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Act-One by Runway logo

Act-One by Runway

Paid

Generate expressive character performances from simple video inputs.

4.5
New AI ToolsContact
Inputs: video, audio
Type
Saas
Company
Runway
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About Act-One by Runway

Act-One is a tool from Runway Research that generates expressive character performances using simple video inputs. It leverages video and voice performances to drive animated characters within the Gen-3 Alpha platform, preserving subtle details such as eye-lines, micro-expressions, pacing, and delivery. Unlike traditional motion capture pipelines that require specialized equipment and multi-step workflows, Act-One works with a single consumer-grade camera and no extra gear. It can animate a wide range of reference images, accurately translating performances into characters with different proportions, and produces cinematic, realistic outputs robust across camera angles. The tool enables multi-turn dialogue scenes using one actor reading multiple roles, opening new creative possibilities for narrative content. Safety measures include detection of public figures, voice rights verification, and continuous monitoring.

Key Features

Animate generated characters using only a simple single-camera setup
Preserves eye-lines, micro-expressions, pacing, and delivery from the actor
Works with a wide variety of reference images and character proportions
Produces cinematic, realistic outputs robust across camera angles
Enables multi-turn dialogue scenes with one actor reading multiple characters
No motion capture equipment or multi-step workflows required

Pros & Cons

Pros
  • Intuitive workflow reduces complexity of traditional facial animation
  • Faithfully captures emotional nuance and subtle expressions
  • No need for expensive motion capture hardware
  • Versatile – works with diverse reference images and character designs
  • Enables cinematic quality results from simple inputs
Cons
  • Requires a paid Runway subscription (part of Gen-3 Alpha paid plans)
  • Limited to animated characters within the Gen-3 Alpha ecosystem
  • Voice rights verification needed for custom voices

Best For

Expressive character animation for films and videosDialogue-driven narrative scenes using consumer-grade camerasCreating animated content from a single actor's performanceRapid prototyping of character performances in generative video

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FAQ

What does Act-One use as input?
Act-One uses a simple video of an actor's performance (and optionally their voice) to animate a generated character.
What equipment is needed?
Only a consumer-grade single camera – no motion capture suits, multi-camera setups, or face rigging are required.
Can Act-One work with different character proportions?
Yes, the model preserves realistic facial expressions and accurately translates performances into characters with proportions different from the original source video.
How is Act-One different from traditional motion capture?
Traditional pipelines involve complex multi-step workflows with specialized equipment; Act-One uses a completely different pipeline driven directly by an actor's performance captured with a simple camera.