Pika AI (Pika Labs) is one of the easiest ways to generate short, cinematic videos from text prompts, images, and (depending on feature availability) effects and performance/lip-sync style animation. But like every AI video tool, your results depend heavily on the words you feed it. A “good idea” isn’t enough Pika needs clear direction: subject, scene, motion, camera, lighting, style, and constraints.
This guide is a complete prompt playbook: a repeatable prompt formula, pro-level prompting techniques, and a massive list of ready-to-copy prompts for TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, ads, product videos, travel clips, anime styles, cyberpunk scenes, cinematic b-roll, fantasy, and more.
No editing experience needed. Just type, generate, and share.
A good Pika prompt gives the model a single clear scene and a specific way to film it.
Bad prompt:
“cool video of a girl in city”
Better prompt:
“Close-up portrait of a cyberpunk girl in a neon-lit alley at night, rain particles, reflections on wet pavement, cinematic lighting, shallow depth of field, slow dolly-in, smooth stabilized camera, high detail, no text.”
Notice how the better prompt includes:
Subject (cyberpunk girl)
Location (neon-lit alley)
Time/Weather (night, rain)
Film language (close-up, DOF)
Camera motion (slow dolly-in)
Constraints (no text)
This is the secret: Pika prompts work best when you write them like a director, not like a poet.
Video credit: pika.art
Use this universal template for most Pika AI videos:
Pika Prompt Template
[Shot type] of [subject] [action], in [environment], [time/weather], [lighting], [mood], [camera movement], [style], [detail level], [constraints].
Template A (Cinematic Realistic)
Close-up shot of [subject] [action], in [environment], [time of day], cinematic lighting, shallow depth of field, smooth stabilized camera, slow dolly-in, ultra-detailed, realistic, no text, no watermark.
Template B (Image-to-Video “Subtle Motion”)
Subtle natural movement, gentle breathing motion, soft blinking, slight hair movement, smooth camera push-in, cinematic portrait lighting, realistic skin texture, no distortion, no text.
Template C (Product Ad)
Studio shot of [product] rotating slowly on a clean background, softbox lighting, premium commercial style, crisp focus, smooth camera orbit, subtle reflections, no text.
Video credit: pika.art
If your outputs feel “random” or “AI-ish,” it’s often because you’re missing one of these.
Shot type (wide / medium / close-up / macro)
Main subject (specific person/object)
Action (walking, turning, pouring, floating)
Environment (studio, street, forest, kitchen)
Time & weather (golden hour, night rain, fog)
Lighting (softbox, neon, rim light, moody)
Lens & depth (35mm, 50mm, shallow DOF, bokeh)
Camera movement (dolly-in, orbit, pan, tilt)
Style (realistic, anime, 3D, clay)
Constraints (no text, no watermark, stable frames)
Video credit: pika.art
Text-to-video needs more scene building:
what the subject looks like
what’s happening
what the camera is doing
Text-to-video example
Wide shot of a futuristic neon street market at night, rain on the ground, glowing signs, cinematic lighting, slow camera pan, ultra-detailed, realistic, no text.
Image-to-video needs more motion direction:
what moves (hair, lights, camera, fog)
how strong the movement is (subtle vs dynamic)
avoid distortion
Image-to-video example
Subtle motion only, gentle wind moving hair and clothing, soft blinking, slight head turn, smooth camera push-in, cinematic lighting, realistic, no distortion, no text.
Video credit: pika.art
These words often make a bigger difference than “style.”
slow dolly in / dolly out
smooth orbit (left/right)
gentle handheld (use carefully)
stabilized tracking shot
slow pan left / pan right
tilt up / tilt down
crane shot
drone shot forward
parallax movement
cinematic push-in
If your output looks chaotic, add:
“smooth stabilized camera”
“slow movement”
“subtle motion only”
Video credit: pika.art
Lighting transforms average AI video into cinematic video.
