How To Use Pika

Pika Labs:

• Apple iOS App
• Web App

There’s a quiet revolution happening in short-form content.

And at the center of it is a tool you’ve probably never heard of—unless you’ve already fallen down the AI video rabbit hole.

That tool is Pika, and it’s reshaping the way creators make videos.

Whether you’re looking to generate a hyper-realistic scene from a single prompt or inject surreal effects into a clip you recorded on your phone, Pika can do it.

And if you know how to use all of its features, it becomes one of the most powerful tools in your entire creative stack.

In this post, we’re going deep. You won’t just learn what Pika is. You’ll learn how to use every one of its core features—PikaScenes, PikaEffects, PikaAdditions, PikaFrames, PikaTwists, and PikaSwaps—with precision.

What Is Pika?

Pika is a free, browser-based AI tool that lets you generate and edit videos using nothing but text and images.

Think of it like a creative co-pilot that can animate still photos, change scenes, swap objects, or add new elements into existing video footage.

It’s fast, it’s powerful, and it’s surprisingly simple to use—once you understand how each feature works.

Unlike typical video editors that require footage, lighting, editing skills, and hours of work, Pika lets you skip straight to the final product.

You tell the AI what you want, and it delivers.

That’s it.

How to Use Every Feature in Pika...

1. PikaScenes

What it does: Turns a static image—or two images—into a fully animated video. This is ideal for storytelling or setting cinematic scenes.

How to use it:

• Upload a single image or a start and end image.
• Describe the motion or action you want using a prompt. Example: "a drone flies over a futuristic city at night."
• Select your aspect ratio and duration settings.
• Click generate. Pika will animate the scene for you.

This feature is best for creators who want to build trailers, intros, or visual mood boards without touching a camera.

2. PikaEffects

What it does: Applies surreal, cinematic, or stylized effects to your existing videos. It can make objects inflate, melt, transform into cake, and more.

How to use it:

• Upload a short video clip.
• Select an effect type from the library.
• Optionally, use a brush tool to apply the effect to a specific region.
• Click generate and let Pika apply the transformation.

PikaEffects is great when you want your content to stop viewers mid-scroll. It feels like visual magic—and it’s completely customizable.

3. PikaAdditions

What it does: Lets you insert new characters, animals, or objects into an existing video.

How to use it:

• Upload or record a video inside the app.
• Upload an image of the object or character you want to insert.
• Write a short prompt describing what that new element is doing. Example: “a raccoon is sitting on the kitchen counter.”
• Click generate. The AI adds the element to your scene like it was always there.

This is the feature behind AI characters like the raccoon who went viral. With just a photo and a prompt, you can drop any character into any scenario.

4. PikaFrames

What it does: Morphs one image into another through a smooth, animated transition. Ideal for visual storytelling or building evolution-style videos.

How to use it:

• Upload a start image and an end image.
• Write a prompt that describes the transition. Example: “transforming a quiet forest into a burning post-apocalyptic wasteland.”
• Select the transition duration and resolution.
• Click generate to watch the transformation unfold.

This tool is perfect for designers, marketers, and meme creators who want to create powerful before-and-after visuals.

5. PikaTwists

What it does: Changes the action in a video without replacing the entire clip. It keeps the background and characters intact, but alters what’s happening in the scene.

How to use it:

• Upload a video at least 5 seconds long.
• Choose Turbo mode (faster) or Pro mode (higher quality).
• Write a prompt that changes the action. Example: “the person waves instead of typing.”
• Click generate. The AI will recreate the motion you described.

This is one of the most overlooked features in Pika. If you already have a shot you like, but want to modify the movement or reaction—it’s the fastest way to do it without re-recording.

6. PikaSwaps

What it does: Lets you replace any object or person in a video with something else. It’s like a deepfake editor, but simpler and easier to control.

How to use it:

• Upload your video.
• Use the brush tool to highlight the object or person you want to swap, or select it automatically by name.
• Write a prompt describing the replacement. Optionally, upload a reference image.
• Click generate. Pika seamlessly swaps the element in the video.

Use this when you want to test variations of your video without reshooting. Swap in a new product, background prop, or even character expression.

Final Thoughts

Pika isn’t just another AI tool. It’s a creative playground that gives anyone—from solo creators to agencies—the power to generate stunning video content with almost no production overhead.

When you understand how to use its full suite of features, the only real limit is your imagination.

Whether you're trying to create an AI-powered influencer, remix a trending video format, or simply build a new type of story—Pika makes it possible.

And now that you know how to use every part of it, you’re ahead of 99% of creators online.

Try it for yourself at https://pika.art.