How to create animated AI avatars

AI avatars are changing the way creators, marketers, and AI enthusiasts approach digital storytelling. In our latest Inspiring Session on Discord, we teamed up with our AI partner TechHalla to learn how to animate them. Using the Freepik AI Suite, we went through the full process—from designing a custom character to animating it with AI tools like Kling 1.6 and Mystic.

Missed it? No worries. You can watch how to create AI avatar animation by TechHalla on YouTube or follow this step-by-step guide to animate your own AI avatar.

What is an AI avatar?

People remember faces, not just words. An AI avatar makes your content more recognizable, builds trust, and helps you stand out in a sea of generic images. AI avatars give your digital presence a unique identity.

It’s basically your brand with a face. Not a stock photo. Not a smiley vector dude in a suit. A face people can actually connect with. And the best part? You don’t need a ring light, a camera, or even a good hair day.

How to use AI avatar: top use cases

For marketers, it keeps branding consistent across platforms—no need for expensive photoshoots or hiring talent every time. Just create one AI avatar for video, and you can repurpose it for everything: a slick AI avatar for presentation, a relatable AI avatar for social media, and even a polished AI avatar for meetings.

For content creators, it’s a no-brainer. If you’re posting daily or going live, having an AI avatar for streaming means you can show up, look great, and keep things on-brand—without even opening your camera.

And honestly, it saves so much time. No more designing from scratch or scrolling through awkward stock photos. Just generate your avatar, tweak it to match your style, and you’re good to go.

How to create an AI avatar: step-by-step guide

If you wonder how to create an avatar with AI that actually looks consistent across different images and animations, Freepik Custom Characters is the way to go. No more regenerating random versions every time—you create it once, and it keeps the same look, no matter the pose or expression. Here’s how to do it:

• Head to the Custom Characters tool and hit Start creating.
• Upload your reference images: AI learns best when it has variety, so grab 12 to 24 images of your character from different angles with different expressions. The more variety, the better the results.
• Once you upload, the tool processes the images and builds a version of your AI avatar that stays consistent no matter what.
• Start prompting and experimenting with the AI Image Generator. Now you can generate different poses, outfits, and styles while keeping your character’s recognizable look. 

Tip: Use Mystic mode to get your images in 2K resolution right away.

How to animate an avatar: make it move!

Now that you have your custom AI avatar, it’s time to animate it. The Freepik AI Video Generator makes this process simple, letting you add movement without complex software or animation skills. Here’s how to do it:

• Select the generated image of your custom character. Make sure its expression and pose match the animation you want to create.
• Click on Reuse image and then on Create video
• Select the mode that fits you best. Freepik offers multiple animation modes. We recommend Kling 1.6 for smooth, realistic movement.
• Choose the aspect ratio and add camera movements for better control over your video.
• Time to prompt. The key to a great AI-generated video is a clear and detailed prompt. Describe the scene, actions, and mood you want, and don’t forget to mention @character to keep your avatar consistent. Try creating a talking AI avatar!
• Finalize and export. Once your animation looks just right, export your video and use it for social media, branding, or any creative project. 

And that’s it—your AI avatar is now in motion! With the Freepik AI avatar generator, animating your character is quick, intuitive, and doesn’t require advanced skills. Keep experimenting with different prompts and modes to get the best results, and most importantly—have fun creating!

Keep creating with the Freepik Discord community

If you found this tutorial helpful, just imagine the inspiration waiting for you in our Discord community. It’s where creators, AI enthusiasts, and marketers come together to share ideas, test new tools, and explore AI possibilities.

For all the details on animating your avatar, watch the full workshop on how to create AI avatar animation on YouTube. And if you’re looking for more, we’ve got plenty of Inspiring Sessions and workshops coming up, covering everything AI-related.

Don’t miss the ongoing challenge on Discord—post your AI avatar for a chance to win credits for your next creations. Jump in, share your work, and see what others are creating. See you on Discord!