Have you ever seen AI-generated avatars that just sit still while talking? Sure, they look cool, but let’s be honest—it feels a little stiff and lifeless.
What if your AI avatar could do more? Imagine an avatar that not only speaks but also gets up, moves, and even walks around naturally—just like a real person.
Well, that’s exactly what you’ll learn in this guide.
In this step-by-step tutorial, I’ll show you how to create a fully expressive AI avatar using the free AI tools.
By the end of this guide, you’ll have a fully animated AI avatar that can do way more than just talk—it’ll feel real, engaging, and full of life.
Whether you’re a YouTuber, content creator, or just exploring AI animation, this method will take your projects to the next level.
You can also watch this video below for full tutorial.
Step 1: Creating a Realistic AI Avatar
Now that we know what we’re aiming for, the first step is to create a high-quality AI avatar that will serve as the foundation for our animation.
For this, we’ll be using Leonardo AI, one of the best AI image-generation tools available for creating hyper-realistic character images. But before jumping into Leonardo AI, we need a detailed prompt to get the best possible results.
Generate a Detailed AI Avatar Prompt Using ChatGPT
One of the biggest mistakes people make when generating AI images is not giving enough detail in their prompts. The more specific the prompt, the better and more realistic the image will be.
Instead of guessing what to write, we can let ChatGPT generate a perfect prompt for us. Here’s how:
Step 1: Open ChatGPT
- Go to ChatGPT (preferably GPT-4 for better results).
- Type the following prompt to generate a highly detailed description of your AI avatar:
📌 ChatGPT Prompt:
“I want to generate a realistic AI avatar for my YouTube channel. The avatar should feature a young male in a studio environment. Please create a detailed and specific prompt that I can use with an AI image generation tool (like Leonardo AI) to create this avatar. Include details about the character’s appearance, clothing, expression, and the studio setting. The setting should be clean and not overcomplicate different elements. Make sure the prompt is clear and descriptive enough to produce a high-quality, realistic image.”
Step 2: Copy the Generated Prompt
- ChatGPT will return a detailed character description, covering elements like:
✔ Facial features (hair, eyes, skin tone, beard)
✔ Clothing style (casual, professional, or specific outfits)
✔ Expression & Pose (smiling, serious, confident)
✔ Background & Environment (studio setup, lighting) - Copy this text and save it—you’ll use it in Leonardo AI next.
1.2 Generate the Avatar Image in Leonardo AI
Now that we have our detailed prompt, it’s time to generate the actual AI avatar image.
Step 1: Open Leonardo AI
- Visit Leonardo AI’s official website and log in.
- Navigate to the AI Image Generation section.
Step 2: Paste the Prompt
- In the text box, paste the ChatGPT-generated prompt to ensure all details are captured.
Step 3: Adjust Image Generation Settings
To get the best results, tweak the settings as follows:
✅ Model: Leonardo Diffusion XL (Best for high-quality realistic portraits)
✅ Image Count: 4 (Generate multiple options to choose from)
✅ Guidance Scale: 7-8 (Balanced creativity and realism)
✅ Style: Photorealistic (Ensures a realistic character appearance)
✅ Aspect Ratio: 16:9 (Optimized for video animation)
(Tip: If the first results don’t look perfect, tweak the prompt slightly and regenerate.)
Step 4: Select the Best Image
- Look at the generated images and pick the one that looks most natural and fits the character vision.
- Ensure that facial features, lighting, and background match your expectations.
- Avoid images that look too artificial or have weird distortions.
(If necessary, adjust the prompt slightly and re-run the generation to refine results.)
✅ At this point, you have a high-quality AI avatar ready! But before we move on to animating it, we need to enhance the image quality to make sure it looks crisp and professional when it moves.
Step 2: Upscaling the AI Image for Better Animation Quality
Now that we have a high-quality AI-generated avatar, the next step is to increase its resolution to ensure it looks crisp and professional when animated.
Why is this important? When an image is animated, lower-resolution details can become blurry, pixelated, or distorted—especially in facial features, hair, and background elements. Upscaling enhances these details, making the final animation much smoother and more realistic.
For this, we’ll use Leonardo AI’s built-in upscaling feature to improve the image quality before moving on to the animation stage.
2.1 Why Upscaling Matters for AI Animation
When working with AI-generated images, the default resolution might not be high enough for animation tools like Kling. Here’s what upscaling does:
✔ Enhances facial details – Sharper eyes, smoother skin textures, and realistic shadows.
