Bring 2D AI Characters & Scenes To Life with Budget friendly options.

AIAnimation
10 Oct 202331:41

TLDRThis tutorial introduces an updated approach to animating 2D AI characters and scenes affordably. It explores cost-effective and free AI tools, including mesh magic AI, for image generation, character animation, and 3D environment creation. The video also covers premium tools like Adobe Creative Suite and presents methods for character animation, lip sync, and compositing in Adobe After Effects.

Takeaways

  • 🚀 Introduction of a new, potentially lower-cost method to animate 2D AI characters and scenes, referred to as 'version two'.
  • 🎨 Utilization of AI tools for image generation, such as stable diffusion and Dary 3, integrated into Bing's image Creator for creating character close-ups.
  • 🖼️ Use of ClipDrop.co and Firefly.com for image manipulation, including cropping and background removal to isolate characters and expand scenes.
  • 💡 Adobe Creative Suite, specifically Photoshop and After Effects, is highlighted for further character and scene enhancement.
  • 🛠️ Introduction of a self-developed tool called 'mesh magic AI' that aims to improve avatar creation and animation processes.
  • 🎥 Tutorial on using paid services like MidJourney for high-quality image generation and character removal.
  • 🌐 Mention of the evolving AI landscape, with a focus on the potential of Dary 3 as a strong contender.
  • 👾 Step-by-step guide on using Photoshop's AI features for object selection, layering, and creating high-resolution outputs.
  • 🏠 Creation of 3D environments from 2D images with the help of Zoe Depth on Hugging Face's platform.
  • 🎬 Use of Blender and Adobe After Effects for compositing 3D models, camera movements, and finalizing the animation.
  • 🤖 Exploration of different tools for animating character's lip-sync and facial expressions, like SAD Talker, Lamu Studio, and comparisons between DID and HAEN.

Q & A

  • What is the main focus of the AI animation tutorial?

    -The main focus of the AI animation tutorial is to showcase a new, potentially lower cost, and slightly simpler way to bring AI images of characters and scenes to life using various AI tools and techniques.

  • Which AI image generation tool can be used for free to create a close-up image of a character and scene?

    -Stable Diffusion can be used for free to create a close-up image of a character and scene.

  • How can the Dary 3 AI tool be accessed for image generation?

    -Dary 3 can be accessed for free via a Microsoft account on Bing's image Creator platform at bing.com/create.

  • What is the purpose of using Clip Drop's uncrop feature?

    -Clip Drop's uncrop feature is used to expand a square image generated by Dary 3 into a 16x9 aspect ratio, filling in the missing areas generatively.

  • How can the background be removed from a character image using Firefly AI?

    -Firefly AI can be used to remove the background by uploading the image, pressing the 'background' button, and using the 'paint out' feature to remove the character, leaving a version of the scene without the character.

  • What is the role of Adobe Photoshop in the tutorial?

    -Adobe Photoshop is used for generative fill, character removal, and creating a high-resolution JPEG or PNG image of the character and scene for use in further steps.

  • What is the Zoe Depth tool, and how is it utilized in the tutorial?

    -Zoe Depth is a free tool available on Hugging Face that estimates the depth of a 2D image and converts it into a 3D environment by distorting a flat plane with the depth map and applying the original image as a texture.

  • How can the 3D model created by Zoe Depth be further composed and animated using Blender?

    -The 3D model can be imported into Blender, a free open-source 3D software, where a camera can be added, the scene can be navigated, and the model can be rendered with adjusted materials and lighting to create a more dynamic and animated scene.

  • What are some AI tools mentioned for animating the character's lip sync and facial movements?

    -Some AI tools mentioned for animating lip sync and facial movements include Sad Talker, Lamu Studio, and paid options like Did and Haen.

  • How is Adobe After Effects used in the final compositing of the 3D scene and animated character?

    -Adobe After Effects is used to import the 3D model and animated character, apply effect keying to remove the green screen, adjust the position and scale of the character, and add camera movement and other effects to finalize the composited animation.

Outlines

00:00

🎨 Introduction to AI Animation Tutorial

The video begins with an introduction to a new AI animation tutorial series, highlighting an updated approach to animating AI-generated characters and scenes. The creator emphasizes the use of both low-cost and premium AI tools, including the Adobe Creative Suite and a self-developed tool called Mesh Magic AI. The video also mentions the utilization of AI-generated versions of the creator and invites viewers to subscribe for more content.

05:02

🖌️ Character and Scene Creation with AI Tools

This section delves into the process of creating a close-up image of a character and scene using AI image generation tools. The creator discusses various methods, including free options like Stable Diffusion and Dary 3, as well as paid services like MidJourney. The importance of using platforms like clipd drop.co and firefly.com for image manipulation is highlighted, along with the use of Adobe Express for background removal and character isolation. The paragraph concludes with a brief mention of the rapid evolution of these AI tools and their potential for high-quality results.

10:02

🎨 Enhancing and Importing Character Art with Photoshop

The creator demonstrates the use of Adobe Photoshop, particularly its latest version, to enhance the AI-generated character art. The process involves using the object selection tool to isolate the character, creating a new layer with a green background, and saving the image in high resolution. The video also covers the use of AI prompts to modify the image and replace elements, such as removing a coffee cup. The goal is to achieve a polished background and character image for further use in the animation process.

15:04

🌐 Creating a 3D Environment with Zoe Depth

This part of the tutorial focuses on transforming the 2D background image into a 3D environment using the Zoe Depth tool from hugging face. The creator explains the process of submitting the image, keeping occlusion edges, and obtaining a 3D model. The resulting model is previewed and downloaded in GLB format. The video also mentions the development of Mesh Magic AI, which is based on Zoe Depth's code and aims to provide additional features like texture swapping and video file support.

