Creating a virtual character in HeyGen

Simon Crowe·Mar 2026

Demo summary

The video shows how to design a stylized virtual character (Matteo) using AI prompts, selecting a Pixar-style aesthetic and assigning a specific voice from the library.

Step-by-step

Go to the Avatar tab and click New Avatar
Select Create a virtual character and choose Design with AI
Enter a name, age, gender, and ethnicity for the character
Write a detailed description of the character's appearance and setting
Select Pixar under the Style menu and click Generate Preview
Choose a variation and click Save
Select a voice from the library and click Select Voice
Open the Avatar dropdown from the Home screen and select your new character
Enter a script prompt and click Generate

Options

Upload a photo instead of designing with AI
Choose from various tones, accents, and personalities in the voice library

Tips

Be specific rather than vague in the character description to better shape the result
Include details like lighting (e.g., 'golden hour', 'cinematic lighting') in your prompt
Use analogies and a 'sense of wonder' when prompting for educational content

Highlights

“And just like that, you've created a fully animated AI character.”

All demos from “How to Use HeyGen in 2026 (Step-by-Step Beginner Tutorial)”

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Watch “How to Use HeyGen in 2026 (Step-by-Step Beginner Tutorial)” →

AI Avatar Video Generator

1:070:54Generate an AI video with HeyGen's AI AgentThe creator demonstrates using the HeyGen workspace to input a topic, select a custom AI clone avatar, and automatically generate a complete video with script and visuals.Simon Crowe
4:201:24Editing scripts and captions in HeyGen AI StudioThe creator walks through the HeyGen AI Studio editor, showing how to manually edit the generated script, adjust delivery style, and customize caption fonts and colors.Simon Crowe
6:260:49Adjusting avatar movement with HeyGen Motion EngineThe user demonstrates the Motion Engine settings in HeyGen, selecting different movement styles like 'excited' or 'welcoming' to change the avatar's physical energy.Simon Crowe
8:332:35Cloning a real person as an AI avatarThe tutorial demonstrates the step-by-step process of creating a 'digital twin' by recording a webcam video and reading a safety script to train a custom HeyGen avatar.Simon Crowe
15:231:50Creating a virtual character in HeyGenCurrentThe video shows how to design a stylized virtual character (Matteo) using AI prompts, selecting a Pixar-style aesthetic and assigning a specific voice from the library.Simon Crowe
2:570:52Create a custom virtual character in HeyGenThe user demonstrates how to upload a photo to HeyGen to create a custom virtual avatar, including setting metadata like name, age, and gender.Esmile Ai
4:001:18Access hidden Scene Builder and upload long audioThe creator shows how to bypass standard credit prompts by selecting 'Build scene by scene' from a hidden menu and uploading a 10-minute audio file to HeyGen.Esmile Ai
2:391:12Create a virtual character with HeyGen AIThe user demonstrates designing a virtual character named Jack from scratch by selecting attributes like age, ethnicity, and Pixar style, then choosing a voice from the library.Daniel Davidson
1:181:04Create an AI Avatar with HeyGenThe creator demonstrates how to upload personal video footage to HeyGen to create a realistic digital clone or AI avatar.Ayushman Pandita
6:250:38Reviewing the AI-generated video outputThe final output generated by HeyGen is played, showing the AI avatar speaking the script with automated B-roll and captions.Ayushman Pandita
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