Transform static images into 16-frame animated pixel art GIFs using Gemini AI and a single-request sprite sheet generation process.
Install & Download
1. ClawHub CLI
The fastest way to install a skill directly from the registry.
npx clawhub@latest install sprite-animator
2. Manual Installation
Copy the skill folder to one of these locations
~/.openclaw/skills/ <project>/skills/ Priority: Workspace > Local > Bundled
3. Prompt Installation
Copy this prompt to OpenClaw to install it automatically.
Help me install sprite-animator using Clawhub. If Clawhub is not installed, install it first (npm i -g clawhub).
Prefer to download?
Get the raw skill files in a ZIP archive.
What is Sprite Animator?
Sprite Animator is a specialized tool designed to bridge the gap between static imagery and retro-style animation. By utilizing the nano-banana-pro (Gemini) model, this skill automates the complex process of drawing consistent frame-by-frame pixel art. It is a standout among Openclaw Skills for its ability to maintain stylistic coherence by generating an entire 4x4 sprite sheet in a single AI inference pass, ensuring that the character's form and color palette remain stable throughout the animation.
Whether you are a game developer needing quick placeholders or a digital artist looking for a lo-fi aesthetic, Sprite Animator provides a streamlined CLI workflow to produce high-quality GIFs. The tool handles everything from grid templating to final assembly, making it an essential addition to any creative toolkit powered by Openclaw Skills.
Sprite Animator Use Cases
- Creating custom animated avatars for social media or community profiles.
- Rapidly prototyping character animations for indie game development projects.
- Converting personal photos or drawings into stylized retro-gaming assets.
- Batch processing concept art into functional 16-frame sprite sheets for further editing.
How Sprite Animator Works
- The tool generates a labeled 4x4 grid template consisting of 16 specific cells.
- It sends both the template and your source image to the Gemini AI in a single request to ensure style consistency.
- The AI generates the pixel art frames into the grid based on the requested animation sequence (idle, wave, bounce, or dance).
- The system extracts the 16 individual frames from the resulting sprite sheet.
- The frames are processed and compiled into a looping animated GIF at the specified duration and size.
Sprite Animator Setup
To use this skill, ensure you have the uv package manager installed and a valid Gemini API key. Configure your environment and run the animator with the following commands:
# Set your API key
export GEMINI_API_KEY='your_gemini_api_key_here'
# Generate a basic idle animation
uv run --with sprite-animator sprite-animator -i photo.png -o sprite.gif
# Generate a specific animation like 'dance' with a larger output size
uv run --with sprite-animator sprite-animator -i input.jpg -o animation.gif -a dance -s 256
Sprite Animator Data Schema & Taxonomy
Sprite Animator manages input and output data through a clear file-based structure. It can optionally retain intermediate assets for developer use:
| File Type | Description | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Input Image | PNG, JPG, or JPEG source file | The base reference for the AI |
| Output GIF | Animated 16-frame GIF | The final deliverable |
| Sprite Sheet | 4x4 PNG Grid | Generated via --keep-sheet for manual editing |
| Frame PNGs | Individual frame files | Generated via --keep-frames for animation layering |
Sprite Animator Advanced Features
- Multiple animation presets including idle (breathing/blinking), wave, bounce (jump/land), and energetic dance loops.
- Resolution control between 1K and 2K generation settings to balance speed and detail.
- Granular control over frame duration (ms) and output dimensions (px).
- Support for Openclaw Skills automation pipelines by preserving raw sprite sheets and individual PNG frames.
- Single-request generation architecture that prevents the 'flicker' common in multi-request AI animations.
SKILL.md
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