PowerPoint to Video with Animated Slides

This guide shows you how to convert PowerPoint presentations into dynamic videos with AI-generated animations. Instead of static slide images, the AI analyzes each slide and creates motion graphics — zoom, pan, and fade effects — that bring your slides to life.

What You Will Learn

Animated Slides

AI generates motion graphics for each slide

Multilingual Support

Generate narration in 14 languages

Combined Features

Mix animations with speaker notes and language options

Auto Processing

Automatic animation generation per slide

Before You Begin

Make sure you have:

A Pictory API key (get one here)
Node.js or Python installed on your machine
PowerPoint file accessible via public URL

npm install axios

How Animated Slides Work

When you enable animatePPT:

File Processing - Your PPT file is accessed and parsed
Slide Extraction - Each slide becomes a video scene
AI Analysis - The AI analyzes each slide’s visual content
Animation Generation - Motion graphics prompts are generated per slide (zoom, pan, fade effects)
Narration - Voice-over text is generated (from slide text or speaker notes)
Video Rendering - Final video combines animated slides with narration

The animatePPT option uses AI to generate animation prompts for each slide. This works for slides with image backgrounds. Video-based slides are not animated.

Complete Example — Animated PPT

import axios from "axios";

const API_BASE_URL = "https://api.pictory.ai/pictoryapis";
const API_KEY = "YOUR_API_KEY";

const PPT_URL = "https://pictory-static.pictorycontent.com/sample_ppt.pptx";

async function createAnimatedPptVideo() {
  try {
    console.log("Creating animated video from PowerPoint...");

    const response = await axios.post(
      `${API_BASE_URL}/v2/video/storyboard/render`,
      {
        videoName: "animated_ppt_video",
        scenes: [
          {
            pptUrl: PPT_URL,
            animatePPT: true,            // Enable AI slide animations
          }
        ],
        voiceOver: {
          enabled: true,
          aiVoices: [
            {
              speaker: "Brian",
              speed: 100,
              amplificationLevel: 0,
            },
          ],
        },
      },
      {
        headers: {
          "Content-Type": "application/json",
          Authorization: API_KEY,
        },
      }
    );

    const jobId = response.data.data.jobId;
    console.log("Job ID:", jobId);

    // Poll for completion
    let jobCompleted = false;
    while (!jobCompleted) {
      const statusResponse = await axios.get(
        `${API_BASE_URL}/v1/jobs/${jobId}`,
        { headers: { Authorization: API_KEY } }
      );

      const status = statusResponse.data.data.status;
      console.log("Status:", status);

      if (status === "completed") {
        jobCompleted = true;
        console.log("Video URL:", statusResponse.data.data.videoURL);
      } else if (status === "failed") {
        throw new Error("Video creation failed");
      }

      await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, 10000));
    }
  } catch (error) {
    console.error("Error:", error.response?.data || error.message);
    throw error;
  }
}

createAnimatedPptVideo();

Multilingual PPT Video — Translate Decks at Render Time

You do not need to translate your PowerPoint deck before submitting it. Pass the language field with a target language code and Pictory generates the narration directly in that language, reading from your original slide text or speaker notes. One source deck can ship as videos in 14 different languages without you maintaining translated copies.

Use the top-level language parameter to render the video in a language different from the one your deck is written in. The AI reads each slide (or speaker notes, if useSpeakerNotes: true) and generates narration directly in the target language — translation happens at render time. Example: the request below submits an English-language PowerPoint deck but produces a German video.

{
  videoName: "german_ppt_video",
  language: "de",                        // Generate narration in German
                                         // (even if the deck is in English)
  scenes: [
    {
      pptUrl: "https://storage.example.com/presentation.pptx",
      animatePPT: true                   // Optional: add animations
    }
  ],
  voiceOver: {
    enabled: true,
    aiVoices: [{
      speaker: "Wilbur",                 // Default German voice
      speed: 100,
      amplificationLevel: 0
    }]
  }
}

To ship the same deck in multiple languages, submit one render request per target language with the same pptUrl and a different language value. Each render is independent — you can fan them out in parallel from your code.

Supported Languages

Code	Language
`en`	English (default)
`zh`	Chinese
`nl`	Dutch
`fr`	French
`de`	German
`hi`	Hindi
`it`	Italian
`ja`	Japanese
`ko`	Korean
`mr`	Marathi
`pt`	Portuguese
`ru`	Russian
`es`	Spanish
`ta`	Tamil

Understanding the Parameters

Main Request Parameters

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
`videoName`	string	Yes	A descriptive name for your video project
`language`	string	No	Language for AI-generated narration. Default: `en`
`scenes`	array	Yes	Array of scene objects
`voiceOver`	object	No	Voice-over configuration

