Mavericks, Inc., the Japanese company behind the video generation AI NoLang, has released a new feature that turns a single still image, such as an illustration of a character owned by an individual or a company, into a high-quality character video. The feature automatically creates an anime-style character video that speaks with emotion, without any modeling or animation skills. It supports individuals and organizations that want to communicate through original videos in public relations and marketing.
Generate a freely moving character from a single illustration or still image
NoLang is the first video generation AI service in Japan that produces a video in as little as a few seconds from text, PDF or PPTX documents, a website URL, or an image, audio or video file. Since its release in July 2024, registered users have passed 150,000, and more than 60 companies have adopted it, making it one of the largest generative AI products originating in Japan (as of November 2025). With this update, users can generate a high-quality character video simply by uploading an image they already own, with no specialist knowledge or equipment.
The update adds two features. The first is 2D Animation, which turns an illustration of a character into an anime-style original character. The second is Real Animation, in which the uploaded image starts speaking as it is, like a real person.
Until now, animating an original character required specialist modeling work such as Live2D, advanced animation skills, or an expensive outsourcing budget. With these features, NoLang lets anyone create a talking character video intuitively from a single still image, which makes it easier to produce videos that express the originality of the person or organization behind them.
Avatars with emotion, and movement that feels real
The update offers two approaches to creating an avatar from a still image, which can be used according to the purpose, and the resulting avatar can be used directly in a NoLang video.
2D Animation: choose an emotion when you generate
By uploading an image of a character you already have, you can turn that character into a new avatar. Any character image works, whether it is a person or an animal. The distinctive point is that you select an emotion, such as Glad or Sadness, when you create the avatar. The selected emotion is reflected directly in the avatar in the video by the latest AI, and is expressed through body movements and gestures that follow the script and the content of the video. This makes it possible to perform in a way that suits the situation, and the added movement helps improve viewer engagement and retention.
Real Animation: the image itself starts speaking smoothly
This feature treats the uploaded image as an avatar exactly as it is, without deforming or converting it. High-performance animation that moves as smoothly as live-action footage can be applied to an anime character. Lip movement in particular syncs naturally with what is being said, so the character or person appears to be genuinely speaking there. Combined with the distinctive voices in NoLang, a fully original character video can be created instantly.
Use cases: stronger communication with characters, from local governments to independent shops
2D Animation and Real Animation make friendly, character-led communication available to organizations and individuals of any size, and allow more original videos to be produced.
Promoting local governments and tourist destinations
Images of local mascots and regional characters can be turned into video as they are with 2D Animation and Real Animation. When the mascot itself introduces landmarks and local specialties, a region can present its appeal far more richly than a poster allows. Because character videos can be made easily without specialist skills, the feature strongly supports consistent, stronger branding.
Consistent branding for e-commerce sites and web services
A brand character used on a site can be turned into video with NoLang to create product introductions and explanatory videos for frequently asked questions. Guidance delivered by the character keeps the tone of the whole site consistent, while explaining information that is hard to convey in text alone, which improves customer satisfaction. For example, a troubleshooting video can select an apologetic emotion to convey sincerity, and a new product announcement can use Glad to express excitement, giving online communication a warmth that a conventional chatbot cannot. Adding this sense of hospitality to online interactions helps lift engagement and conversion rates.
Differentiation for owner-run restaurants, salons and clinics
By uploading a photo of the owner or an illustration of the shop’s original character, a business can easily publish videos of its own. Giving an original character friendly movement with 2D Animation, or having it deliver a message with Real Animation, helps build a fan base and clearly sets the business apart from its competitors. A restaurant, for example, can use its own original character to introduce the shop or its menu and post the video on social media. Videos that no other shop can offer make the difference clear, and highly distinctive content works as a marketing measure that contributes to sales growth.
Looking ahead
Mavericks, Inc. will continue to improve the accuracy of animation in NoLang and expand the range of supported emotions and motions. Through technology that turns still images, an existing asset, into video, the company aims to contribute to a society in which every individual and organization can make the most of their creativity.
