Sora 2 Character API Complete Tutorial: 2 Methods to Create Reusable Characters and Achieve Cross-Video Character Consistency

Two Methods to Create Characters with Sora 2 Character API

Sora 2 Character API offers two flexible ways to create reusable character IDs, each suited for different scenarios.

Method 1: Extract from Video URL

This method extracts character features directly from an existing video URL. It's perfect when you have a video hosted somewhere and want to pull out a specific character.

Request Parameters:

{
  "model": "sora-2-character",
  "url": "https://cdn.openai.com/sora/videos/character-sample.mp4",
  "timestamps": "5,8"  # Extract character from 5s to 8s
}

Complete Code Example:

import requests
import json

def create_character_from_url():
    """Extract character from video URL"""
    
    api_key = "your_api_key_here"  # Replace with your actual API key
    api_url = "https://api.openai.com/v1/sora/characters"
    
    headers = {
        "Authorization": f"Bearer {api_key}",
        "Content-Type": "application/json"
    }
    
    payload = {
        "model": "sora-2-character",
        "url": "https://cdn.openai.com/sora/videos/character-sample.mp4",
        "timestamps": "5,8"  # Character appears between 5-8 seconds
    }
    
    try:
        response = requests.post(api_url, headers=headers, json=payload)
        response.raise_for_status()
        
        result = response.json()
        character_id = result.get("character_id")
        
        print(f"✓ Character created successfully!")
        print(f"Character ID: {character_id}")
        print(f"\nYou can now use '@{character_id}' in your video prompts")
        
        return character_id
        
    except requests.exceptions.RequestException as e:
        print(f"✗ Request failed: {e}")
        return None

# Run it
if __name__ == "__main__":
    char_id = create_character_from_url()

Key Points for Method 1:

Method 2: Reuse from Task ID

This method is brilliant for workflow efficiency. If you've already generated a video using Sora 2, you can directly extract characters from that generation task without needing to upload the video again.

Request Parameters:

{
  "model": "sora-2-character",
  "from_task": "video_f751ab9d82e34c02b123456789abcdef",
  "timestamps": "5,8"
}

Complete Code Example:

import requests
import json

def create_character_from_task():
    """Extract character from existing generation task"""
    
    api_key = "your_api_key_here"
    api_url = "https://api.openai.com/v1/sora/characters"
    
    headers = {
        "Authorization": f"Bearer {api_key}",
        "Content-Type": "application/json"
    }
    
    # Assume you've already generated a video and got its task_id
    previous_task_id = "video_f751ab9d82e34c02b123456789abcdef"
    
    payload = {
        "model": "sora-2-character",
        "from_task": previous_task_id,
        "timestamps": "5,8"
    }
    
    try:
        response = requests.post(api_url, headers=headers, json=payload)
        response.raise_for_status()
        
        result = response.json()
        character_id = result.get("character_id")
        
        print(f"✓ Character extracted from task!")
        print(f"Source task: {previous_task_id}")
        print(f"Character ID: {character_id}")
        
        return character_id
        
    except requests.exceptions.RequestException as e:
        print(f"✗ Extraction failed: {e}")
        return None

# Run it
if __name__ == "__main__":
    char_id = create_character_from_task()

Key Points for Method 2:

Which Method Should You Use?

Mastering the timestamps Parameter

The timestamps parameter is crucial for accurate character extraction. It tells the API exactly when your target character appears in the video.

Format and Rules

"timestamps": "start,end"  # In seconds

Key Rules:

1. Format: Two numbers separated by a comma, no spaces
2. Unit: Seconds (integer or decimal)
3. Range: start < end, both within video duration
4. Character visibility: The specified character must appear clearly during this timeframe

Practical Examples

# Example 1: Extract character from 5-8 seconds
{
  "timestamps": "5,8"
}

# Example 2: Extract from beginning (0-3 seconds)
{
  "timestamps": "0,3"
}

# Example 3: Extract from middle section (10.5-15.2 seconds)
{
  "timestamps": "10.5,15.2"
}

# Example 4: Extract from end (45-50 seconds in a 50s video)
{
  "timestamps": "45,50"
}

How to Choose the Right Timestamp

Step 1: Watch Your Video

• Play the video and identify where your target character appears clearly
• Note the start and end times of the best segment

Step 2: Pick a Clear Segment

• Choose a section where the character is:
  • Fully visible (not obscured)
  • Well-lit
  • Facing camera or at a good angle
  • 3-5 seconds duration is usually enough