Scene Parameters

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
`pptUrl`	string	Yes	Public URL to the PowerPoint file
`animatePPT`	boolean	No	Enable AI-generated slide animations. Only valid with `pptUrl`. Default: `false`
`useSpeakerNotes`	boolean	No	Use speaker notes for narration instead of slide text. Only valid with `pptUrl`. Default: `false`

Common Use Cases

Animated with Speaker Notes

{
  videoName: "animated_with_notes",
  scenes: [{
    pptUrl: "https://storage.example.com/visual-deck.pptx",
    animatePPT: true,
    useSpeakerNotes: true
  }],
  voiceOver: {
    enabled: true,
    aiVoices: [{
      speaker: "Emma",
      speed: 100,
      amplificationLevel: 0
    }]
  }
}

Result: Animated slides with narration from speaker notes. The AI generates animation prompts while using your speaker notes for the voice-over.

Multilingual Animated Presentation

{
  videoName: "french_animated_ppt",
  language: "fr",
  scenes: [{
    pptUrl: "https://storage.example.com/product-deck.pptx",
    animatePPT: true
  }],
  voiceOver: {
    enabled: true,
    aiVoices: [{
      speaker: "Celine",
      speed: 100,
      amplificationLevel: 0
    }]
  }
}

Result: The AI reads your slides and generates French narration with animated slide transitions.

Japanese Training Video

{
  videoName: "japanese_training",
  language: "ja",
  scenes: [{
    pptUrl: "https://storage.example.com/training.pptx",
    useSpeakerNotes: true
  }],
  voiceOver: {
    enabled: true,
    aiVoices: [{
      speaker: "Mizuki",
      speed: 95,
      amplificationLevel: 0
    }]
  }
}

Result: Training video with Japanese narration generated from speaker notes.

Feature Combinations

`animatePPT`	`useSpeakerNotes`	`language`	Behavior
`false`	`false`	`en`	Standard PPT to video — slide text used as-is for narration
`false`	`true`	`en`	Speaker notes used for narration, no animations
`true`	`false`	`en`	AI generates animations + uses slide text for narration
`true`	`true`	`en`	AI generates animations only, speaker notes used for narration
`false`	`false`	`de`	AI generates German narration from slide content
`true`	`false`	`de`	AI generates German narration + slide animations
`true`	`true`	`de`	AI generates animations, speaker notes used for narration

When both animatePPT and useSpeakerNotes are true, the AI focuses on generating animation prompts and uses your speaker notes as the narration source rather than generating new text.

Best Practices

Optimize Slides for Animation

Get the most out of AI animations:

Clear Visual Layout: Simple, well-structured slides produce better animations
High Quality Images: Use high-resolution images for smooth motion effects
Minimal Text Overlay: Slides with large visuals animate more effectively
Consistent Design: Similar slide designs produce cohesive animation styles

Choose the Right Language Voice

Match your voice to the language:

Use language-native AI voices for the best pronunciation
Browse available voices with the Get Voiceover Tracks API
Test with a short presentation before converting a full deck
Adjust voice speed for the target language (some languages are naturally faster/slower)

When to Use Animations

animatePPT works best for:

Image-heavy slides: Photos, charts, and diagrams come alive with motion
Marketing presentations: Add visual energy to product decks
Social media content: Animated slides are more engaging for short-form video
Training materials: Motion helps maintain viewer attention

Skip animations for:

Text-heavy slides: Motion can distract from reading
Data tables: Complex tables are better shown static
Short presentations: 2–3 slides may not benefit much from animation

Next Steps

Standard PPT Narration

Basic PowerPoint to video conversion

Speaker Notes

Use speaker notes for narration

Background Music

Add music to your presentation video

Brand Settings

Apply consistent branding

API Reference

For complete technical details, see:

Render Storyboard Video - Full API specification
Create Storyboard Preview - Preview before rendering
Get Voiceover Tracks - List available AI voices

​What You Will Learn

Animated Slides

Multilingual Support

Combined Features

Auto Processing

​Before You Begin

​How Animated Slides Work

​Complete Example — Animated PPT

​Multilingual PPT Video — Translate Decks at Render Time

​Supported Languages

​Understanding the Parameters

​Main Request Parameters

​Scene Parameters

​Common Use Cases

​Animated with Speaker Notes

​Multilingual Animated Presentation

​Japanese Training Video

​Feature Combinations

​Best Practices

​Next Steps

Standard PPT Narration

Speaker Notes

Background Music

Brand Settings

​API Reference

What You Will Learn

Before You Begin

How Animated Slides Work

Complete Example — Animated PPT

Multilingual PPT Video — Translate Decks at Render Time

Supported Languages

Understanding the Parameters

Main Request Parameters

Scene Parameters

Common Use Cases

Animated with Speaker Notes

Multilingual Animated Presentation

Japanese Training Video

Feature Combinations

Best Practices

Next Steps

API Reference