Toonflow: AI Tool for Turning Novels into Short Dramas

If you’ve ever dreamed of transforming your favorite novel or story idea into a vibrant short film, Toonflow is the open‑source solution that makes that dream a reality. Built with Node.js, TypeScript, and a suite of popular AI libraries, it automates almost every step of the production cycle—character creation, scriptwriting, storyboard generation, and even video synthesis.

What is Toonflow?

• Purpose: An end‑to‑end AI platform for turning text into short‑form drama.
• Key Features:
• Character Generation: Analyzes text to auto‑generate character profiles (appearance, personality, roles).
• Script Generation: Produces structured, scene‑by‑scene scripts based on selected novel passages.
• Storyboard Creation: Generates storyboard prompts with detailed visual cues.
• Video Synthesis: Integrates AI image and video models to produce short clips.
• Multi‑Format Support: Handles novels, scripts, comics, and game dialogue text.

• Batch & Queue Processing: Manage multiple chapters or projects concurrently.

• Open‑Source: Released under AGPL‑3.0, the repository includes all source code, docs, and sample front‑end assets.

• Platform Support: Currently Windows‑only for the desktop app, but server deployment is supported on Ubuntu and CentOS.

Why Use Toonflow?

1. Speed & Efficiency: Cuts creative workflow time by tenfold.
2. Accessibility: No specialised filmmaking background required; the AI does the heavy lifting.
3. Flexibility: Supports custom AI model endpoints (e.g., Nano‑Banana Pro, Sora, or open‑source alternatives).
4. Developer Friendly: Comes with full Node.js/TS codebase, clear API routes, and a modular architecture.
5. Community & Extensibility: Built with a modular agent system (LangChain) enabling easy plug‑in of new models or workflows.

Getting Started

Below you’ll find concise instructions for local installation, desktop usage, and cloud deployment.

1. Local Desktop Setup (Windows)

1. Download the Release: Grab the latest release zip from the GitHub Releases page (e.g., Toonflow-app-v1.0.5.zip).
2. Extract & Open: Unzip and launch the executable (Toonflow.exe).
3. Initial Login: Use default credentials to sign in:
4. Username: admin
5. Password: admin123
6. Configure AI Endpoints: Navigate to Settings → AI Service to provide URLs for:
7. Language Model API
8. Sora / Video Service
9. Nano‑Banana Pro Image Model
10. Start Producing: Create a new project, import a novel text file, and watch Toonflow generate scripts, storyboards, and clips.

2. Development Environment

# Fork or clone
git clone https://github.com/HBAI-Ltd/Toonflow-app.git
cd Toonflow-app

# Install dependencies
yarn install

# Run the dev server (Windows port 60000)
yarn dev

The front‑end is bundled into the scripts/web folder. For further UI customisation, clone the separate Toonflow-web repo and copy the dist folder into scripts/web.

3. Cloud Deployment

4. Key API Routes

• POST /api/novel/upload – Upload novel text.
• GET /api/script/generate – Generate script for selected chapters.
• POST /api/storyboard/create – Create storyboard prompts.
• POST /api/video/create – Trigger AI video synthesis.

These routes can be integrated into custom front‑ends or automation scripts.

Real‑World Use Cases

Contribution & Community

• Open Issues: Search for open issues labeled enhancement or bug and submit PRs.
• WeChat Group: Join the community via QR code linked in the repo.
• License: AGPL‑3.0 – use freely, but share improvements back.

Take the Next Step

Ready to turn your narrative into an animated short? Clone the repo, follow the quick start guide, and experiment with your own novels. Whether you’re a hobbyist or a professional, Toonflow provides the tools to amplify your creative vision.

Happy storytelling!