for intros, shorts and announcements.

03

Brand mascots

A consistent spokescharacter for ads, onboarding and support.

04

Pets & animals

A front-facing pet photo, ready for funny voiceovers.

05

Teachers & guides

Classroom mascots and e-learning presenters.

06

Real portraits

Your own face, or someone who has given clear consent.

Specs

Talking Avatar at a glance

A character speaking with DomoAI Talking Avatar
ImageHigh-resolution, front-facing, clear facial features, mouth closed or neutral
Voice optionsText-to-speech (6 emotions, 6 voice tones), audio upload or record in the browser
Audio formatsMP3, WAV, M4A, up to 80 MB
LengthUp to 60 s (Talking Avatar up to 60 s on the Pro plan; API: 1–60 s)
Aspect ratios16:9, 9:16, 1:1, 4:3, 3:4 (API)
OutputUp to 1080p; 4K with the Video Upscaler
Render timeAbout 60 s for a 5 s clip; 60 s videos can take 10–15 min at peak times
Lip syncAutomatic, via Lip Sync Auto Match
A
The image

Design a character that can talk

The image matters most. A clear, readable mouth gives natural lip sync, and a messy face gives warped results.

Use
  • One face, looking toward the camera
  • Clear lower face: lips and jaw readable
  • Mouth resting closed or neutral
  • Even lighting, no heavy shadow on the mouth
  • Space around head and shoulders for subtle motion
  • High resolution (upscale small art first)
Avoid
  • Extreme side angles or profile views
  • Tiny faces in a wide shot
  • Hands, microphones or hair over the mouth
  • Group images: crop to one face
  • Heavy filters that smooth away detail

For anime and OCs: generate a clean front-facing headshot on a plain background with the Image Generator, then keep that exact image as your character’s “anchor” for every video.

B
The voice

Give your character a voice that fits

OptionBest forGet it right
Text-to-speechFast tests, recurring characters, multilingual clipsPick 1 of 6 emotions and 1 of 6 tones that match the character’s look
Upload audioYour voice, a voice actor or a cleared voice toolMP3, WAV or M4A up to 80 MB; one speaker, no music, no echo
Record in browserQuick personal messagesQuiet room, mic 15–20 cm away, speak a little slower than usual

Add music after export, not under the voice during generation. Background music confuses lip sync.

Interactive

Character script planner

Paste your character’s lines. The planner estimates the length, flags hard-to-say parts, suggests settings, and lists the four moments to check in your test clip.

Character
Personality
Platform
0 sestimated length
10 s30 s60 s
Check these 4 moments in your test clip
    Optional prompt
    Step by step

    How to create a speaking character

    Tool overview →
    1. 01

      Prepare the character

      One front-facing, high-resolution image with a clear, closed mouth.

    2. 02

      Write for speech

      Short sentences and natural pauses. About 2–2.5 words per second.

    3. 03

      Open Talking Avatar

      In the DomoAI web app, upload the image and add text-to-speech, an audio file or a recording.

    4. 04

      Test 5–12 s first

      Check the four key moments before spending credits on the full length.

    5. 05

      Generate the full clip

      Up to 60 s (Pro). Split longer scripts into several clips.

    6. 06

      Finish & export

      Upscale to 4K if needed, then add captions, music and cutaways in your editor.

    Character ideas

    4 speaking characters to make today

    Each comes with a ready script. Copy it, swap in your details, and go.

    10 s · CheerfulAnime channel host

    Anime channel host

    Hey everyone! I read every comment from last week, and today I’m answering your top three questions. Let’s go!

    15 s · FriendlyBrand mascot

    Brand mascot welcome

    Hi, I’m Pip! Welcome aboard. In the next minute, I’ll show you the three things everyone loves first. Ready? Tap below to start.

    8 s · PlayfulPet voiceover

    Pet voiceover

    Excuse me. It is exactly dinner time. Not five minutes from now. Now.

    15 s · CalmLanguage teacher mascot

    Language mascot

    Today’s phrase is “Buenos días”, which means good morning. Say it with me: Buenos días. Try it on someone today!

    Troubleshooting

    Why your character looks unnatural, and how to fix it

    ProblemReal causeFix
    Face drifts off-characterWeak source imageUse a clearer portrait with a readable mouth area
    Lips out of syncMusic, noise or fast speech in the audioClean voice-only audio; slow the delivery slightly
    Voice feels detachedPace or emotion doesn’t match the faceRewrite the script or change the TTS emotion and tone
    Overacting or freezingBusy action promptAsk for one visible action with clear timing
    Looks roboticFlat voice or empty promptAdd one intentional expression cue, not “be emotional”
    Final video feels fakeOne long, unedited avatar shotUse shorter avatar segments with captions and cutaways
    Export

    Finish for each platform

    Creator guide →
    PlatformShapeIdeal lengthFinishing touch
    TikTok / Reels / Shorts9:1610–30 sBold captions and a hook in the first second
    YouTube16:95–10 s host segmentsCut between the character and your main footage
    Website16:9 or 1:115–30 sAutoplay muted with burned-in subtitles
    E-learning16:930–60 s per lessonPair with slides or on-screen bullet points

    Automate with the API

    Developers can create speaking characters with POST /v1/video/talking-avatar. Send an image (or video) and audio, plus 1–60 seconds, an optional prompt, an aspect ratio and a callback URL.

    Domo API guide →

    Use voices and faces responsibly

    Only animate faces and voices you own or have clear permission to use. Never impersonate a real person or create misleading deepfakes, and label AI-generated content where platforms require it.

    Terms & usage policy →
    How do I make a character talk with DomoAI?

    Upload one front-facing image of your character to Talking Avatar, add a voice (text-to-speech, an audio file or a recording) and generate. DomoAI animates the mouth, expressions and small head movements to match the speech.

    Does it work with anime characters, mascots and pets?

    Yes. DomoAI supports photos, character drawings and pet photos, including Japanese anime, flat-color anime, detailed anime and original character styles, as long as the face is front-facing and the mouth area is visible.

    What audio can I use?

    Text-to-speech with 6 emotions and 6 voice tones, your own recording, or an uploaded MP3, WAV or M4A file up to 80 MB. Use voice-only audio and add music later in your editor.

    How long can a talking character video be?

    Up to 60 seconds. In the app, 60-second Talking Avatar clips come with the Pro plan, and the API accepts 1–60 seconds. Split longer scripts into several clips.

    How many words fit in a clip?

    People speak about 2–2.5 words per second: roughly 12 words for 5 s, 25 for 10 s, 75 for 30 s and 140 for 60 s.

    How long does it take to render?

    A 5-second clip usually takes about 60 seconds. Longer 60-second videos can take 10–15 minutes at peak times.

    Why does my character look unnatural?

    It’s usually the inputs: a face that isn’t front-facing, a hidden or shadowed mouth, music or noise in the audio, or a voice that doesn’t match the character. Fix the image and audio first, then add one clear expression cue.

    Can I make a real person talk?

    Only yourself, or someone who has given clear permission. Never impersonate a real person or create misleading deepfakes, and label AI content where platforms require it.

    Your character is ready to talk.

    One image, one script, about a minute to render. Start with free credits.

    Start Creating Free Plan my script