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January 27, 2026 11 min read

AI Video Prompts: Complete Guide

Master AI video prompts for better generation results. Learn prompting techniques for Kling, Runway, and other video AI.

Effective video prompts differ from image prompts. Motion, duration, and temporal consistency require specific techniques. This guide covers prompting for major AI video platforms.

Video Prompt Fundamentals

Key Differences from Image Prompts

Motion description: What moves and how
Temporal flow: Beginning to end progression
Camera movement: How the view changes
Duration awareness: What fits in clip length

Basic Structure

[subject], [action/motion], [camera movement], [style], [atmosphere]

Platform-Specific Prompting

Kling AI

Kling responds well to:

Clear motion descriptions
Cinematic terms
Natural language
Duration-appropriate scope

Example:

A woman with long dark hair walks through a busy Tokyo street at night, neon signs reflecting on wet pavement, smooth tracking shot, cinematic, detailed

Runway Gen-3

Runway excels with:

Artistic direction
Mood and atmosphere
Camera technique terms
Style references

Example:

Atmospheric scene of fog rolling through a forest at dawn, golden light filtering through trees, slow dolly forward, ethereal, dreamlike quality

Pika

Pika works well with:

Simple clear prompts
Direct motion description
Single subject focus
Brief, focused clips

Example:

A cat stretching and yawning on a sunny windowsill, soft natural lighting, gentle movement

Luma Dream Machine

Luma responds to:

Dreamy, artistic prompts
Smooth motion requests
Abstract concepts
Creative interpretation

Example:

Flowing abstract shapes morphing through vibrant colors, smooth endless transformation, hypnotic motion

Motion Language

Subject Motion

walking, running, jumping
turning, spinning, dancing
speaking, gesturing, reacting
transforming, morphing, dissolving

Camera Motion

pan left/right, tilt up/down
dolly in/out, tracking shot
crane shot, aerial view
handheld, stabilized
slow motion, timelapse

Environmental Motion

wind blowing, rain falling
clouds moving, water flowing
leaves rustling, fire flickering
particles floating, smoke rising

Advanced Techniques

Temporal Progression

Describe what happens over time:

Starting with a closed flower bud, slowly blooming open to reveal vibrant petals, morning dew evaporating as sunlight intensifies

Multi-Element Motion

Coordinate multiple moving elements:

A busy cafe scene with people walking past the window, a waiter carrying drinks through tables, steam rising from coffee cups, afternoon light shifting

Emotional Motion

Movement that conveys feeling:

A figure slowly walking away down a long corridor, shoulders drooped, footsteps echoing, melancholic atmosphere

Common Mistakes

Too Much Action

❌ Action fight scene with explosions, car chase, helicopter, multiple characters fighting ✅ Two martial artists sparring in a dojo, dynamic combat, focused action

Conflicting Motion

❌ Camera zooming in while panning left while tilting up ✅ Smooth tracking shot following the subject

Impossible Timing

❌ Character walks across the room, sits down, drinks coffee, looks out window (too much for short clip) ✅ Character sits down with a coffee cup, gazes thoughtfully out the window

Why Multic Streamlines Video Prompting

Multic integrates video into storytelling:

Story Context: Scene context informs generation.

Character Consistency: Characters described once, used throughout.

Scene Templates: Starting points for common scene types.

Iteration Tools: Refine within the narrative.

Multi-Format: Same characters in images, video, comics.

Prompting Need	Standalone Video AI	Multic
Write Prompts	Manual each time	Contextual
Character Description	Repeat constantly	Defined once
Scene Continuity	Manual tracking	Automatic
Use Results	Export needed	Direct to story
Multi-Format	Separate tools	Integrated

Recommendation

Master platform-specific prompting for best results. Each AI video tool has strengths—learn what works for your primary tool.

For creators building video into larger narratives, Multic’s integrated approach reduces repetitive prompting while maintaining consistency across your story.