✔ Improves resolution – Prevents pixelation when the image moves.
✔ Refines background elements – Makes studio equipment, lighting, and textures appear clearer.
✔ Optimizes for video output – Ensures the animation looks crisp, even at 1080p or 4K.
2.2 How to Upscale the AI Image in Leonardo AI
Now, let’s upscale the selected avatar image using Leonardo AI’s Upscaler.
Step 1: Open Leonardo AI & Select Your Image
- Navigate back to Leonardo AI and go to the “Your Images” section.
- Click on the image you selected in Step 1.
Step 2: Choose the Upscale Option
- Once the image is open, look for the “Upscale” button below it.
- Click Upscale to enhance the image’s resolution.
Step 3: Select the Right Upscaling Option
Leonardo AI provides multiple upscaling options. Choose the best one based on your needs:
✅ 4X Upscale (Best Option) – Sharpens the image without making it look artificial.
✅ 2X Upscale – Good for minor resolution enhancements.
✅ Face Detail Enhancement – Recommended if the facial features need extra sharpening.
(Tip: If the image already has good details, a 2X upscale might be enough.)
Step 4: Wait for Processing & Review the Result
- Leonardo AI will take a few seconds to upscale the image.
- Compare the before and after versions by zooming in on key areas:
✔ Facial details – Are the eyes, lips, and skin smoother and clearer?
✔ Edges – Are there any distortions or artifacts?
✔ Background – Does it still look natural?
(If the upscaled version looks too artificial, you can regenerate with slightly lower settings.)
2.3 What to Do If the Image Still Needs Improvements
If the upscaled image still has blurry spots, distortions, or unnatural elements, here’s what you can do:
1️⃣ Refine the Image Using AI Editing Tools
- Use tools like Topaz Gigapixel AI or Photoshop’s Super Resolution for extra refinement.
2️⃣ Adjust the Prompt & Regenerate
- If the lighting or facial details don’t look right, tweak the original Leonardo AI prompt and try again.
3️⃣ Try a Different Upscaling Setting
- If the 4X upscale is too sharp, try a 2X upscale for a more natural look.
✅ At this point, we now have a high-quality, upscaled AI avatar that’s ready for animation!
Now comes the exciting part—animating our avatar so it actually talks, stands, and walks!
Step 3: Animating the AI Avatar in Kling
Now that we have a high-resolution AI avatar, it’s time to bring it to life! In this step, we’ll use Kling AI to animate the avatar so that it talks, stands up, and walks while speaking.
Kling AI allows us to animate static images using AI-generated movements. To get the best results, we’ll use precise animation prompts and make sure our avatar moves naturally—without robotic glitches or awkward facial expressions.
3.1 Understanding Kling AI & How It Works
Before jumping into the animation, here’s a quick overview of how Kling AI works:
✔ Transforms static images into animated videos
✔ Uses text prompts to control movements
✔ Allows adding AI-generated voice syncing
✔ Can animate realistic facial expressions and gestures
To achieve a natural, human-like animation, we’ll break this process into three clips:
1️⃣ First Clip: The avatar talks while sitting.
2️⃣ Second Clip: The avatar stands up while continuing to talk.
3️⃣ Third Clip: The avatar walks while talking for a dynamic effect.
Each clip will transition seamlessly into the next, making the final video look smooth and professional.
3.2 Creating the First Clip – Talking & Hand Gestures
Step 1: Upload the Upscaled Image to Kling AI
- Open Kling AI and navigate to the AI Videos section.
- Click Upload Image and select the upscaled avatar from Step 2.
Step 2: Use the Right Animation Prompt
📌 Prompt:
“Static shot of a man talking, looking straight into the camera and demonstrating with his hands gently. His facial expressions change naturally to match speech, and his eye contact remains steady. The movement is smooth and lifelike.”
This ensures that the avatar appears natural and avoids looking too robotic.
Step 3: Add a Negative Prompt to Avoid AI Glitches
To prevent unnatural facial movements, weird eye shifts, or stiff gestures, add a negative prompt:
📌 Negative Prompt:
“Avoid stiff, jerky movements, unnatural eye blinking, robotic facial expressions, exaggerated lip sync errors, or hand gestures that feel forced.”
