AI cartoon video generators turn a script, a text prompt or a photo into an animated cartoon video. They work three ways: script or prompt to cartoon video, photo to cartoon image that you animate afterwards, and template builders where you assemble explainer scenes yourself. These make video, not still cartoon pictures. Ten tools follow in no particular order.
Cartoon video is having a moment on Reels, Shorts and TikTok, and it's an easy way to tell a story without filming yourself. The catch is that tools using the same words do quite different things, and two of them won't give you a moving video at all.
The ten tools below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order, and every description comes from each tool's own website, read as of Oct 2026.
Cartoon video tools at a glance
| Tool | Type | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Animaker | Online cartoon video maker | Template cartoons with a big animation library |
| CapCut | Photo-to-cartoon generator | Turning photos into cartoon images |
| FlexClip | Online editor with AI cartoons | Script or text to cartoon video with templates |
| InVideo | AI video agent and editor | Directing cartoon scenes with references |
| Media.io | Online AI cartoon video tool | Text and images to animated cartoons |
| Pollo AI | Video platform with AI cartoons | Cartoon clips for Reels, TikTok and YouTube |
| Simplified | AI design suite with cartoonizer | Personalised cartoons from photos |
| Steve AI | Storytelling video maker with AI | Turning scripts into animated story videos |
| Toonly | Cartoon explainer video software | Hand-built cartoon explainer videos |
| Vidu | AI video generator | Text or image to cartoon video |
Ten AI cartoon video generators and makers
Animaker
Best for: Beginners who want to pick a template and build a cartoon video online from a large library of characters and animations, with a forever free plan.
CapCut
Best for: Creators who want to cartoonize photos in a few clicks, export them in several formats and animate them later in a video editor.
FlexClip
Best for: Small businesses turning scripts or text into cartoon videos, with free templates, stock media, music and AI help for stories and subtitles.
InVideo
Best for: Storytellers who want to describe a cartoon to an AI agent, guide it with reference images or storyboard frames, then add narration and titles.
Media.io
Best for: Social creators who want an online text-to-video tool that turns a prompt or images into an animated cartoon clip, with a mobile app too.
Pollo AI
Best for: Anyone with no animation experience who wants to turn an idea, reference image or prompt into a cartoon video for social posts.
Simplified
Best for: Marketers already using an AI design suite who want to turn photos into personalised cartoons for illustrations, gaming or storytelling.
Steve AI
Best for: Parents, teachers and creators who want scripts turned into animated story videos, from a maker pitched at storytelling for kids.
Toonly
Best for: Business owners who'd rather build animated cartoon explainer videos scene by scene than generate them from a prompt.
Vidu
Best for: Creators of any level who want text or images turned into animated cartoon videos in a few clicks, from a generator with its own video models.
Script to cartoon, photo to cartoon or hand-built scenes?
Here's what I found reading the tool pages. Steve AI calls itself an AI cartoon video maker that turns scripts into animated videos, Media.io offers a free AI cartoon video generator from text and images, Pollo AI promises AI animated videos, and Vidu generates cartoon video from text and images. InVideo uses the same words, a free AI cartoon video generator and maker, and FlexClip turns scripts or texts into AI cartoons.
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Three pages work differently. CapCut's page turns photos into cartoons and Simplified's will cartoonize a photo, so you get a still image to animate somewhere else. Toonly is an explainer tool whose page asks why explainer videos work, and Animaker sells a free online cartoon maker with 3000+ animations. So decide whether you want the AI to write the scenes or you'd rather build them.
What changes between cartoon video tools
- Input. A full script, a one-line prompt, a reference image or your own photo. Script tools suit stories; photo tools suit a cartoon version of a real person or product.
- Control. Generators decide the shots for you. Template builders let you place every character and scene, which takes longer but gives you exactly what you planned.
- Characters. Keeping the same character across scenes is the hard part for AI. Test a three-scene story before you commit.
- Finishing. Some add narration, music, titles and subtitles; others hand you a clip to finish in an editor.
How to make your first AI cartoon video
- Write a short script: one character, one problem and one moment of change works well.
- Decide whether you'll start from text, a reference image or a photo.
- Generate one scene first and check the style before you make the rest.
- Keep the character description identical in every prompt so the look stays consistent.
- Add voiceover, music and captions, then export in the shape your platform wants.
- Only upload photos of people who've agreed to be turned into a cartoon.
If you'd rather start with a still image, my guide on how to turn a photo into a cartoon with AI for free walks through it.
Do you make AI cartoon or animation video software? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on picking a cartoon video generator
Work back from what you're posting. If it's a quick story for social, a script or prompt generator gets you there fastest, so test two of them with the same script and keep the one whose characters stay consistent. If you're explaining a product to customers, a template builder gives you more control over every scene. And if you only want a cartoon version of a photo, a photo cartoonizer is enough, though you'll need an editor to make it move.
Building something longer? My roundup of animated explainer video makers covers hand-built explainers, and my list of free AI animation tools for beginners covers wider animation.
Want your tool on this list? Featured spots and reviews here are paid partnerships. Here's how to partner with me.
Frequently asked questions
What is an AI cartoon video generator?
It's a tool that turns a script, text prompt or image into an animated cartoon video, choosing the characters, scenes and movement for you.
Can I turn a photo into a cartoon video?
Yes, in two steps with some tools: cartoonize the photo first, then animate it. A few generators take an image as the starting point for a cartoon video directly.
Are AI cartoon video generators free?
Some offer a free plan or free use with limits, and others only let you try them. Check each tool's own site for current limits.
What's the difference between a cartoon video generator and an explainer video maker?
A generator creates the scenes from your script or prompt. An explainer maker gives you characters and templates to build each scene yourself.
How do I keep the same cartoon character across scenes?
Use the same character description or reference image in every prompt, and generate one scene at a time so you can catch changes early.
Can I use AI cartoon videos on YouTube and TikTok?
Yes. Check each tool's own terms for commercial use, and only use photos and voices you have permission to use.