Step 3: Avoid These Common Mistakes

Smart Timestamp Selection Code

Here's a helper function to validate your timestamps:

def validate_timestamps(timestamps_str, video_duration):
    """
    Validate timestamps parameter
    
    Args:
        timestamps_str: "start,end" format string
        video_duration: Total video duration in seconds
    
    Returns:
        (bool, str): (is_valid, error_message)
    """
    try:
        start, end = map(float, timestamps_str.split(','))
        
        if start < 0:
            return False, "Start time can't be negative"
        
        if end > video_duration:
            return False, f"End time {end}s exceeds video duration {video_duration}s"
        
        if start >= end:
            return False, "Start time must be less than end time"
        
        if (end - start) < 1:
            return False, "Time range should be at least 1 second for better accuracy"
        
        if (end - start) > 10:
            return False, "Warning: Time range > 10s might include too much variation"
        
        return True, "Valid timestamps"
        
    except ValueError:
        return False, "Invalid format. Use 'start,end' with numbers only"

# Usage
is_valid, message = validate_timestamps("5,8", 30)
print(message)  # "Valid timestamps"

is_valid, message = validate_timestamps("25,28", 20)
print(message)  # "End time 28s exceeds video duration 20s"

Complete Workflow: From Creation to Reuse

Let's walk through a real-world example of creating a character and using it across multiple videos.

Step 1: Generate Your First Video

import requests

def generate_initial_video():
    """Generate a video that we'll extract a character from"""
    
    api_key = "your_api_key_here"
    api_url = "https://api.openai.com/v1/sora/generations"
    
    headers = {
        "Authorization": f"Bearer {api_key}",
        "Content-Type": "application/json"
    }
    
    payload = {
        "model": "sora-2.0-turbo",
        "prompt": "A young woman with curly brown hair and glasses, wearing a blue sweater, walking through a sunny park",
        "size": "1280x720",
        "duration": 10
    }
    
    response = requests.post(api_url, headers=headers, json=payload)
    result = response.json()
    
    task_id = result.get("id")
    print(f"Video generation started: {task_id}")
    
    return task_id

# Generate the video
task_id = generate_initial_video()

Step 2: Extract Character from the Generated Video

def extract_character(task_id):
    """Extract character from the generated video"""
    
    api_key = "your_api_key_here"
    api_url = "https://api.openai.com/v1/sora/characters"
    
    headers = {
        "Authorization": f"Bearer {api_key}",
        "Content-Type": "application/json"
    }
    
    payload = {
        "model": "sora-2-character",
        "from_task": task_id,
        "timestamps": "2,6"  # Extract from 2-6 seconds
    }
    
    response = requests.post(api_url, headers=headers, json=payload)
    result = response.json()
    
    character_id = result.get("character_id")
    print(f"✓ Character extracted: {character_id}")
    
    return character_id

# Extract the character
character_id = extract_character(task_id)

Step 3: Reuse Character in New Videos

Now comes the magic – use your character ID in completely different scenarios:

def generate_with_character(character_id, scenario):
    """Generate new video with the extracted character"""
    
    api_key = "your_api_key_here"
    api_url = "https://api.openai.com/v1/sora/generations"
    
    headers = {
        "Authorization": f"Bearer {api_key}",
        "Content-Type": "application/json"
    }
    
    # Use @character_id in your prompt
    prompt = f"@{character_id} {scenario}"
    
    payload = {
        "model": "sora-2.0-turbo",
        "prompt": prompt,
        "size": "1280x720",
        "duration": 10
    }
    
    response = requests.post(api_url, headers=headers, json=payload)
    result = response.json()
    
    print(f"✓ New video with character started: {result.get('id')}")
    return result

# Generate multiple videos with the same character
scenarios = [
    "sitting in a cozy coffee shop, reading a book",
    "walking on a beach at sunset",
    "cooking in a modern kitchen"
]

for scenario in scenarios:
    generate_with_character(character_id, scenario)

