Transform
Pixel Art video effect
Become a retro 8-bit sprite. Upload a photo and press Generate.
Free accounts get 3 effects a day, with a small PixelDojo watermark.
What Pixel Art does
The real photo holds for a moment, then a pixel version of your subject appears as the scene breaks into blocks. Soon everything is a bright side-scrolling level with brick ground, green bushes and floating gold coins. The sprite runs along and hops toward the coins as the clip ends.
Become a retro 8-bit sprite
Your photo turns into a retro 8-bit video game scene and your subject does a little sprite jump. Works with people and pets.
Still looks like you
The video opens on your exact photo, so the face, hair, outfit and surroundings carry through the whole effect.
A full transformation in one shot
The change happens on camera in one continuous take, so viewers see the before and the after in the same clip.
How to make a Pixel Art video
- Upload a photo, or pick one from your library.
- Press Generate. There is no prompt to write; the effect is already set up.
- Your 5 second HD video is ready in a minute or two. Save it to your library or download it.
Tips for the best photo
- Wear or pick a photo with bold, solid clothing colors so the sprite stays recognizable.
- Full-body photos give the sprite legs to run and jump with.
- Distinctive features like a ponytail, hat or bright shoes carry over well into pixel form.
Ideas for using it
- A streamer making a retro intro clip for a gaming channel.
- An indie game developer introducing the team in a fun way.
- A pet owner turning their dog into a game character for a birthday post.
More effects
Pixel Art FAQ
Will the sprite look like me?
It keeps your outfit colors, hair and general shape, so friends can tell it's you. Faces are simplified to a few pixels, as in classic games.
Does my real background stay in the clip?
Only at the start. It turns into a game level with blocks, clouds and coins.
Do I need to write a prompt for Pixel Art?
No. Pixel Art is a ready-made effect: upload a photo and press Generate. The directions for the motion, camera and lighting are already built in.
How long is the Pixel Art video, and how long does it take?
Every effect makes a 5 second HD video that matches the shape of your photo, portrait or landscape. Most are ready in one to three minutes, and you can leave the page while it renders.
Does the video have sound?
Yes. Each clip comes with matching ambient sound effects. It does not add music, so you can lay your own track over it in any editor.
Can I use a photo of someone else?
Only photos of adults, of yourself or of people who agreed to it. Every upload goes through the same safety checks as the rest of PixelDojo.