Step 4: Generate the Talking Animation
- Click Generate and wait for the AI to process the animation.
- This might take a few seconds, depending on the complexity of the motion.
Step 5: Review the First Animation Clip
- Watch the generated animation and check for any weird glitches or unnatural movements.
- If the animation looks off, tweak the prompt and regenerate.
- Ensure that the mouth movements match natural speech patterns and that the hand gestures look smooth.
Once you’re satisfied, download the video and move on to the next step—making the avatar stand up while talking.
Creating the Second Clip – Standing Up While Talking
Step 1: Capture the Last Frame for a Seamless Transition
- Play the first animation clip and pause at the last frame.
- Take a screenshot of the avatar sitting just before it stands up.
- Save the screenshot as “standing_transition_frame.png”—this will be used for the next animation.
Step 2: Upload the Last Frame to Kling
- Go back to Kling AI and upload the “standing_transition_frame.png”.
- This ensures that the standing animation starts exactly where the previous clip ended, making the transition smooth.
Step 3: Use the Right Standing Animation Prompt
📌 Prompt:
“Man getting up naturally from his chair while still looking at the camera and continuing to talk. His movements are smooth and fluid, with slight posture adjustments as he stands. His hands move naturally to match his speech, and his facial expressions remain engaging.”
Step 4: Add a Negative Prompt to Avoid Awkward Movement
📌 Negative Prompt:
“Avoid stiff or robotic movements, unnatural body distortions, jerky arm motions, awkward facial expressions, sudden eye shifts, or unnatural pauses.”
Step 5: Generate the Standing Animation
- Click Generate and wait for Kling to process the movement.
- Review the animation to check if the standing motion looks natural and fluid.
- If needed, tweak the prompt and regenerate.
Once you’re happy with the standing animation, download the clip and proceed to the final step—making the avatar walk while talking.
3.4 Creating the Third Clip – Walking While Talking
Step 1: Capture the Last Frame for a Seamless Transition
- Pause the standing animation clip at its last frame and take a screenshot.
- Save the image as “walking_transition_frame.png”.
Step 2: Upload the Last Frame to Kling
- Go to Kling AI and upload the “walking_transition_frame.png”.
Step 3: Use the Right Walking Animation Prompt
📌 Prompt:
“Man starts walking forward slowly while continuing to talk, maintaining eye contact with the camera. His hands move subtly and naturally, matching the rhythm of his speech. His posture is relaxed, and his facial expressions are engaging.”
Step 4: Add a Negative Prompt to Prevent Weird Walking Glitches
📌 Negative Prompt:
“Avoid unnatural or stiff walking movements, exaggerated arm swinging, sudden jerky motions, robotic pacing, or awkward facial expressions.”
Step 5: Generate the Walking Animation
- Click Generate and wait for Kling to process the motion.
- Review the animation and ensure the walking looks natural and fluid.
- If the motion feels stiff or unnatural, tweak the prompt and regenerate.
Once satisfied, download the final clip—now you have all three animations ready!
3.5 What to Do If the Animations Don’t Look Right
If your avatar’s movements don’t look natural, here’s how to fix them:
1️⃣ Regenerate with a More Specific Prompt – Sometimes, tweaking the wording of your prompt improves movement accuracy.
2️⃣ Adjust the Negative Prompt – If an animation has a specific glitch (e.g., weird hands, stiff face), modify the negative prompt to eliminate the issue.
3️⃣ Try a Different AI Model – Kling occasionally updates its AI models. If one version doesn’t work well, try another.
4️⃣ Manually Edit Small Mistakes – If an animation is 90% perfect, you can use video editing software to cut or fix minor glitches.
✅ At this point, you now have three realistic animation clips:
1️⃣ Talking while sitting
2️⃣ Standing up while talking
3️⃣ Walking while talking
Next, we’ll add a professional AI voice-over to sync with the animations for a fully polished AI video!
Step 4: Adding a Realistic Voice-Over Using ElevenLabs
Now that our AI avatar moves naturally, the next step is to give it a realistic voice that matches the animation. A high-quality voice-over is crucial because it makes the AI character feel more human and engaging rather than just another robotic avatar.
For this, we’ll use ElevenLabs, one of the best AI voice-generation tools for creating lifelike speech with natural intonation, pauses, and expression.
4.2 Generating the AI Voice in ElevenLabs
Step 1: Open ElevenLabs & Create an Account
- Go to ElevenLabs.io and log in or sign up.