Complete Integration Example

Here's a full, production-ready class that handles everything:

import requests
import time
from typing import Optional, Dict

class SoraCharacterManager:
    """Complete manager for Sora 2 character operations"""
    
    def __init__(self, api_key: str):
        self.api_key = api_key
        self.base_url = "https://api.openai.com/v1/sora"
        self.headers = {
            "Authorization": f"Bearer {api_key}",
            "Content-Type": "application/json"
        }
    
    def generate_video(self, prompt: str, duration: int = 10) -> str:
        """Generate a video and return task ID"""
        payload = {
            "model": "sora-2.0-turbo",
            "prompt": prompt,
            "size": "1280x720",
            "duration": duration
        }
        
        response = requests.post(
            f"{self.base_url}/generations",
            headers=self.headers,
            json=payload
        )
        response.raise_for_status()
        
        task_id = response.json().get("id")
        print(f"✓ Video generation started: {task_id}")
        return task_id
    
    def wait_for_completion(self, task_id: str, timeout: int = 300) -> Dict:
        """Wait for video generation to complete"""
        start_time = time.time()
        
        while time.time() - start_time < timeout:
            response = requests.get(
                f"{self.base_url}/generations/{task_id}",
                headers=self.headers
            )
            result = response.json()
            
            status = result.get("status")
            
            if status == "completed":
                print(f"✓ Video completed!")
                return result
            elif status == "failed":
                raise Exception(f"Generation failed: {result.get('error')}")
            
            time.sleep(5)  # Check every 5 seconds
        
        raise TimeoutError("Video generation timeout")
    
    def create_character_from_task(
        self, 
        task_id: str, 
        timestamps: str
    ) -> str:
        """Extract character from a generation task"""
        payload = {
            "model": "sora-2-character",
            "from_task": task_id,
            "timestamps": timestamps
        }
        
        response = requests.post(
            f"{self.base_url}/characters",
            headers=self.headers,
            json=payload
        )
        response.raise_for_status()
        
        character_id = response.json().get("character_id")
        print(f"✓ Character created: {character_id}")
        return character_id
    
    def create_character_from_url(
        self, 
        video_url: str, 
        timestamps: str
    ) -> str:
        """Extract character from a video URL"""
        payload = {
            "model": "sora-2-character",
            "url": video_url,
            "timestamps": timestamps
        }
        
        response = requests.post(
            f"{self.base_url}/characters",
            headers=self.headers,
            json=payload
        )
        response.raise_for_status()
        
        character_id = response.json().get("character_id")
        print(f"✓ Character created: {character_id}")
        return character_id
    
    def generate_with_character(
        self, 
        character_id: str, 
        scenario: str,
        duration: int = 10
    ) -> str:
        """Generate new video using existing character"""
        prompt = f"@{character_id} {scenario}"
        return self.generate_video(prompt, duration)

# Usage example
if __name__ == "__main__":
    # Initialize manager
    manager = SoraCharacterManager(api_key="your_api_key_here")
    
    # Step 1: Generate initial video
    task_id = manager.generate_video(
        prompt="A young woman with curly brown hair, wearing a blue sweater, walking in a park"
    )
    
    # Step 2: Wait for completion
    result = manager.wait_for_completion(task_id)
    
    # Step 3: Extract character
    character_id = manager.create_character_from_task(
        task_id=task_id,
        timestamps="2,6"
    )
    
    # Step 4: Generate new videos with the character
    scenarios = [
        "sitting in a coffee shop, reading a book",
        "walking on a beach at sunset",
        "cooking in a modern kitchen"
    ]
    
    for scenario in scenarios:
        manager.generate_with_character(character_id, scenario)
        time.sleep(2)  # Be nice to the API

Best Practices and Pro Tips

1. Character Quality Optimization

Choose the Right Source Material:

# ✓ Good: Clear, well-lit, stable shot
timestamps = "5,8"  # Character clearly visible for 3 seconds

# ✗ Bad: Quick cuts, poor lighting
timestamps = "0,1"  # Too short, might be blurry

2. Error Handling

Always implement robust error handling:

def create_character_safely(manager, task_id, timestamps):
    """Create character with proper error handling"""
    try:
        character_id = manager.create_character_from_task(task_id, timestamps)
        return character_id
    except requests.exceptions.HTTPError as e:
        if e.response.status_code == 400:
            print("Invalid parameters - check your timestamps")
        elif e.response.status_code == 404:
            print("Task not found - verify task_id")
        else:
            print(f"API error: {e}")
        return None
    except Exception as e:
        print(f"Unexpected error: {e}")
        return None

3. Cost Optimization

Character creation itself is free, but video generation costs tokens. Here's how to optimize:

