Sora 2 Documentation

Welcome to the comprehensive documentation for Sora 2, OpenAI's revolutionary AI video generation platform. This guide will help you create professional-quality videos using advanced prompting techniques.

What is Sora 2?

Sora 2 is OpenAI's latest video generation model that creates cinema-quality videos from text descriptions and images. It offers unprecedented control over motion, timing, style, and cinematography.

Key Features

• Text-to-Video: Generate videos from detailed text descriptions
• Image-to-Video: Animate static images with realistic motion
• Professional Control: Precise control over camera angles, lighting, and timing
• Multiple Styles: Support for anime, realistic, and various artistic styles
• High Quality: Create up to 15-second videos in high resolution

Available Models

Sora 2

The standard model offering excellent quality and reliability. Perfect for most use cases with ~5 minute generation time.

Sora 2 Pro

Enhanced model with advanced features:

• Extended duration (10-15 seconds)
• Higher resolution options
• Better motion control
• More detailed rendering

Getting Started

Quick Tips

1. Be Specific

Use concrete, visible details instead of vague descriptions.

Weak: "A beautiful street at night" Strong: "Wet asphalt, zebra crosswalk, neon signs reflecting in puddles"

2. Set Visual Style Early

Define your aesthetic at the beginning of the prompt.

Examples: "1970s film", "Anime style", "16mm black-and-white film"

3. Describe Actions in Countable Beats

Break down movement into specific, observable actions.

Weak: "Person moves quickly" Strong: "Cyclist pedals three times, brakes, and stops at crosswalk"

4. Include Cinematography Details

Specify camera angles, shots, and movement for better control.

• Camera shot types: Wide, medium, close-up, aerial
• Camera motion: Static, slow push, dolly, tilt
• Depth of field: Shallow or deep focus

5. Define Lighting and Palette

Describe light sources and use 3-5 color anchors for consistency.

Example: "Soft window light with warm lamp fill. Palette: amber, cream, walnut brown"

Prompt Structure Template

[Visual style and format]

[Scene description: characters, setting, weather]

Cinematography:
Camera shot: [framing and angle]
Mood: [overall tone]

Actions:
- [Clear, specific beat 1]
- [Another distinct action]
- [Final beat]

Lighting + palette: [light quality and sources]
Palette anchors: [3-5 colors]

Best Practices

1. Shorter is Better: The model follows instructions more reliably in 4-10 second clips
2. Iterate on Prompts: Generate multiple versions to find what works best
3. Use Templates: Start with proven templates and customize them
4. Study Examples: Learn from successful generations in the community
5. Balance Detail: Include enough detail without overwhelming the model

Learn More

For comprehensive prompting techniques, advanced examples, and troubleshooting:

👉 Read the Full Prompting Guide

Start creating amazing videos with Sora 2 today!