Anime Character Sheet Template

One sheet that keeps a character the same in every shot: who she is, how she looks from four sides and the sentence you paste into every prompt.

Use this template
  • FitsOne sheet per main character
  • IncludesFilled example and blank
  • CostFree to copy

Updated

A character sheet of a swordswoman with a high black ponytail and a red ribbon, in three full-body views and a close-up of her face
A young woman with a high black ponytail and a red ribbon, in a white top, looks to the side with a golden sunset behind her
A young woman in a white top and navy hakama sits at a thatched roadside tea house under a red umbrella at sunset, a katana beside her

Hana's character sheet and two frames of her, made in Ziztu.

The template

The example is Hana, a swordswoman. Her sheet is the same kind of document an anime studio hands to every animator: shapes, colors and a few rules, so she looks like herself from the first shot to the last.

Anime character sheet

HanaYour title here

Identity

Who she is, in words an animator or a model can use.

Name
Hana
Age and role
About eighteen. A swordswoman who travels the roads.
Personality
Calm, watchful, dry humor.
Wants
To find the person she owes a debt to.
Flaw
She never asks for help.

Visual design

The parts that must never change.

Silhouette
A tall, slim shape with a long high ponytail, wide sleeves and a flared hakama. Readable as a black shape.
Colors
Black hair, white top, navy hakama, crimson accents.
Hair and eyes
Very long straight black hair in a high ponytail with a crimson ribbon. Amber eyes.
Outfit
A white wrap-front top with wide sleeves tied with red cords, a navy pleated hakama and straw sandals.
Always carries
A katana in a black scabbard at her left hip.

Views and expressions

Draw or generate these before the first shot, so every shot has something to match.

  1. 1Front viewBoth sleeve cords visible, katana at the left hip.
  2. 2Three-quarter viewPonytail swings behind her shoulder, ribbon visible.
  3. 3Back viewThe long ponytail and the ribbon fill the center of the back.
  4. 4ExpressionsCalm, amused, focused and surprised. The eyes change first; the mouth barely moves.

Look lock

One paragraph, pasted word for word into every prompt.

Look lock
A young woman of about eighteen with very long straight black hair in a high ponytail tied with a crimson ribbon, amber eyes and a calm, sharp face; she wears a white wrap-front top with wide sleeves tied with red cords, a navy pleated hakama and straw sandals, with a katana in a black scabbard at her left hip.

Paste it into Google Docs, Word, Notion or any text editor. It is free to copy and use.

The fastest way to use it

On your own

  • Copy the template into a document and fill it in.
  • Find an image tool, a video tool and a voice tool, and move your work between them.
  • Keep the same faces, places and style yourself, shot after shot.

In Ziztu

  • The idea box opens with the example already written. Change the names and press go.
  • Studio plans the shot list, makes every shot and adds the music, in one place.
  • Character sheets keep the cast looking the same in every shot.
  • 40 free credits, no card: write the script, cast your characters, draw the storyboard and hear the voices. Video starts at $12.
Use this template

How to fill it in

  1. 01

    Write the identity

    A role, a want and a flaw tell you how she moves and what she would never do. Three short lines are enough.

  2. 02

    Fix the design

    Pick the silhouette, three colors and one prop. Then write the outfit down to the sandals.

  3. 03

    Lock the look and paste it

    Combine the design into one paragraph and paste it into every prompt, word for word.

What makes it work

Check the black silhouette

If the character is still recognisable filled in black, the design is strong enough to survive fast cuts.

Keep one accent color

A single crimson ribbon makes a character findable in a crowd and easy to keep consistent.

Always add the back view

Half of the shots in a chase or a walk are from behind. The ponytail and the ribbon do the work.

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Frequently asked questions

What is an anime character sheet?

A character sheet, or settei, shows a character's design from several angles with notes on colors, proportions and expressions. Studios give it to every animator so the character looks the same in every shot.

What should be on an anime character sheet?

A front, three-quarter and back view, a face close-up, a few expressions, the color palette, the outfit details and any prop the character always carries. For AI video, add one written look lock.

How do I keep an anime character consistent with AI?

Make a character sheet first, paste the same written look lock into every prompt and keep the outfit simple. Ziztu Studio makes the sheet for you and attaches it to every shot, so the cast looks the same across the episode.

Is Hana a real character from a show?

No. Hana is an invented character, and her sheet and frames were made in Ziztu. She is not from any franchise.

Can I make my own character from the sheet?

Yes. Press Use this template to open the idea box with Hana written out, change the design and make your first scene. Or try the scene in the anime video generator first.

Is the template free?

Yes. Copy it as text, download it as a Markdown file or print it to PDF without an account.

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From the blog

How to Make Anime With AI, From One Clip to a Short Film8 min read
A character sheet of a swordswoman with a high black ponytail and a red ribbon, in three full-body views and a close-up of her face

Turn the template into a scene you can watch.

40 free credits, no card: write the script, cast your characters, draw the storyboard and hear the voices. Video starts at $12.

Try it free