- Navigate to the Text-to-Speech (TTS) tool.
Step 2: Paste the Avatar’s Script
- Copy and paste the script that the avatar will say.
- Make sure to break the text into short, natural sentences for better pacing.
📌 Example Voice Script:
“Hey, have you ever wanted an AI avatar that actually moves and talks like a real person? Well, today, I’ll show you how to create one—from making an avatar, animating it, and even making it walk!”
Step 3: Select the Best AI Voice Model
ElevenLabs offers different AI voices with varying tones and emotions. To make the voice-over feel realistic, choose:
✅ A voice that fits the character (casual, professional, or energetic).
✅ A natural speaking pace (not too fast or robotic).
✅ Proper intonations and pauses (avoid monotone delivery).
(Tip: You can test multiple voices and select the most natural one.)
Step 4: Generate & Download the Voice File
- Click Generate Audio and wait for processing.
- Listen to the result and check if it sounds natural and engaging.
- If needed, adjust the text formatting (add commas, dashes, or pauses) to refine speech flow.
- Download the voice-over file in MP3 or WAV format.
4.3 Syncing the Voice-Over with the Animation
Now that we have the voice-over ready, we need to match it perfectly with the animation clips.
Step 1: Open Kling AI’s Lip Sync Feature
- Go back to Kling AI and select the Lip Sync tool.
- Upload the first animation clip (talking while sitting).
Step 2: Upload the Matching Voice Clip
- Upload the first voice-over segment that matches this clip.
- Adjust the timing and alignment to make sure the lip movements match the words accurately.
📌 Steps to Ensure Perfect Lip Sync:
✅ Adjust the speech speed if necessary.
✅ Make sure the mouth opens and closes naturally with each sentence.
✅ Avoid over-exaggerated or delayed mouth movements.
Step 3: Generate & Review the Lip-Synced Clip
- Click Generate and let Kling process the talking animation with voice synchronization.
- Watch the preview and check for any misalignment or awkward timing.
Step 4: Repeat for the Standing & Walking Clips
- Upload the standing animation and match it with the second voice-over segment.
- Upload the walking animation and sync it with the final voice-over part.
- Generate each clip and make adjustments if needed.
(Tip: If the timing feels slightly off, use video editing software to manually fine-tune it.)
4.4 What to Do If the Voice Doesn’t Sound Right
If the AI voice doesn’t sound natural, here’s how to fix it:
1️⃣ Adjust the Punctuation in the Script
- Add commas, ellipses (…) or dashes (–) to create better pauses.
- Example:
- ❌ “Hey have you ever wanted an AI avatar that moves and talks like a real person well today I’ll show you how.”
- ✅ “Hey… have you ever wanted an AI avatar that moves and talks like a real person? Well, today—I’ll show you how.”
2️⃣ Choose a Different AI Voice
- Some AI voices sound too robotic or monotonous.
- Experiment with different voices until you find one that fits your character best.
3️⃣ Adjust the Speech Speed
- If the voice sounds too fast or too slow, tweak the speed setting in ElevenLabs before generating again.
✅ At this point, your AI avatar has fully synced speech and movement!
Now, it’s time for the final step—editing everything together into a polished AI-generated video.
Step 5: Editing the Final AI Video for a Professional Look
Now that we have our animated AI avatar clips with synced voice-over, it’s time to edit everything together into a polished video. This step is crucial because it ensures that the transitions between the clips look seamless, the pacing is right, and the final video feels smooth and professional.
For this, we’ll use video editing software like Adobe Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, CapCut, or Final Cut Pro. You can use any tool you’re comfortable with, but the process remains the same.
5.1 Importing the Animated Clips into Your Video Editor
Step 1: Open Your Video Editing Software
- Open Adobe Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, CapCut, or any editor of your choice.
- Create a new project and set the resolution to 1920×1080 (Full HD) or 4K (if upscaled).
Step 2: Import the Animation Clips
- Drag and drop the three AI-generated animation clips into the timeline:
✅ Talking Clip (Avatar sitting and speaking)
✅ Standing Clip (Avatar getting up)
✅ Walking Clip (Avatar walking while talking) - Also import the voice-over files in MP3 or WAV format if they haven’t already been added.
5.2 Aligning the Clips for Seamless Transitions
Now, let’s make sure all clips flow smoothly into each other without awkward cuts.
