media-content-character-consistency

name: media-content/character-consistency description: > Maintain character visual and vocal identity across multiple image and video generations. Use when creating recurring characters, multi-shot sequences, series content, brand characters, or any project requiring consistency between generations. Implements the Master Descriptor Protocol with Visual and Vocal Character Sheets, shot splitting, and visual anchors.

Character Consistency

Core Rule: Every Prompt is an Island

AI generation models have zero memory between prompts. The model does not remember what it generated 5 seconds ago.

• Every prompt must contain the FULL character description
• Never say "same character as before" or "the woman from the last shot"
• Copy-paste the exact same descriptor block into every prompt
• Any detail omitted WILL be randomized

Master Descriptor Protocol

For every recurring character, create two descriptor sheets.

Visual Character Sheet

VISUAL CHARACTER SHEET: [Character Name]
─────────────────────────────────────────
Age/Build:    [specific age range, body type, height impression]
Face:         [face shape, defining features, skin tone/texture]
Hair:         [color, length, style, texture, distinctive elements]
Eyes:         [color, shape, distinctive quality]
Expression:   [default emotional state, micro-expressions]
Wardrobe:     [specific clothing items, colors, textures, condition]
Props:        [recurring objects the character carries/wears]
Marks:        [scars, tattoos, jewelry, accessories]
Posture:      [how they carry themselves, gait, gestures]

Example

VISUAL CHARACTER SHEET: Elena
─────────────────────────────
Age/Build:    Late twenties, athletic, medium height
Face:         Angular jaw, high cheekbones, olive skin with faint freckles across nose
Hair:         Dark auburn, shoulder-length, slightly wavy, tucked behind left ear
Eyes:         Deep green, intense, slightly narrowed
Expression:   Confident half-smile, alert and watchful
Wardrobe:     Worn leather jacket (brown, zippered), white crew-neck tee, dark jeans
Props:        Silver compass pendant on thin chain, weathered canvas messenger bag
Marks:        Small scar above right eyebrow, silver ring on left thumb
Posture:      Weight shifted to one hip, hands often in jacket pockets

Vocal Character Sheet (Video Only)

VOCAL CHARACTER SHEET: [Character Name]
─────────────────────────────────────────
Voice quality:    [pitch, timbre, resonance]
Tone:             [emotional baseline — warm, cold, guarded, playful]
Pace:             [speaking speed — measured, rapid, deliberate]
Accent/Dialect:   [if any — be specific]
Speech patterns:  [verbal tics, sentence structure]
Volume:           [baseline loudness — soft-spoken, commanding]

Example Vocal Sheet

VOCAL CHARACTER SHEET: Elena
─────────────────────────────
Voice quality:    Mid-range alto, slightly husky, warm resonance
Tone:             Dry, confident, occasional vulnerability underneath
Pace:             Measured, deliberate — pauses before important words
Accent:           Slight Mediterranean lilt, mostly neutral
Speech patterns:  Short declarative sentences, avoids questions
Volume:           Conversational, drops to near-whisper for emphasis

Using Descriptors in Prompts

Single Character (Image)

[Shot type], [PASTE FULL Visual Character Sheet],
[Action], [Environment], [Camera/Lens], [Lighting]

Single Character (Video)

[Camera setup]. [Environment description].
[PASTE FULL Visual Character Sheet].
[Action — beat by beat].
[Camera movement].
[Audio — if dialogue, include Vocal Sheet + "says:" format].

Multi-Character Scene

1. Introduce each character with their FULL Visual Sheet
2. Distinguish clearly: "the taller woman", "the man in the red jacket"
3. Attribute every dialogue line explicitly
4. Describe spatial relationships: "standing three feet apart"

Multi-Character Dialogue Example

Two figures face each other in a dimly lit alley.

[Full Visual Sheet: Character A — the detective]
[Full Visual Sheet: Character B — the informant]

The detective leans against the brick wall, arms crossed. The informant
shifts nervously, glancing over his shoulder. The detective says in a
low, steady voice: You're running out of time. The informant swallows
hard and replies, voice cracking: I know things you don't.

Shot Splitting for Continuity

Each shot in a multi-shot sequence must:

1. Repeat the full character descriptor — copy-paste, no shortcuts
2. Repeat consistent environment details — same setting text
3. Repeat lighting and mood — same time of day, same palette
4. Vary ONLY the action and camera — this changes between shots

Example: 3-Shot Sequence

Shot 1 — Establishing (Wide)

Wide shot. Rain-soaked city rooftop at night, neon signs reflecting off puddles.
[Elena's full Visual Sheet]. She stands at the roof's edge, looking out.
Camera slowly pushes in from behind. Distant traffic hum, rain on concrete.

Shot 2 — Mid Shot

Medium shot. Same rain-soaked rooftop, neon reflections on wet concrete.
[Elena's full Visual Sheet]. She turns from the edge, pulling jacket tighter.
Expression shifts from watchful to resolved. Camera holds steady at chest height.
Rain intensifies. She says in a low, husky voice: It's time.

Shot 3 — Close-Up

Extreme close-up. Rain-soaked rooftop. Neon light flickers across wet surfaces.
[Elena's full Visual Sheet — face details emphasized]. Green eyes narrow.
A raindrop traces down the scar above her right eyebrow.
Camera slowly dollies in. Ambient city noise fades. Only her breathing.

Notice: rooftop, rain, neon, and Elena's full description repeat in every shot.

Visual Anchors

Recurring visual elements that create thematic continuity:

Include anchor descriptions in every prompt:

...neon signs casting blue and pink reflections on rain-slicked concrete...
...her silver compass pendant catches the light...

Storage

Save character sheets to the project media workspace:

~/org/shared/projects/{project}/media/characters/{character-name}.md

Common Failures & Fixes

Rules

1. Write once, paste everywhere — create descriptor, copy-paste verbatim
2. Never paraphrase — "auburn hair" ≠ "red-brown hair" to the model
3. Version control — if you update a descriptor, update ALL prompts
4. Test early — generate 2-3 test images before committing to a sequence
5. Keep under 80 words per character — longer descriptors dilute other elements