golden hour sunlight
soft rim light
volumetric lighting
neon glow reflections
softbox studio lighting
moody low-key lighting
film noir shadows
warm cozy indoor lighting
cold blue moonlight
dreamy, ethereal, calm
dramatic, intense, suspenseful
cozy, warm, nostalgic
futuristic, neon, cyberpunk
clean, minimal, premium
Video credit: pika.art
“realistic”
“cinematic”
“35mm film look”
“shallow depth of field”
“natural skin texture”
“soft film grain”
“anime style”
“clean line art”
“soft shading”
“vibrant background”
“studio anime lighting”
“3D render”
“soft global illumination”
“toy-like materials”
“subsurface scattering”
“cinematic 3D lighting”
“claymation style”
“stop motion feel”
“handmade textures”
“warm lighting”
“subtle jitter”
Video credit: pika.art
Even if Pika doesn’t offer a dedicated “negative prompt box” in your UI, you can include constraints in the prompt itself.
Use:
“no text”
“no watermark”
“no logo”
“no distortion”
“no extra fingers”
“no deformed face”
“no flicker”
“no glitch”
Example
Close-up portrait… smooth stabilized camera… realistic… no text, no watermark, no distortion, no deformed face, no extra fingers.
Video credit: pika.art
Below are high-performing prompt styles you can copy and tweak. Replace bracketed text with your subject.
Moody Rain Portrait (Cyber Film)
Close-up portrait of a young woman wearing a hooded jacket, standing in a rainy city street at night, neon reflections, cinematic lighting, shallow depth of field, 35mm film look, slow dolly-in, smooth stabilized camera, ultra-detailed, no text, no watermark.
Golden Hour Walk
Medium shot of [subject] walking through a field at golden hour, warm sunlight, soft lens flare, gentle wind, cinematic color grading, slow tracking shot, smooth stabilized camera, high detail, realistic, no text.
Coffee Shop B-Roll
Cinematic b-roll shot inside a cozy cafe, steam rising from a cup of coffee, warm lighting, bokeh background, slow camera push-in, crisp focus, realistic, no text.
City Skyline Drone
Ultra-wide drone shot over a modern city skyline at sunrise, clouds drifting, sun rays, cinematic lighting, smooth forward movement, high detail, realistic, no text.
Night Drive Reflections
Cinematic shot through a car window at night, rain droplets on glass, neon signs passing by, soft bokeh lights, slow camera pan, moody film look, realistic, no text.
Video credit: pika.art
Cyberpunk Girl in Neon Alley
Close-up portrait of a cyberpunk girl in a neon-lit alley at night, rain particles, glowing holographic signs, wet pavement reflections, cinematic lighting, shallow depth of field, slow zoom-in, smooth stabilized camera, ultra-detailed, no text.
Neon Samurai
Medium shot of a neon samurai standing under a glowing sign in a rainy street, cyberpunk style, dramatic rim light, slow orbit camera, ultra-detailed, no text.
Futuristic Street Market
Wide shot of a futuristic street market at night, neon lanterns, steam and fog, busy atmosphere, cinematic lighting, slow camera pan, high detail, realistic cyberpunk style, no text.
Hologram Interface Scene
Close-up shot of a person using a glowing hologram interface, cyberpunk lighting, neon blue and orange glow, shallow depth of field, slow push-in, high detail, no text.
Video credit: pika.art
Waterfall Cinematic
Wide shot of a waterfall in a lush green jungle, mist drifting, sunlight rays through trees, cinematic lighting, slow drone push-in, realistic, high detail, no text.
Mountain Sunrise
Ultra-wide mountain landscape at sunrise, clouds moving slowly, golden light, cinematic color grading, slow camera push forward, crisp detail, realistic, no text.
Beach Sunset
Cinematic beach sunset with gentle waves, warm glow, lens flare, slow pan left, smooth stabilized camera, realistic, no text.
Rainforest Fog
Wide shot of a rainforest canopy with fog drifting, soft morning light, cinematic, slow drone movement, high detail, realistic, no text.
Snowy Forest
Medium shot of [subject] walking in a snowy forest, snow falling softly, cold blue light, cinematic mood, slow tracking shot, smooth stabilized camera, realistic, no text.
Video credit: pika.art
Smartwatch Studio Orbit
Studio shot of a sleek smartwatch rotating slowly on a clean background, softbox lighting, premium commercial style, macro details, crisp focus, smooth orbit camera, subtle reflections, no text.
