Stop guessing and start directing use this Pika AI video prompt formula to control the scene, the camera, and the motion so your clips come out cinematic, consistent, and actually look like what you imagined.
No editing experience needed. Just type, generate, and share.
If you’ve ever typed a “cool idea” into an AI video tool and gotten something that looks… kind of random, you already know the truth: video prompting is different from image prompting. In video, you’re not only describing what the scene should look like you’re describing how it moves, how the camera moves, how the lighting behaves over time, and how the story stays consistent from the first frame to the last.
That’s why the phrase “Pika AI video prompt” matters. Your prompt is basically your director’s notes. The better your director’s notes, the more your generation feels intentional: smoother motion, clearer subjects, fewer weird glitches, more cinematic composition, and more control.
This guide is a deep, practical, step-by-step article on how to write high-performing prompts for Pika-style text-to-video workflows (and it also applies to image-to-video and video-to-video prompting concepts). You’ll learn:
A prompt structure you can reuse every time
How to control camera, movement, style, time, and mood
How to prevent common failures (flicker, identity drift, “melting” objects)
Prompt templates for different genres (cinematic, anime, product ads, travel, VFX, etc.)
“Negative prompting” concepts (what to avoid saying and what to explicitly forbid)
How to iterate like a pro: Prompt → result → fix → re-run
Let’s build your prompting skill so your outputs stop feeling like luck.
A video prompt has more jobs than an image prompt. In images, you’re describing a single moment. In video, you’re describing a sequence of moments that must connect smoothly.
A strong Pika AI video prompt typically needs to define:
Subject: who or what we’re watching
Setting: where this happens
Action: what is happening during the clip
Motion: how the subject moves + how background moves
Camera: how the camera behaves (tracking, panning, tilt, dolly, zoom, handheld)
Lighting: mood, time of day, lighting style
Style: cinematic, documentary, anime, 3D, stop-motion, etc.
Consistency constraints: what must stay stable from frame to frame
Quality constraints: details, sharpness, realism level
Avoid list: what you don’t want (glitches, flicker, distortions, extra limbs, text artifacts)
If you skip most of these, the model fills in the blanks—and that’s where randomness enters.
Most beginners write prompts like they’re describing a whole movie:
“A girl runs through a cyberpunk city, then she enters a shop, then a robot attacks, then there’s an explosion…”
That’s a sequence of shots. But most short AI video generations behave best when you treat them like one shot.
Instead, write prompts like a single continuous clip:
One location
One primary action
One camera behavior
One lighting setup
One mood
When you want multiple shots, generate multiple clips and edit them together.
Here’s a structured formula that works across most video prompts:
(1) Subject + key traits
(2) Setting + time of day + atmosphere
(3) Action (what happens over the clip)
(4) Camera movement + framing + lens feel
(5) Lighting + color + style
(6) Quality + realism level + extra constraints
(7) Avoid list (optional but powerful)
Prompt:
A lone traveler wearing a dark raincoat stands at the edge of a neon-lit street in a rainy cyberpunk city at night. The traveler slowly turns their head as glowing signs reflect in puddles and light mist drifts through the air. Cinematic medium shot, slow dolly-in toward the subject, shallow depth of field, 35mm film look. High contrast lighting with neon magenta and cyan highlights, realistic rain and wet reflections, smooth motion, detailed textures. Avoid flicker, warped faces, extra limbs, unstable text, melting buildings.
This prompt clearly defines subject, environment, action, camera, style, and constraints.
When you write a Pika AI video prompt, think in layers.
Who/what is the subject?
What’s the environment?
What props or details matter?
Good: “A red vintage scooter parked beside a coastal road”
Better: “A red vintage Vespa-style scooter with chrome mirrors and worn leather seat parked beside a coastal road with sea cliffs”
Describe a motion that can happen smoothly in a few seconds.
Examples:
“The subject takes a slow step forward”
“Leaves drift across the frame”
“Steam rises from a cup”
“Waves crash gently”
“Neon signs flicker softly” (careful: “flicker” can cause unwanted flickering use “soft pulsing glow” instead)
This is where video prompts become powerful.
