# Character FX

> Transform a character or give it a power in an AI video: werewolf, fire breathing, wings, glowing eyes and more. Pick up to 2 of 55 character effects.

Source: https://nodaro.ai/docs/nodes/creative-controls/character-fx

The **Character FX** picker adds an effect that happens to or around the subject of a video clip. The character can transform (Werewolf, Cyborg Reveal, Liquid Metal) or show a power (Fire Breathe, Levitation, Telekinesis). It can also grow something (Wings Grow, Horns Emerge), change its face (Glowing Eyes, Oni Mask) or be surrounded by an aura (Money Rain, Saint Glow). You choose up to two effects, and Nodaro adds tested wording for them to the prompt of the video node you connect it to. The picker never calls a model, so it costs no credits.

- Found in: Creative Controls › Effects
- Output: text
- API type: `character-fx`

## When to use it
- Build a transformation arc in a short: Werewolf, Vampire, Ghost Form or Petrify to Stone.
- Give a hero an elemental power: Fire Breathe, Water Bending, Lightning Hands or Hero Flight.
- Make a music-video moment: Money Rain, Paparazzi Flashes, Fire Aura or Magical Sparkles.
- Stage a horror or sci-fi reveal: Horror Face, Extra Eyes Open, Cyborg Reveal or X-Ray Reveal.

## How to use it
### Add the picker

Open the node picker and choose **Creative Controls › Effects › Character FX**.

### Choose up to two effects

Click the node and choose an effect from the list. The effects are grouped into **Transformation**, **Power & Ability**, **Body Modification**, **Face & Expression** and **Aura & Ambient**.

### Set the timing

Choose a **Position**, a **Duration** and an **Intensity**. All three start at **Auto**, which adds nothing.

### Name the character

Connect a [Character Asset](https://nodaro.ai/docs/nodes/assets/character) node to the **Target subject** input, so the effect names your character.

### Connect and run

Drag from the picker's output to the **Look** input of a [Generate Video](https://nodaro.ai/docs/nodes/video/generate-video) node, then run the video node.

Workflow: Aria Voss transforms into a werewolf while the camera crash-zooms in.

- Character Asset → Character FX (target subject)
- Character Asset → Generate Video (assets)
- Character FX → Generate Video (look)
- Camera Motion → Generate Video (look)

## Settings
| Setting | What it does |
| --- | --- |
| **Character FX** | The effects to add. Pick up to 2. A new node starts at **Auto**, which adds nothing. **None** also adds nothing. |
| **Position** | Where in the clip the effect occurs. See the table below. |
| **Duration** | How long the effect takes to manifest. See the table below. |
| **Intensity** | The energy of the effect. See the table below. |
| **Custom text (before)** | Your own words, added before the effect, for example `mid-transformation`. |
| **Custom text (after)** | Your own words, added after the effect, for example `with smoke trailing behind`. |
| **Prompt hint** | **Full** (default) adds the full description of each effect. **Compact** adds only the short term. See [Full or Compact](https://nodaro.ai/docs/nodes/creative-controls#full-or-compact). |

| Position | Meaning |
| --- | --- |
| **Auto** | Let the model place the effect |
| **Start** | Occurs at the opening of the clip |
| **Middle** | Occurs in the middle of the clip |
| **End** | Occurs at the end of the clip |
| **Full** | Persists for the entire clip |

| Duration | Meaning |
| --- | --- |
| **Auto** | Let the model time the effect |
| **Instant** | Manifests instantaneously |
| **Short (~1s)** | Manifests over approximately 1 second |
| **Medium (~2s)** | Manifests over approximately 2 seconds |
| **Long (~3s)** | Manifests over approximately 3 seconds |

| Intensity | Meaning |
| --- | --- |
| **Auto** | Let the model judge the effect's energy |
| **Subtle** | Restrained, minimal flourish |
| **Natural** | Unhurried, unforced timing |
| **Dynamic** | Assertive, energetic |
| **Crazy** | Extreme, wild, distorted |

To see the exact words the picker will add, switch the node to the **Prompt** or **Both** display mode. The settings panel shows the same text under **Will inject into prompt**.

## Name the character

The **Target subject** input accepts a [Character Asset](https://nodaro.ai/docs/nodes/assets/character), [Create Face](https://nodaro.ai/docs/nodes/assets/create-face), [Object/Props Asset](https://nodaro.ai/docs/nodes/assets/object) or [Location Asset](https://nodaro.ai/docs/nodes/assets/location) node. Its name replaces every "the subject" in the effect's description, and possessives read naturally: "the subject's body" becomes "Aria Voss's body". With nothing connected, the description says "the subject", and the video model applies the effect to whoever is in the frame.

With **Werewolf**, **Position** set to **Middle**, **Duration** set to **Long (~3s)**, **Intensity** set to **Dynamic**, and a Character named Aria Voss on **Target subject**, the picker adds:

```text
Aria Voss transforms into a werewolf — fur sprouts across the skin, fangs and claws extend, the snout elongates, eyes glow yellow, body re-shapes with visible muscle and bone movement under the skin, clothing tears, the effect occurs in the middle of the clip, manifesting over approximately 3 seconds, with dynamic energy and assertive flourish
```

With two effects, each one names the target, and the two are joined with "and". For example, Werewolf with Fire Breathe makes Aria Voss transform and breathe fire.