Perfume Cinematic
A luxury perfume bottle on black marble, moody studio lighting, soft rim light, subtle smoke, slow camera push-in, premium ad style, ultra-detailed, no text.
Skincare Water Droplets
Close-up macro shot of a skincare serum bottle with water droplets, glossy reflections, softbox lighting, premium commercial look, slow orbit camera, crisp focus, no text.
Headphones Glow
Studio shot of premium headphones on a clean dark background, subtle neon rim light, smooth camera orbit, crisp detail, commercial style, no text.
Video credit: pika.art
Coffee Pour Macro
Macro shot of coffee pouring into a glass, steam rising, warm cafe lighting, slow motion feel, cinematic b-roll, crisp focus, no text.
Burger Commercial
Close-up cinematic shot of a juicy burger on a wooden board, warm lighting, shallow depth of field, slow camera push-in, high detail, no text.
Soda Splash
Studio shot of a cold soda can with condensation, droplets splashing, bright clean lighting, slow orbit camera, commercial look, no text.
Dessert Glow
Macro shot of a chocolate dessert with melting sauce, warm highlights, cinematic bokeh, slow push-in, ultra-detailed, no text.
Video credit: pika.art
Runway Spotlight
Medium shot of a fashion model walking under runway lights, dramatic spotlighting, shallow depth of field, slow tracking shot, smooth stabilized camera, high detail, no text.
Beauty Portrait (Soft Skin)
Close-up beauty portrait of [subject], soft studio lighting, natural skin texture, subtle blinking, gentle head movement, smooth camera push-in, high detail, no text.
Hair Wind Motion
Close-up portrait of [subject], gentle wind moving hair, golden hour backlight, soft lens flare, cinematic, smooth slow zoom-in, no text.
Video credit: pika.art
Abstract Tech Background
Clean abstract tech background with flowing light lines, minimal modern style, smooth motion, subtle glow, cinematic, no text.
Futuristic Office
Wide shot of a futuristic office with holographic screens, clean minimal design, soft lighting, slow camera pan, realistic, no text.
Data Visualization Vibe
Abstract 3D data waves moving smoothly, clean modern style, soft lighting, slow orbit camera, no text.
Video credit: pika.art
Anime Rain Street
Anime style, close-up portrait of a girl in a rainy street at night, neon glow, soft shading, detailed background, slow zoom-in, cinematic anime lighting, no text.
Studio Ghibli-like Cozy (Keep it general)
Warm cozy animated style, a small cafe on a rainy day, soft lighting, gentle steam from tea, slow camera pan, detailed illustration, no text.
Anime Action Pose
Anime style, [subject] jumping through the air, dramatic lighting, motion lines, dynamic camera angle, slow orbit, no text.
3D Toy Character
3D render of a cute toy character walking in a tiny city street, soft global illumination, bright colors, smooth camera tracking, high detail, no text.
Miniature World
A miniature town on a desk, tiny cars moving, soft warm lighting, tilt-shift look, slow camera pan, 3D style, no text.
Cute Mascot Ad
3D mascot character holding a product, clean studio background, softbox lighting, smooth orbit camera, commercial look, no text.
Clay Character Wave
Claymation style character waving, handmade textures, warm lighting, stop-motion feel, subtle jitter, slow camera push-in, no text.
Clay Kitchen Scene
Claymation style kitchen scene, tiny pot bubbling, warm cozy light, slow pan, handmade textures, no text.
Magic Library
A magical library with floating glowing books, dust particles, warm cinematic lighting, slow orbit camera, ultra-detailed fantasy, no text.
Wizard Spell
A wizard casting a glowing spell in a dark forest, volumetric light beams, cinematic lighting, slow dolly-in, high detail, no text.
Fairy Garden
A glowing fairy garden at night, soft bioluminescent lights, gentle fog, slow camera pan, dreamy mood, no text.
Astronaut Drift
An astronaut drifting slowly in space with Earth in the background, cinematic lighting, slow rotation, high detail, realistic, no text.
Spaceship Window
View from inside a spaceship looking out at stars and nebulae, soft reflections, slow camera push-in, cinematic sci-fi, no text.
