These are reusable skeletons. Copy a template, replace the [brackets] with your subject and settings, and generate — the structure already follows how Pika reads a prompt, so you skip the guesswork.
Keep fills short and specific. For finished examples to adapt, see the 36 best Pika prompts; for the reasoning behind the structure, the Pika prompting guide.
Each template is a skeleton with [brackets] to fill. Keep your fills short and specific, and delete any line you do not need.
Text-to-video templates
1. Cinematic shot
[subject] [one clear action], [setting], [camera move: push-in / tracking / drone], [time of day] with [lighting/mood], cinematic, [16:9 or 9:16].Example fill: "A wolf howls on a ridge, snowy mountains at dusk, slow push-in, cold blue light, cinematic, 16:9."
2. Product hero
[product] on [surface/background], slow [360 rotation / push-in], [light sweep / reflections] across the surface, [macro / studio], [no text], [1:1 or 9:16].3. Nature b-roll
[landscape] with [one moving element: clouds / water / grass], [drone / static / lateral track], [golden hour / dawn] light, cinematic, 16:9.Image-to-video templates
4. Animate a portrait
Animate this portrait: [blinking / soft smile / slight head turn], [hair / clothing] moving in a light breeze; keep the face and background identical; [static / slow push-in].5. Animate a product photo
Animate this product photo: [slow rotate / light sweep / condensation / steam]; keep the packaging and composition unchanged; [macro / close-up].6. Animate a landscape
Animate this landscape: [clouds drift / water flows / leaves fall], slow parallax [push-in]; preserve the original colors and framing.Pikaffects templates
7. Single effect
[Effect: Cakeify / Explode / Melt / Inflate / Squish / Crush / Levitate]: [subject] on [clean background], [close-up / macro], [soft studio / dramatic] light.8. Reveal effect
[Cakeify / Ta-da]: [object] that [slices open / pops open] to reveal [what’s inside], front-on shot, bright even lighting.Social & ad templates
9. Vertical product ad
9:16 vertical: [product] on [surface], [slow rotate / push-in], [droplets / light sweep / steam], [clean / vibrant] [category]-ad look, space for text at the top, no text on frame.10. UGC clip
9:16 UGC-style: [hands doing action with product] on [setting], natural handheld motion, warm daylight, close-up on [the reveal / the sip], no text.11. Looping background
9:16 seamless loop: [ambient scene: latte steam / drifting clouds / rain on glass / gentle waves], [soft / moody] light, steady motion, space for captions, no text.Transition & scene templates
12. Pikaframes transition
Pikaframes: transition from [start state] to [end state], smooth continuous [camera move], [duration ~5–10s], [lighting].13. Pikascenes composite
Pikascenes: place [uploaded character] wearing [uploaded outfit] into [uploaded setting], [action], consistent lighting, [medium / wide] shot.14. Character in motion
[character] [walks / turns / gestures] toward the camera, [setting], [slow backward tracking / static], [lighting], natural movement.Frequently Asked Questions
How do I use these Pika templates?
Copy a template, replace each [bracketed] placeholder with your own subject, setting, camera move and lighting, and delete any line you do not need. The skeleton already matches how Pika reads prompts, so you only supply the specifics.
What should I put in the camera bracket?
A single move: push-in, tracking, orbital, drone, pan, tilt, static, or handheld. Choose one deliberate move per clip rather than stacking several — Pika renders one clear move far more reliably.
Can I combine templates?
Keep to one template per clip for predictable results. If you need a sequence, generate each beat separately using the relevant template and stitch the clips in your editor, or use the Pikaframes transition template.
How long should my bracket fills be?
Short — a few words each. Pika favors concise prompts of roughly 20 to 50 words total, so resist the urge to write a paragraph inside a single bracket.
Which template is best for social ads?
The vertical product ad and UGC templates in the Social section. Both are preset to 9:16 and leave room for on-screen text, so they drop straight into TikTok, Reels and Shorts workflows.
Do I need an image for every template?
No. The text-to-video, Pikaffects, social and transition templates work from text alone. The image-to-video and Pikascenes templates expect one or more uploaded images.