ascii-video

Convert video, audio, and generative inputs into colored ASCII MP4 or GIF animations.

1|Updated Jul 31, 2026
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/icyzh/hermes-web --skill ascii-video-icyzh
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: ascii-video
Source: https://github.com/icyzh/hermes-web/tree/main/skills/creative/ascii-video
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/icyzh/hermes-web --skill ascii-video-icyzh

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

💡 This Skill requires numpy, pillow, scipy, ffmpeg, and includes scripts (resource) and references (resource) components.

What problem does it solve?

This skill solves the challenge of creating high-quality, aesthetically intentional ASCII art animations from video, audio, or generative sources, moving beyond simple character-mapping to cinematic production.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Multi-Mode Rendering: Supports video-to-ASCII, audio-reactive visualizers, generative math-based animations, and TTS-narrated video.
  • Advanced Composition: Features a 6-stage pipeline including adaptive tonemapping, shader chains, and multi-grid layering for depth and texture.
  • Use Case: Create a unique, retro-styled music visualizer by feeding an audio track into the skill, which will generate a beat-synced ASCII animation with custom particle effects and color palettes.

Quick Start

Use the ascii-video skill to convert the video file input.mp4 into a 1080p ASCII animation using the matrix-green color preset.

Frequently Asked Questions about ascii-video

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I convert a video into a colored ASCII animation?

To create audio-reactive ASCII visualizers, you feed an audio track into the rendering pipeline, which generates beat-synced animations with custom particle effects and color palettes. This transforms audio signals into dynamic, terminal-style visual content.

Does generating ASCII video require a local ffmpeg installation?

Yes, generating ASCII video requires a local ffmpeg installation alongside Python dependencies including NumPy, SciPy, and Pillow. FFmpeg handles the final frame-by-frame encoding to produce MP4 or GIF outputs from the rasterized character data.

What is the best way to create high-quality ASCII art animations from generative inputs?

Yes, you can apply custom color palettes like a matrix-green preset to style your ASCII video. The rendering pipeline supports advanced composition features, allowing you to define specific color schemes for your character-based animations.

Are there limitations when using ASCII video rendering for high-resolution outputs?

Limitations of ASCII video rendering include high computational overhead from frame-by-frame rasterization and the need for local ffmpeg encoding. Very high-resolution outputs may require significant processing time due to the multi-stage pipeline and adaptive tonemapping operations.