Useful camera words:
Static shot (stable, no camera movement)
Pan (left/right rotation)
Tilt (up/down rotation)
Dolly in/out (camera moves closer/farther)
Tracking shot (camera follows subject)
Crane/jib (camera rises/falls smoothly)
Handheld (slight shake, documentary feel)
Orbit (camera circles around subject)
Framing:
close-up, medium shot, wide shot
over-the-shoulder
low angle, high angle
centered composition, rule of thirds
Lens feel:
“24mm wide-angle” (more environment, distortion)
“35mm natural cinematic”
“50mm portrait”
“85mm close cinematic compression”
Examples:
“Golden hour sunlight”
“Soft diffused overcast lighting”
“Hard rim light from behind”
“Neon magenta/cyan”
“Warm interior tungsten light”
Examples:
“photorealistic”
“cinematic film look”
“anime style”
“stop-motion clay”
“3D Pixar-like” (be careful with brand references; instead say “family-friendly 3D animation style”)
“high detail, smooth motion, no jitter”
In video prompting, “motion” can mean:
subject motion (person walking)
environmental motion (wind, rain)
camera motion (dolly-in)
physics motion (cloth flutter)
If you don’t define motion, the model may invent it inconsistently.
“slowly”
“gentle”
“steady”
“smooth”
“subtle”
“cinematic slow dolly”
“calm breeze”
“soft drifting smoke”
“wildly”
“rapidly”
“shaking violently”
“glitchy”
“flickering” (unless you want it and can accept artifacts)
A good range is 2–6 sentences (or 1 dense paragraph). Too short = missing constraints. Too long = contradictory instructions.
Instead of writing 20 different ideas, write one idea with strong detail.
One of the biggest problems in AI video is identity drift a face or object subtly morphs during the clip.
Keep subject description simple and specific
Use stable traits: “short black hair, round glasses, blue jacket”
Avoid too many changes: outfit changes, major scene changes
Use camera types that reduce distortion: medium shot, stable framing
Prefer slower motion than fast motion
Avoid “crowds” when you want clarity
“The same person remains centered throughout”
“Stable facial features”
“No morphing”
“Consistent character design”
“Smooth, steady camera”
(If your tool supports a negative prompt box, put drift-related issues there too.)
Even if Pika’s interface doesn’t call it “negative prompt,” the concept still helps: explicitly tell the model what not to do.
Common avoid-list items:
Flicker, jitter, shaky camera (unless desired)
Warped faces, distorted hands
Extra limbs, duplicate people
Text artifacts, random letters
Low resolution, blur, noisy frames
Melting objects, morphing buildings
Unnatural motion, rubbery limbs
Avoid flicker, jitter, warped faces, extra limbs, blurry frames, text artifacts, and melting objects.
Keep it short. Don’t write a whole paragraph of negatives.
Below are proven prompt patterns you can copy and customize.
A traveler wearing a light linen shirt stands on a cliff overlooking the ocean at sunrise. Wind gently moves their hair and clothes while waves crash below. Wide cinematic shot, slow crane up revealing the coastline, smooth stabilized camera. Warm golden-hour light, natural colors, realistic textures, soft atmospheric haze, high detail. Avoid flicker, jitter, warped faces.
A sleek black smartwatch on a reflective studio surface slowly rotates as soft light sweeps across the metal edges. Close-up macro shot, controlled turntable rotation, smooth camera, shallow depth of field. Minimalist studio lighting, high contrast reflections, premium commercial style, ultra clean, sharp details. Avoid text artifacts, wobble, warping, melting reflections.
A hot cup of coffee on a wooden table as steam rises in slow swirls. The camera slowly pushes in for a close-up while morning sunlight streams through a window and dust particles drift in the air. Soft warm lighting, cinematic shallow depth of field, cozy mood, high detail. Avoid flicker, harsh noise, unstable steam.
Anime-style hero in a futuristic city alley at night, wearing a long coat and glowing accents. The hero steps forward and raises their hand as neon lights reflect on wet ground. Medium shot, slow tracking camera from left to right, smooth motion. Stylized anime shading, crisp linework, vibrant neon palette, consistent character design. Avoid face warping, flicker, extra limbs.
