Create Video

Generate complete videos from a text prompt. Describe what you want and the AI handles script writing, avatar selection, visuals, voiceover, pacing, and captions automatically.

Authentication

All requests require the X-Api-Key header. Set the HEYGEN_API_KEY environment variable.

curl -X POST "https://api.heygen.com/v1/video_agent/generate" \
  -H "X-Api-Key: $HEYGEN_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"prompt": "Create a 60-second product demo video."}'

Tool Selection

If HeyGen MCP tools are available (mcp__heygen__*), prefer them over direct HTTP API calls — they handle authentication and request formatting automatically.

| Task | MCP Tool | Fallback (Direct API) | |------|----------|----------------------| | Generate video from prompt | mcp__heygen__generate_video_agent | POST /v1/video_agent/generate | | Check video status / get URL | mcp__heygen__get_video | GET /v2/videos/{video_id} | | List account videos | mcp__heygen__list_videos | GET /v2/videos | | Delete a video | mcp__heygen__delete_video | DELETE /v2/videos/{video_id} |

If no HeyGen MCP tools are available, use direct HTTP API calls as documented in the reference files.

Default Workflow

Always use prompt-optimizer.md guidelines to structure prompts with scenes, timing, and visual styles.

With MCP tools:

1. Write an optimized prompt using prompt-optimizer.md → visual-styles.md
2. Call mcp__heygen__generate_video_agent with prompt and config (duration_sec, orientation, avatar_id)
3. Call mcp__heygen__get_video with the returned video_id to poll status and get the download URL

Without MCP tools (direct API):

1. Write an optimized prompt using prompt-optimizer.md → visual-styles.md
2. POST /v1/video_agent/generate — see video-agent.md
3. GET /v2/videos/<id> — see video-status.md

Quick Reference

| Task | MCP Tool | Read | |------|----------|------| | Generate video from prompt | mcp__heygen__generate_video_agent | prompt-optimizer.md → visual-styles.md → video-agent.md | | Check video status / get download URL | mcp__heygen__get_video | video-status.md | | Upload reference files for prompt | — | assets.md |

When to Use This Skill vs Avatar Video

This skill is for prompt-based video creation — describe what you want, and the AI handles the rest.

If the user needs precise control over specific avatars, exact scripts, per-scene voice/background configuration, or multi-scene composition, use the avatar-video skill instead.

| User Says | This Skill | Avatar Video Skill | |-----------|:----------:|:------------------:| | "Make me a video about X" | ✓ | | | "Create a product demo" | ✓ | | | "I want avatar Y to say exactly Z" | | ✓ | | "Multi-scene video with different backgrounds" | | ✓ | | "Transparent WebM for compositing" | | ✓ |

Reference Files

Core Workflow

• references/prompt-optimizer.md - Writing effective prompts (core workflow + rules)
• references/visual-styles.md - 20 named visual styles with full specs
• references/prompt-examples.md - Full production prompt example + ready-to-use templates
• references/video-agent.md - Video Agent API endpoint details

Foundation

• references/video-status.md - Polling patterns and download URLs
• references/webhooks.md - Webhook endpoints and events
• references/assets.md - Uploading images, videos, audio as references
• references/dimensions.md - Resolution and aspect ratios
• references/quota.md - Credit system and usage limits

Best Practices

1. Optimize your prompt — The difference between mediocre and professional results depends entirely on prompt quality. Always use the prompt optimizer
2. Specify duration — Use config.duration_sec for predictable length
3. Lock avatar if needed — Use config.avatar_id for consistency across videos
4. Upload reference files — Help the agent understand your brand/product
5. Iterate on prompts — Refine based on results; Video Agent is great for quick iterations