Mars Rover
A rover moving across a dusty Mars landscape, orange haze, cinematic wide shot, slow tracking camera, realistic, no text.
Video credit: pika.art
Haunted House Fog
Wide shot of an old abandoned house at night, heavy fog, moonlight, cinematic suspense lighting, slow camera push-in, eerie mood, no text.
Dark Forest Whisper
A dark forest path at night, fog drifting, subtle moving shadows, cinematic lighting, slow handheld feel (stabilized), suspenseful mood, no text.
Runner Slow Motion Feel
Medium shot of an athlete sprinting on a track, dramatic sunlight, cinematic motion blur, slow tracking shot, high detail, no text.
Boxing Training
Close-up shot of boxing gloves hitting a bag, dust particles, dramatic lighting, slow motion feel, cinematic b-roll, no text.
Skateboard Trick
Wide shot of a skateboarder doing a trick in a city park, golden hour light, smooth tracking camera, realistic, no text.
Seamless Loop Abstract
Perfect seamless loop of flowing liquid metal waves, clean background, soft studio lighting, smooth motion, high detail, no text.
Rotating Object Loop
Perfect seamless loop of a [object] rotating slowly, clean minimal background, soft lighting, crisp focus, no text.
Hypnotic Neon Tunnel
Perfect seamless loop of a glowing neon tunnel, smooth forward motion, cinematic lighting, no text.
Video credit: pika.art
Use these and include “vertical 9:16” if needed (some tools respect it better when stated):
Vertical 9:16, close-up portrait of [subject], cinematic lighting, shallow depth of field, slow dolly-in, smooth stabilized camera, high detail, no text.
Vertical 9:16, wide shot of [location], golden hour, clouds moving slowly, cinematic, slow drone push, high detail, no text.
Vertical 9:16, studio shot of [product] rotating slowly, softbox lighting, premium commercial style, crisp focus, no text.
This is how creators get “wow” results faster.
Subject + environment + camera move
Add “smooth stabilized camera”
Add “subtle motion only”
Add “consistent face”
Add lens (35mm/50mm), lighting (soft rim), mood (cinematic), detail (high detail)
Example iteration
Base:
Close-up portrait of a cyberpunk girl in a neon alley, slow zoom-in.
Fix stability:
Close-up portrait… smooth stabilized camera, slow zoom-in, no distortion.
Upgrade:
…cinematic neon lighting, wet reflections, shallow depth of field, 35mm film look, ultra-detailed, no text.
Add:
“natural facial proportions”
“consistent face”
“subtle motion only”
“no distortion”
Prompt
Close-up portrait of [subject], subtle motion only, gentle blinking, natural facial proportions, cinematic lighting, smooth stabilized camera, no distortion, no text.
Add:
Consistent lighting
Smooth motion
Prompt
[Scene], stable frames, consistent lighting, smooth motion, slow camera movement, no flicker, no text.
Add:
“crisp focus”
“sharp details”
“high resolution look”
“studio lighting” (often helps)
Prompt
Studio shot of [product], crisp focus, sharp details, softbox lighting, premium commercial style, smooth orbit, no text.
Add:
“slow movement”
“subtle motion”
“stabilized camera”
Remove:
too many effects (smoke + fire + rain + crowd)
Video credit: pika.art
Use simple cinematic prompts: subject + scene + camera movement + “no text” constraints.
“Subtle motion only,” “gentle blinking,” “smooth camera push-in,” and “no distortion” produce cleaner animations.
Use film language: “35mm film look,” “shallow depth of field,” “cinematic lighting,” “smooth stabilized camera,” plus simpler scenes.
Avoid it. Add text later in an editor.
Cinematic Prompt Builder
[Shot type] of [subject] [action], in [environment], [time/weather], [lighting], [lens/DOF], [camera movement], [style], [quality], [constraints].
Example filled:
Close-up shot of a cyberpunk girl looking over her shoulder, neon-lit alley at night, rain particles, cinematic neon lighting, shallow depth of field, slow dolly-in, smooth stabilized camera, anime-real hybrid style, ultra-detailed, no text, no watermark, no distortion.
Video credit: pika.art