# Zackd Director > Turn ONE curiosity-driven topic or question into a finished Zack D Films-style 3D animated short video, end to end on the MuAPI platform + local ffmpeg — curiosity-loop script, character consistency sheets, 3D keyframe rendering, motion clips, cloned voiceover, zoom-ins, transitions, and captions, all automated. Use this whenever the user wants a "Zack D Films style short", a 3D medical / anatomical / educational explainer short, a curiosity-driven short video, or wants to automate 3D animated short production with an API-backed media pipeline. Triggers: "zack d films short", "zack d style", "3d animation short", "curiosity loop video", "make a zack d video", "turn this topic into a zack d short". - Skill: `anil-matcha/zackd-director` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 7 files) - Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add anil-matcha/zackd-director` - Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/anil-matcha/zackd-director/raw - Safety review: pending - Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex - Category: DevOps & Infra - Author: Anil-matcha (https://skillmd.com/u/anil-matcha) - Updated: 2026-09-17 - Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/anil-matcha/zackd-director --- # 🎬 Zack D Director Turn a single topic or question into a finished **Zack D Films-style 3D short video**: a fast-paced, curiosity-hooking, 3D animated short where every line opens a question your brain needs closed, supported by consistent 3D character sheets, high-impact motion, cloned voice narration, key-beat zoom-ins, and screen shakes between scenes. Powered by **MuAPI Platform (api.muapi.ai)** + **Google Veo 3.1** + local **ffmpeg**. --- ## 💡 The Core Workflow & Principles The Zack D Films visual style and viral retention formula rely on 4 critical pillars: 1. **Curiosity-Loop Script Structure**: Every sentence opens an open loop (a question your brain physically needs answered), driving scroll-stopping retention. 2. **Character & Object Consistency Sheets**: Recurring characters, anatomical parts, or items are rendered on standard 3D turnaround sheets first. Every scene uses these sheets as visual anchors to guarantee exact visual identity across angles and wear. 3. **Signature 3D Render Style**: Stylized 3D digital art, smooth clay/plasticine subsurface scattering, crisp ambient occlusion, cross-section views, vibrant lighting, and cinematic depth of field. 4. **Fluid Editing Conventions**: Fast cuts (every 2–4 seconds), camera zoom-ins on key impact beats, and short transitions between scenes. --- ## 🛠️ Prerequisites 1. **MuAPI Key Setup**: - `export MUAPI_API_KEY="sk-..."` (get your key at https://muapi.ai) 2. **Local Tools**: - `ffmpeg` + `ffprobe` (for video assembly, zoompans, screen shakes, sound ducking). - Python 3 with `Pillow` (for text overlays and image processing). 3. **Cloned Voice Sample**: - ~60 seconds of clean voice recording for zero-shot voice cloning. --- ## 🚀 Step-by-Step Production Pipeline Each project lives under `out//` and is governed by `beats.json`. ``` topic / trend │ ├─ 1. trend & curiosity hook Claude researches / formulates curiosity questions ├─ 2. script breakdown Generate beats.json with scene details & asset requirements ◀── GATE 1: User approves script ├─ 3. character sheets Generate orthographic turnaround reference sheets ├─ 4. 3D keyframes Render keyframe images anchored to character sheets ├─ 5. motion clips Animate keyframes via the configured image-to-video model ├─ 6. voice narration Synthesize full script in user's cloned voice ├─ 7. assembly FFmpeg: transitions, impact zooms, captions, BGM └─ final.mp4 ``` ### Step 1: Trend Research & Topic Selection Run trend research to identify high-curiosity medical, scientific, or everyday questions: ```bash python scripts/trend_research.py "Why do your ears pop on airplanes?" ``` *Outputs proposed topics with curiosity hooks.* ### Step 2: Curiosity Script & Scene Breakdown Generate `out//beats.json`: ```bash python scripts/script_generator.py out/ --topic "What Happens When You Swallow Gum?" ``` *Beats checklist*: - **Beat 1**: Hook (≤3s). Opens the curiosity loop. - **Pacing**: Cuts every 2–4s (2 shots per beat: wide establishing + close-up detail). - **Scene specifications**: Explicit camera focus, character actions, and cross-section requirements. - **GATE 1**: Show the `beats.json` breakdown to the user for approval. ### Step 3: Character Consistency Sheets Generate 3D character/asset reference sheets for all recurring elements: ```bash python scripts/character_sheets.py out/ ``` *Creates orthographic front/side/back 3D reference images under `out//characters/`.* ### Step 4: 3D Keyframe Rendering Render beat keyframes using the character sheets as visual backbones: ```bash python scripts/keyframes.py out/ ``` *Ensures 3D stylized lighting, subsurface scattering, and exact character identity.* ### Step 5: Motion Clip Generation Animate keyframes with the configured image-to-video model: ```bash python scripts/clips.py out/ ``` *Applies smooth camera motions, internal element animations, and macro zoom shifts.* ### Step 6: Voice Cloning & Narration Synthesize narration in the cloned voice: ```bash python scripts/audio.py out/ --voice-sample voice_recording.mp3 ``` *Produces seamless narration timed beat-by-beat.* ### Step 7: Final Cut Assembly Assemble the video with signature Zack D editing effects: ```bash python scripts/assemble.py out/ ``` - Adds **zoom-ins** on key beats. - Applies short **fade, wipe, slide, and circle-open transitions** between scenes. - Duck background music under narration and burn styled captions. - Outputs `out//final.mp4`. --- ## 📚 References & Resources - [`references/prompt-guide.md`](references/prompt-guide.md): 3D visual style prompt guidelines. - [`references/beat-layer.md`](references/beat-layer.md): Curiosity-loop narrative structures. - [`references/character-sheets.md`](references/character-sheets.md): Multi-angle turnaround consistency specs. - [`references/voices.md`](references/voices.md): Voice cloning parameters. - [`references/models-and-gotchas.md`](references/models-and-gotchas.md): FFmpeg effects & API troubleshooting.