Step 1: Trim Any Unnecessary Pauses
- Watch each animation carefully and cut out any unnatural pauses where the avatar stops moving suddenly.
- Adjust the clip start and end points so they transition smoothly.
Step 2: Blend Transitions Between Clips
- Add subtle fade-in and fade-out effects between each clip.
- Use a crossfade transition between the sitting and standing clips to make it look more natural.
- Make sure there are no jerky jumps in motion.
Step 3: Match the Voice Syncing Perfectly
- If needed, nudge the voice-over track slightly to match the mouth movements more accurately.
- If Kling’s lip sync wasn’t perfect, you can fine-tune it here.
(Tip: If there’s a small mismatch in lip sync, cut and adjust the animation slightly to match the audio.)
5.3 Enhancing the Video with Visual & Audio Effects
Now, let’s make the video look and sound more professional.
Step 1: Adjust the Lighting & Color Correction
- Apply a mild color correction to make sure the lighting is consistent across all clips.
- If needed, tweak the brightness, contrast, and saturation to enhance realism.
Step 2: Add Subtitles for Better Engagement
- Open the text tool in your video editor and add captions for the dialogue.
- Use a bold, readable font like Montserrat or Open Sans.
- Position subtitles at the bottom center of the video to avoid blocking the avatar’s face.
(Tip: You can use AI-generated captions from Kapwing, Descript, or Premiere Pro’s Auto-Captions for faster workflow.)
Step 3: Add Background Music & Sound Effects
- Import background music that fits the tone of the video (avoid overly loud or distracting music).
- Reduce the music volume so it doesn’t overpower the dialogue (-25 to -30 dB is ideal).
- Add subtle sound effects (like footsteps during walking scenes) to enhance realism.
5.4 Final Export & Video Optimization for YouTube
Once the video looks perfect, it’s time to export the final version.
- Go to File > Export and choose the following settings:
✅ Format: MP4 (H.264 Codec)
✅ Resolution: 1920×1080 (Full HD) or 4K
✅ Frame Rate: 30 FPS (or 60 FPS for smoother motion)
✅ Bitrate: 10-20 Mbps for HD, 40+ Mbps for 4K
✅ Audio: AAC, 320 kbps for clear voice quality
(Tip: If uploading to YouTube, use a higher bitrate (15-20 Mbps) to prevent compression loss.)
Congratulations! 🎉 You’ve now learned how to create, animate, and voice-sync a fully interactive AI avatar that talks, stands up, and even walks while speaking.
By following this step-by-step process, you’ve gone from a static AI-generated image to a dynamic, engaging video character that can be used for YouTube content, presentations, marketing, or storytelling.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How do I make my AI avatar talk?
To make an AI avatar talk, follow these steps:
- Generate a realistic AI character using Leonardo AI.
- Use Kling AI to animate the character’s mouth and facial expressions.
- Create a voice-over in ElevenLabs and sync it with the animation in Kling.
- Edit the video in a video editing software to refine the final output.
2. How do I create my own AI avatar?
You can create an AI avatar using AI image-generation tools like:
1️⃣ Leonardo AI – Best for realistic character creation.
2️⃣ Midjourney or Stable Diffusion – Alternative tools for custom avatars.
3️⃣ Face Animation Tools (Kling AI, Hailaou AI) – To make the avatar move and speak.
4️⃣ Voice AI (ElevenLabs) – To give the avatar a realistic voice.
Simply generate the image, animate it, and sync the voice to bring it to life!
3. How do I make an AI picture speak?
To make an AI-generated picture speak, follow these steps:
- Create the AI picture in Leonardo AI.
- Upload the image to Kling AI and use the Lip Sync feature.
- Generate a voice-over using ElevenLabs or another AI voice tool.
- Sync the voice and animation in Kling or a video editing software.
- Export the final video, and your AI picture will now speak!
4. How do you make a voice avatar?
A voice avatar is an AI-generated character with a custom AI voice. You can create one by:
1️⃣ Generating an AI character in Leonardo AI.
2️⃣ Choosing an AI voice model in ElevenLabs or another voice cloning tool.
3️⃣ Animating the avatar’s lip movements using Kling AI.
4️⃣ Syncing the AI-generated voice with the avatar’s talking animation.
5️⃣ Exporting and editing the final video for a polished look.