20:05

🚀 Compositing and Animation in Blender and After Effects

The creator discusses the process of importing the 3D model into Blender, a free open-source 3D software, and adjusting the model with color attributes and lighting. The video also covers the use of Adobe After Effects for compositing the 3D model, utilizing its new beta version's support for 3D file formats. The creator demonstrates how to navigate and animate the 3D scene using camera controls and keyframing, emphasizing the ease and speed of the workflow in After Effects.

25:06

💬 Animating Character Speech with AI Tools

The video explores different AI tools for animating character speech, including Sad Talker, Lamu Studio, and the paid options of Descript and Synthesia. The creator provides a detailed walkthrough of using Sad Talker on hugging face and Discord, as well as Lamu Studio for lip-syncing using a video clip. The video compares the output quality of Descript and Synthesia, noting that Descript may be better suited for less human-like characters. The creator concludes with a brief mention of the potential of these tools for AI animation artists.

30:07

🎞️ Final Compositing and Future Tool Development

The creator concludes the tutorial by importing the Descript-generated character animation into Adobe After Effects for final compositing. The process involves keying out the green screen, positioning the character in the 3D scene, and adjusting camera movements. The video also teases the development of Mesh Magic AI, which aims to improve upon Zoe Depth by allowing texture swapping and video file support for 3D mesh creation. The creator invites viewers to subscribe and join the community for more AI animation content.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡AI animation

AI animation refers to the process of creating animated content using artificial intelligence tools and techniques. In the context of the video, it involves using AI to bring 2D images of characters and scenes to life with a potentially lower cost and simplified approach. The video tutorial demonstrates various AI tools that can be utilized to achieve this, such as stable diffusion, Dary 3, and Adobe Creative Suite, among others.

💡2D characters and scenes

2D characters and scenes refer to two-dimensional representations of characters and environments in a flat, plane-like space commonly used in traditional animation and digital art. In the video, the focus is on using AI tools to animate these 2D images, giving them a more lifelike and dynamic appearance in the animation process.

💡Adobe Creative Suite

Adobe Creative Suite is a now-discontinued software suite developed by Adobe Inc. that includes graphic design, video editing, and web development applications. In the video, it is mentioned as a tool for editing and enhancing the AI-generated images and animations, particularly using Photoshop and After Effects for tasks such as character removal, background painting, and compositing 3D models.

💡Mesh Magic AI

Mesh Magic AI is a new tool being developed by the video creator that aims to enhance the AI animation process. It is designed to improve upon existing tools like Zoe Depth by allowing users to swap out textures and potentially create 3D meshes from video files, offering more control and flexibility in animating characters and scenes.

💡Zoe Depth

Zoe Depth is a free tool available on Hugging Face that uses AI to estimate the depth of a 2D image and convert it into a 3D model. This tool is employed in the video to create a 3D environment from a background image with the character painted out, which is then used for further compositing and animation.

💡Blender

Blender is a free and open-source 3D computer graphics software used for creating animations, visual effects, and 3D models. In the video, Blender is used to import the 3D model created by Zoe Depth and adjust its materials and lighting to prepare it for compositing with the animated character.

💡Adobe After Effects

Adobe After Effects is a digital visual effects, motion graphics, and compositing application developed by Adobe Systems and used in the post-production process of film making and video production. In the video, After Effects is utilized to composite the animated character into the 3D scene and create camera movements to enhance the final animation.

💡Sad Talker

Sad Talker is an AI tool mentioned in the video that can animate a character's face and lips to sync with an audio file. It is a low-cost or potentially free option for adding basic animation to characters, although the quality may not be as high as more premium services.

💡Lamu Studio

Lamu Studio is an AI animation platform that allows users to upload a video clip of a character and automatically generate lip-syncing animations. It is highlighted in the video as a promising tool for AI animators, offering a quick and easy way to add animated lip-syncing to character videos.

💡Deepfake

Deepfake refers to the use of AI algorithms to create realistic but faked audio or video content, often used to manipulate or generate new content from existing media. In the context of the video, deepfake technology is utilized to animate characters and create lifelike animations from 2D images.

Highlights

Introduction of a new, potentially lower cost and slightly simpler method to bring AI images of characters and scenes to life.

Use of AI tools for cost-effective character and scene animation, including both free and premium options.

Integration of Adobe Creative Suite, particularly Photoshop and After Effects, for advanced animation techniques.

Presentation of a new tool called Mesh Magic AI, developed by the creator for enhanced avatar creation.

Utilization of DALL-E 3 and Bing's Image Creator for generating character images at a lower cost.

Use of ClipDrop's uncrop feature to expand square images for a better visual format.

Inclusion of Firefly.com's AI for background removal and generative fill features.

Adobe Express as a free alternative for background removal and character isolation.

Mid Journey as a paid approach for high-quality character image generation.

Adobe Photoshop's AI features for object selection, image manipulation, and background replacement.

Zoe Depth from Hugging Face for creating 3D environments from 2D images at no cost.

Blender, a free open-source 3D software, for compositing and camera movement in 3D scenes.

Adobe After Effects' new beta version for improved 3D model support and workflow enhancement.

Sad Talker as a low-cost alternative for animating character's heads, blinking, and lip-sync.

Lamu Studio for adding animated lip-sync to characters using AI voice over.

Comparison between DID and HAEN for bringing animated characters to life, with a focus on output quality and cost-effectiveness.

Final compositing in Adobe After Effects to integrate the 3D model, animated character, and camera movement for a polished animation.

Introduction to Mesh Magic AI's potential features, such as texture swapping and video file conversion to 3D mesh.