Using Google Vids (Veo), let’s create a short animated video. This is a video that I created using Google Vids. There duration of the video is less than 2 minutes, but the time I spent to create it more than four hours. Practice makes perfect! Don’t give up.
Main character: The same female university student wearing a dusty-rose hijab
Visual style: Ghibli-inspired hand-drawn animation, watercolour textures, warm library environment
Format: 16:9 landscape
Narration: Calm, clear and reflective
Steps:
- Generate the visual image of the main character using Gemini AI or ChatGPT or any preferred AI tool. This will ensure the character will be consistent (no guarantee though!). Use this prompt: Create a consistent female university student wearing a dusty-rose hijab in four full-body views:
- Front, back, left profile and right profile.
- The character’s clothing and colour palette match the warm library setting for the video.
- Go to Google Apps -> Google Vids (if you have free account, the video that you can generate might have some limitations. If you have UTM Edu Pro or personal Pro account, you have more credits. (Tongue in cheek remark: I would use UTM Edu Pro because ______ (fill in the blank).
- Choose Veo 3.1. (There are few selections that you can choose: AI avatar, Comvert slides, Record, Upload, Templates or Blank).
- On the right corner, you will see options such as Veo, Avatar, Voiceover and such). Choose Veo. (When you hoover your cursor to the Veo icon, you will see a caption “Generate an AI video clip”.
- You can create a video from scratch or if you have created images with sequencing storyline, you can choose “Animate an image”. But for this exercise, choose Create from scratch.
- With the following ready made prompts, create the video scene. Copy and paste the prompt for each shot in the available space.
Tips: Make sure your internet connection is stable. Make sure you add the image of the character that you have created in the ingredient. Don’t forget to click the “Generate” button. Click + to create a new scene before you paste new prompt for the next scene. You may revise the prompts accordingly.
Create a 30-second Ghibli-inspired animated video about intrinsic motivation. Show the same university student independently searching for academic references in a warm, quiet library. Divide the video into nine connected shots, with three shots every 10 seconds.
Use a calm, reflective student voice for the voiceover. Synchronise each text overlay with its corresponding narration. Use a warm ivory handwritten font with a subtle dark shadow. Keep the text within uncluttered areas and visible long enough to read. No dialogue between characters, logos, grades, prizes, praise or applause.
0–10 seconds: Curiosity and personal interest
Shot 1, 0:00–0:03
A university student sits at a wooden library table, considering a research question in a notebook. The student glances towards tall bookshelves as morning sunlight enters through large windows.
Text overlay: “Curiosity begins from within.”
Voiceover: “A question awakens my curiosity.”
Shot 2, 0:03–0:07
The student walks between the bookshelves, scanning book titles and running a finger along the spines. They stop after noticing a promising reference book.
Text overlay: “I want to learn more.”
Voiceover: “I search because I genuinely want to know more.”
Shot 3, 0:07–0:10
The student opens the selected book and discovers a relevant passage. Their uncertainty develops into genuine fascination.
Text overlay: “Interest guides my exploration.”
Voiceover: “My interest leads me towards new ideas.”
10–20 seconds: Autonomy and deep engagement
Shot 4, 0:10–0:13
Back at the table, the student notices an intriguing citation in the book. Without being instructed, they record it and decide to investigate further.
Text overlay: “I choose where the question leads.”
Voiceover: “I decide which path to explore next.”
Shot 5, 0:13–0:17
The student searches the library’s academic database and discovers a promising journal article. They lean towards the screen with growing enthusiasm.
Text overlay: “The search itself becomes engaging.”
Voiceover: “Finding each new source makes the search meaningful.”
Shot 6, 0:17–0:20
The student compares the book with the journal article, highlighting related evidence and writing notes. Delicate glowing lines connect key ideas across the sources.
Text overlay: “I enjoy connecting new ideas.”
Voiceover: “I enjoy seeing how the ideas connect.”
20–30 seconds: Persistence and inherent satisfaction
Shot 7, 0:20–0:23
A difficult journal passage briefly confuses the student. They consult the book’s glossary and patiently reread the paragraph.
Text overlay: “Curiosity keeps me going.”
Voiceover: “Even when it’s difficult, curiosity keeps me going.”
Shot 8, 0:23–0:27
The student understands the argument and creates a concept map connecting evidence from the book and journal. A quiet, satisfied smile appears.
Text overlay: “Understanding brings its own satisfaction.”
Voiceover: “Understanding something new is satisfying in itself.”
Shot 9, 0:27–0:30
The student notices another source in the journal’s reference list, reaches for a new book and continues researching as golden evening light fills the library.
Text overlay: “I continue because I want to know more.”
Voiceover: “I keep learning, simply because I want to know more.”
Audio direction: Calm, thoughtful first-person narration with a natural pace. Use soft piano, gentle strings and subtle library ambience, including turning pages, quiet footsteps and distant birds. Lower the music beneath the narration.
Visual direction: Ghibli-inspired hand-drawn animation, delicate watercolour textures, detailed university library, warm gold and forest-green palette, expressive yet natural movement, soft atmospheric lighting, subtle magical realism, cinematic depth and seamless match-cut transitions. Maintain consistent character appearance, clothing, table, notebook, books and library layout. Landscape format, 16:9.