A wizard opens a glowing portal in a dark forest at twilight. Blue light spills onto nearby trees as particles swirl into the air. Medium-wide shot, slow dolly-in, smooth stabilized camera. Cinematic lighting, volumetric glow, realistic particle motion, moody atmosphere, high detail. Avoid unstable glow, flicker, melting trees.
A modern villa interior with large glass windows facing a tropical garden. Sunlight moves softly across the floor while curtains sway gently in the breeze. Wide shot, slow steady pan across the living room, smooth stabilized camera. Clean natural lighting, realistic materials, sharp details, calm mood. Avoid distortion, jitter, warped lines.
Emphasize:
lens, depth of field, lighting style, realism
Use words like:
“35mm film look,” “shallow depth of field,” “natural skin texture,” “realistic motion”
Emphasize:
linework consistency, shading style, color palette
Use:
“crisp line art,” “cel shading,” “consistent character design”
Emphasize:
materials, lighting, smooth motion, simplified shapes
Use:
“soft global illumination,” “smooth animation,” “clean surfaces”
Emphasize:
handheld camera, natural movement, imperfect realism
Use:
“handheld documentary style,” “natural lighting,” “subtle camera shake”
(But be careful: too much shake can cause artifacts.)
Bad: “She runs, jumps, fights, explodes, flies away”
Fix: Pick one action.
Better: “She runs through the alley while the camera tracks behind her.”
Bad: “Inside a room then outside in the street”
Fix: One location per generation.
Bad: “Static shot with fast handheld zoom”
Fix: Choose one camera style.
Bad: “A person in a place doing a thing”
Fix: Make the subject concrete:
Age range (adult/teen/child is okay in general, but avoid anything sexualized)
Clothing
Defining accessories
Expression
Bad: “Ultra HD masterpiece perfect”
Fix: Specify what “quality” means:
“Sharp focus on subject”
“Smooth motion”
“No flicker”
“Realistic textures”
“Stable face”
Most great outputs come from iteration. Here’s a simple fix loop:
Focus on subject + camera + motion.
Usually it’s one of these:
Identity drift (face changes)
Motion jitter (shaky, flickery)
Weird anatomy (hands, limbs)
Background warping
Over-stylization (too cartoonish)
Under-stylization (too realistic)
Don’t rewrite everything.
Examples:
Add “static shot, locked camera” if motion is unstable
Add “medium shot” if face warps in close-up
Add “simple background” if environment melts
Reduce action speed: “slowly” instead of “quickly”
Keep the best version, then polish.
Copy these phrases into prompts.
Static shot, locked camera on tripod, smooth motion, no jitter.
Slow dolly-in toward the subject, smooth stabilized camera, shallow depth of field.
Tracking shot following behind the subject as they walk forward, steady gimbal camera.
The camera slowly orbits around the subject, revealing the background, smooth stabilized motion.
Aerial wide shot gliding forward like a drone, smooth movement, cinematic landscape reveal.
Lighting language can dramatically improve results.
“Soft key light, subtle rim light”
“Volumetric light rays through haze”
“Golden hour glow”
“Moody low-key lighting”
“Neon rim lighting with wet reflections”
“Diffused overcast soft shadows”
Some terms work, but too much can confuse the model. Keep it readable.
AI video can look artificial when motion is:
Too fast
Too floaty
Inconsistent
Add phrases like:
“Natural human motion”
“Realistic physics”
“Subtle micro-movements”
“Steady pace”
“Smooth transitions”
For fabrics/hair:
“Gentle breeze moves hair and fabric naturally”
For water:
“Waves roll naturally with foam at the edges”
Here are complete prompts you can paste and customize.
Rainy neon street
A person holding a transparent umbrella walks slowly along a neon-lit street in the rain at night. Reflections shimmer in puddles and light mist drifts in the air. Medium shot, slow dolly-in, shallow depth of field, cinematic 35mm look. Neon magenta and cyan lighting, realistic rain and wet reflections, smooth motion. Avoid flicker, warped faces, extra limbs, text artifacts.
