ascii-video

Name: ascii-video
Availability: InStock
Author: zangjeicy

Convert video, audio, and image files into colored ASCII animations using Python and ffmpeg.

Updated Jul 13, 2026

Search Tags:#video #animation #ffmpeg #ascii #generative #visualizer

Ready to run

npx skills add https://github.com/zangjeicy/Hermes --skill ascii-video-zangjeicy

💬 Prompt for ChatGPT / Claude Chat▼

Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: ascii-video
Source: https://github.com/zangjeicy/Hermes/tree/main/skills/creative/ascii-video
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/zangjeicy/Hermes --skill ascii-video-zangjeicy

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

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

What problem does it solve?

This skill solves the challenge of creating visually striking, retro-styled ASCII art animations from standard video, audio, or generative sources, bypassing the need for complex GPU-based rendering.

Core Features & Use Cases

Multi-Mode Rendering: Supports video-to-ASCII, audio-reactive visualizers, and generative procedural animations.
Advanced Pipeline: Includes a 6-stage production pipeline featuring adaptive tonemapping, shader chains, and feedback buffers for temporal recursion.
Use Case: Create a unique, terminal-style music video by feeding an audio file into the skill to generate frequency-reactive ASCII visuals with custom character palettes and shader effects.

Quick Start

Use the ascii-video skill to convert the file input.mp4 into a 1080p colored ASCII video using the matrix-green shader 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 colored ASCII animation?▼

To convert a video into colored ASCII animation, this skill uses a multi-stage Python rendering pipeline with NumPy, SciPy, and ffmpeg to perform frame-by-frame feature analysis and grid-based rasterization, outputting high-quality text-based video.

Can I generate audio-reactive ASCII visualizers from an audio file?▼

Yes, you can generate audio-reactive ASCII visualizers from an audio file. The skill analyzes frequency data and maps it to custom character palettes and shader effects to create terminal-style music visualizations.

Does the ASCII video rendering pipeline require a GPU?▼

No, the ASCII video rendering pipeline does not require a GPU. It bypasses complex GPU-based rendering by utilizing a CPU-based Python pipeline with NumPy, SciPy, and ffmpeg for frame analysis and shader-based post-processing.

What is the best way to create retro-styled ASCII art animations from standard videos?▼

The best way to create retro-styled ASCII art animations from standard videos is using a pipeline with adaptive tonemapping, shader chains, and feedback buffers for temporal recursion, which this skill provides out of the box.

Are there limitations when using ffmpeg and Python for text-based video overlays?▼

Limitations when using ffmpeg and Python for text-based video overlays include potential performance constraints during real-time processing due to heavy frame-by-frame feature analysis and the computational cost of multi-stage shader post-processing.