## Character FX, Action FX or Character Motion

- **Character FX** — the subject does or becomes something supernatural: transforms into a werewolf, breathes fire.
- **[Action FX](https://nodaro.ai/docs/nodes/creative-controls/action-fx)** — an event in the environment: an earthquake hits the scene, lightning strikes a building.
- **[Character Motion](https://nodaro.ai/docs/nodes/creative-controls/character-motion)** — ordinary movement over time: walks in, turns, waves, dances.

If the effect needs a character at its center, use Character FX. If it would make sense in an empty room, use Action FX. You can connect both to the same video node.

## Every character effect

Filter by group or search by name. The words under each name are the term the picker adds in **Compact** mode.

**Transformation**

- Auto
- None
- Werewolf: `werewolf transformation`
- Vampire: `vampire transformation`
- Cyborg Reveal
- Ghost Form
- Petrify to Stone: `stone petrification`
- Liquid Metal: `liquid metal morph`
- Animalization: `animal transformation`
- Gorilla Form: `gorilla transformation`
- Mystification: `magical aura transformation`
- Gas Transformation
- Diamond Skin: `skin crystallizing into diamond`
- Agent Reveal: `black suit and sunglasses materializing`

**Power & Ability**

- Fire Breathe: `fire breathing`
- Ice Breathe: `ice breath`
- Air Bending
- Water Bending
- Earth Bending
- Lightning Hands: `electric arcs from the hands`
- Levitation
- Telekinesis
- Invisibility
- Hero Flight: `superhero flight takeoff`
- Super Speed
- Soul Departure: `soul leaving the body`

**Body Modification**

- Wings Grow: `wings unfurling from the back`
- Horns Emerge: `horns growing from the head`
- Tail Emerge: `tail growing from the spine`
- Tentacles Emerge: `tentacles writhing from the back`
- Extra Eyes Open: `extra eyes opening on the face`
- Head Explosion: `stylized head explosion`
- Head Removal: `stylized head detachment`
- Spiders From Mouth: `spiders crawling from the mouth`
- Skin Surge: `skin rippling with movement underneath`

**Face & Expression**

- Horror Face: `contorted horror expression`
- Oni Mask
- Glowing Eyes
- Floral Eyes: `flowers blooming from the eyes`
- Bloom Mouth: `flowers blooming from the mouth`
- X-Ray Reveal
- Sunglasses Snap-On: `sunglasses snapping onto the face`
- Cyber Visor

**Aura & Ambient**

- Paparazzi Flashes
- Money Rain
- Color Rain: `brightly coloured rain`
- Saint Glow: `golden halo and divine glow`
- Fire Aura
- Frost Aura
- Shadow Aura
- Electricity Aura: `crackling electric aura`
- Magical Sparkles
- Fairies Around: `tiny glowing fairies`
- Objects Orbit: `objects orbiting in mid-air`
- Petals Around: `cherry blossom petals drifting`
- Glow Trace: `glowing motion trails`
- Tattoo Animation: `glowing animated tattoos`

## Tips
- **Name the target.** A connected character gives a more grounded prompt and keeps the effect on the right person.
- **Compound two effects.** Pair a transformation with a power, such as Werewolf with Fire Breathe. Or pair a body change with a face effect, such as Wings Grow with Glowing Eyes.
- **Choreograph with the camera.** Pair Hero Flight with a Crash Zoom In from [Camera Motion](https://nodaro.ai/docs/nodes/creative-controls/camera-motion).
- **Set the energy to the story.** Use **Crazy** for music-video moments where exaggeration is the goal, and **Subtle** for restrained storytelling.
- **Choose a strong model for complex effects.** Gas Transformation, Liquid Metal and X-Ray Reveal change over many frames and degrade on cheaper video models. Prefer [Veo 3.1](https://nodaro.ai/docs/models/video/veo-3-1-quality) or [Kling 2.1 Master](https://nodaro.ai/docs/models/video/kling-2-1-master) for them.

## Frequently asked questions

### What does the Character FX picker do?

It adds an effect that happens to or around the subject of a video clip, such as a werewolf transformation, fire breathing, growing wings or a fire aura, to the prompt of the video node it is connected to.

### Does the Character FX picker cost credits?

No. Pickers only change the prompt. You pay only for the video node that uses it.

### How do I make the effect happen to my character?

Connect a Character, Face, Object or Location node to the Target subject input. Its name replaces "the subject" in the effect's description, for example "Aria Voss transforms into a werewolf".

### Can I combine two effects?

Yes. Pick up to 2, for example Werewolf with Fire Breathe. For more, connect a second Character FX picker to the same video node.

### Does Character FX work on still images?

No. A transformation happens over time, so the picker works only with video nodes. Still-image nodes never receive its wording.