Mountain sunrise timelapse feel (gentle)
A wide view of mountain peaks at sunrise as clouds slowly drift through the valleys. The camera gently pans from left to right, smooth stabilized motion. Warm sunrise light, soft haze, natural colors, cinematic landscape look, high detail. Avoid jitter, flicker, warped horizon.
Luxury perfume ad
A crystal perfume bottle on black silk fabric as soft light moves across the glass. Close-up macro shot, slow camera push-in, shallow depth of field. Premium commercial lighting, glossy reflections, high detail, smooth motion. Avoid wobble, text artifacts, melting reflections.
Cozy reading scene
A cozy room with a person reading a book beside a window while rain falls outside. Steam rises from a mug on the table. Static medium shot, soft warm lighting, shallow depth of field, calm mood, realistic textures. Avoid flicker, warped hands, random text.
Futuristic hallway
A sleek futuristic corridor with moving light panels and a lone figure walking toward the camera. Slow tracking shot backward, smooth stabilized camera, cinematic look. Cool blue lighting, reflective surfaces, subtle fog, high detail. Avoid warping walls, jitter, distorted face.
Underwater serenity
A swimmer glides underwater in clear tropical water as sunlight beams ripple on the surface above. Wide shot, slow smooth camera follow, gentle motion. Realistic water caustics, calm mood, high detail. Avoid flicker, warped body, unstable lighting.
Anime city rooftop
Anime-style character on a rooftop at sunset overlooking a city skyline. The wind gently moves their hair and clothing as birds pass in the distance. Wide shot, slow dolly-in, smooth motion. Crisp line art, warm sunset palette, consistent character design. Avoid face warping, flicker, extra limbs.
Food: slicing fruit
A chef’s hands slice a fresh orange on a wooden board as juice glistens under soft kitchen light. Close-up shot, slow controlled motion, shallow depth of field. Warm natural lighting, realistic textures, smooth motion. Avoid warped fingers, flicker, blur.
Car reveal
A sleek sports car parked in a dim studio as a soft spotlight reveals its curves. The camera slowly circles around the car, smooth stabilized motion. High contrast reflections, premium commercial style, detailed paint and metal textures. Avoid warped wheels, melting reflections, jitter.
Forest magic
A glowing orb floats above moss in a dark forest at twilight. Particles swirl gently as blue light illuminates nearby leaves. Slow dolly-in, cinematic lighting, volumetric glow, high detail, smooth motion. Avoid unstable glow, flicker, melting foliage.
(And you can keep expanding these by swapping subject + setting + action.)
If faces or objects warp, reduce background complexity:
Simple background”
“Clean studio backdrop”
“Minimal environment”
Stability improves when the main subject remains central:
“Subject remains centered”
“Stable framing”
“Locked focus on subject”
Slow = stable.
Slow, gentle, subtle, steady, calm
AI video tools often struggle with readable text. If you need text, plan to add it in editing later.
“Photorealistic + anime + watercolor + 3D” will confuse the model. Pick one.
Use a structured format: Subject → Setting → Action → Camera → Lighting → Style → Avoid list. It keeps your idea clear and reduces randomness.
Because video generation has to maintain identity across frames. Fast motion, close-ups, complex lighting, and busy backgrounds increase drift. Use medium shots, slow motion, and stable framing.
Describe motion clearly (“slow dolly-in,” “steady tracking shot,” “gentle breeze”), and avoid chaotic action. Add “smooth stabilized camera” and “no jitter.”
Yes camera language is one of the strongest controls in video prompting. Even simple terms like “static shot” or “slow dolly-in” can improve results.
Simplify: fewer objects, one subject, one action, one location. Add “minimal background” or “clean studio.”
When you’re about to generate, fill in this template:
[Subject] in [setting] at [time] with [atmosphere].
[Action over the clip] with [environment motion].
[Framing + camera movement + lens feel].
[Lighting + color palette], [style], [quality constraints].
Avoid [top 5 problems you want to prevent].