Seedream image generation can help you design storyboard frames; a supported video model then animates an approved image. Those are separate stages. Selecting Seedream for a still image does not automatically turn it into a video model, and downloading three frames does not automatically assemble a finished film.
This tutorial plans a short, three-shot story about a bicycle repairer opening a workshop. The prompts are original planning examples, not a tested output gallery. The aim is to make continuity review manageable before you spend credits on motion.
Make a continuity sheet first
Define what remains constant across shots: an adult repairer with short curly black hair, a mustard overshirt with rolled sleeves, dark trousers, a blue bicycle with a silver rear rack, and a small brick workshop lit from the left. Keep these details in a short reusable block.
Use an original or authorized character reference if identity matters. Choose a clear frame showing the face and clothes rather than relying on text alone. References guide the output; they do not guarantee a fixed identity.
Next, give each shot a single storytelling job:
| Shot | Purpose | Continuity check |
|---|---|---|
| Wide exterior | Establish the workshop and morning light | Brick doorway, blue bicycle, same clothing |
| Medium workbench | Show the repairer preparing a tool | Face, sleeve length, light direction |
| Close detail | Show the hand reaching toward the bicycle bell | Hand anatomy, bell placement, handlebar shape |
This is a shot plan, not three unrelated prompts. If a detail is not visible in a shot, do not force it into view simply to repeat a keyword.
Generate separate frames, not a grid you cannot use
In the image workspace, choose the target aspect ratio for the film. Use the same ratio for all three frames. A contact sheet is useful for planning, but separate images give you cleaner inputs to image-to-video and avoid accidentally animating panel borders.
Begin with the establishing frame:
Wide cinematic storyboard frame, 16:9. An adult bicycle repairer with short
curly black hair wears a mustard overshirt with rolled sleeves and dark trousers.
They stand beside one blue bicycle with a silver rear rack outside a small brick
workshop. Soft morning light enters from camera left. Calm, welcoming mood.
The open doorway is behind the person. Natural proportions, no text, no panels.Choose a frame whose character and bicycle you can reuse. Treat it as the anchor reference for the next shot in Image to Image:
Use the uploaded frame for the repairer's identity, mustard overshirt and
workshop materials. Create a medium shot inside the same workshop. The repairer
stands at a wooden bench and looks down toward one wrench resting on it.
Keep the sleeves rolled to the same height and the morning light from the left.
One person only. Do not add writing, duplicate tools or a second bicycle.Do not ask for a different face, wardrobe, time of day, and camera angle all at once. If the character drifts, simplify the new composition and compare against the anchor again. See the character consistency guide for a more detailed reference review.
Approve stills before animating
Check the three frames together. Does the workshop door change sides? Is the bicycle rack missing? Does the sleeve length drift? Is the close-up hand plausible? Fix those issues in the stills before generating motion.
An image-to-video model may reinterpret details, so an approved still is a stronger starting point, not a guarantee of perfect continuity. Keep your approved images and prompts; accepted tasks can also be revisited in My Creations.
Give the video model a motion brief
Switch to the video workspace, select a model that supports Image to Video, and upload one approved frame. Review its available duration, aspect ratio, audio settings, and displayed credit cost. Do not assume all models expose the same options.
For the exterior, describe only modest motion:
Animate this opening frame as a quiet establishing shot. The repairer gently
turns toward the workshop door. A light breeze moves the overshirt slightly.
Slow, short camera push-in. Keep the bicycle stationary and the morning light
consistent. No scene change, no additional person, no sudden camera rotation.For the bench shot, use a different action rather than repeating the whole visual brief:
The repairer slowly reaches for the single wrench on the bench and lifts it
slightly. Camera remains steady. Preserve the face, clothing and workshop
layout from the opening image. Avoid extra fingers or duplicate tools.These constraints express intent; inspect the resulting motion instead of assuming they were followed. Hands and object contact deserve particular attention. Start with a short available duration and one clip per shot, then decide which shot needs another attempt.
Assemble and review the sequence
Download the approved clips and arrange them in a video editor. Check the cut from wide to medium at normal speed, then frame by frame near the edit. Match color and exposure where necessary, add titles as editable text, and choose audio deliberately instead of combining conflicting generated tracks.
This site's generation workflow should not be mistaken for an automatic editing timeline. Review camera movement prompts if the motion distracts from the story, or the first/last-frame guide when a selected model supports those controls.
Questions about Seedream storyboard workflows
Is Seedream the same as Seedance?
No. On this site, Seedream options are used for image workflows, while Seedance options are among the video workflows. Check the selected model and mode rather than inferring capabilities from similar names. Start with the Seedream 5.0 Pro page and Seedance 2.5 page.
Should I use MiniMax H3 for every shot?
Only if its currently available mode and settings fit your brief. The MiniMax H3 guide provides a separate starting point. Keep the same video model while comparing shot revisions so a model change does not obscure the cause of a difference.
Can one reference guarantee identical characters in every clip?
No. Reference images and consistent descriptions help guide continuity, but you still need to review faces, clothes, props, and motion. Shorter, simpler shots make that review easier.