# Strategy: Generate one high-quality reference video
# Then extract multiple characters from it

# Generate a "character showcase" video
showcase_task = manager.generate_video(
    prompt="Three distinct characters walking through a city: a young woman with curly hair, an elderly man with a cane, a teenage boy with a skateboard",
    duration=15
)

# Extract all three characters
char1 = manager.create_character_from_task(showcase_task, "2,5")
char2 = manager.create_character_from_task(showcase_task, "6,9")
char3 = manager.create_character_from_task(showcase_task, "10,13")

# Now you have 3 reusable characters from one generation!

Common Issues and Solutions

Wrapping Up

You've now mastered both methods of creating characters with Sora 2 Character API:

1. Method 1 (URL): Extract from any video URL – perfect for existing content
2. Method 2 (Task ID): Extract from your generation tasks – seamless workflow

Key Takeaways:

• The timestamps parameter is critical – choose 3-5 second segments where your character is clearly visible
• Character IDs are permanent and reusable across unlimited videos
• Method 2 (Task ID) is more efficient for integrated workflows
• Always validate your timestamps before submission

Next Steps:

• Experiment with both methods to find what works best for your workflow
• Build a character library for your projects
• Explore combining multiple characters in one scene

Recommended: For reliable, affordable access to Sora 2 API with free trial credits, check out APIYI – a trusted AI model API gateway.

Happy creating with consistent characters! 🎬✨

Two Methods to Create Sora 2 Character API

Method 1: Extract Character from Video URL

This is the most straightforward approach, perfect for when you already have existing video footage.

Request Parameter Details:

Complete Request Example:

curl https://api.apiyi.com/sora/v1/characters \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer sk-your-api-key" \
  -d '{
    "model": "sora-2-character",
    "url": "https://your-cdn.com/video/character-source.mp4",
    "timestamps": "5,8"
  }'

⚠️ Important Notes:

1. Video URL must be publicly accessible: OpenAI's servers need to be able to read the video
2. CDN should be globally accessible: If you're using OSS/CDN, make sure it's configured for global acceleration to avoid access issues from OpenAI's servers (typically overseas)
3. Timestamps range:
   • Minimum difference: 1 second
   • Maximum difference: 3 seconds
   • Example: "5,8" means from the 5th to 8th second of the video

Method 2: Reuse Character from Task ID

If you've previously generated a video through the Sora 2 API, you can directly use that video's task ID to extract the character—no need to upload the video again.

Request Parameter Details:

Complete Request Example:

curl https://api.apiyi.com/sora/v1/characters \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer sk-your-api-key" \
  -d '{
    "model": "sora-2-character",
    "from_task": "video_f751abfd-87a9-46e2-9236-1d94743c5e3e",
    "timestamps": "5,8"
  }'

Advantages of This Approach:

• ✅ No need to upload video separately, saves bandwidth
• ✅ Directly reuse already-generated video assets
• ✅ Smoother workflow, great for batch processing
• ✅ Avoids video URL expiration or access issues

Tip: Call the Sora 2 Character API through APIYI apiyi.com for stable access and free testing credits.

Comparing Two Methods for Sora 2 Character API

How to Choose?

Go with Video URL method when:

• You have existing video footage (like filmed live-action videos, videos downloaded from other platforms)
• You need to extract characters from non-Sora generated videos

Go with Task ID method when:

• You're using Sora 2 API to batch generate videos
• You want to extract characters from already-generated videos for subsequent video series
• You're looking for a smoother, more automated workflow

Sora 2 Character API timestamps Parameter Explained

timestamps is the most critical parameter in the Character API—it determines which time segment of the video to extract the character from.

timestamps Format Rules

timestamps Configuration Tips

1. Choose segments where the character is clearly visible: The character should appear completely in frame without obstruction
2. Avoid fast-moving segments: Select time periods where the character is relatively still or moving slowly
3. Ensure good lighting: Well-lit segments will extract more accurate character features
4. Prioritize frontal views: If possible, choose segments where the character faces the camera

Example scenario:

Let's say you have a 10-second video where the character appears front-facing at 2-4 seconds and in profile motion at 6-9 seconds:

// Recommended: choose the clear frontal segment
{
  "timestamps": "2,4"
}

// Not recommended: character in profile motion
{
  "timestamps": "6,9"
}

Sora 2 Character API Complete Workflow

Python Code Example

import requests
import time

# API configuration
API_BASE = "https://api.apiyi.com/sora/v1"
API_KEY = "sk-your-api-key"

headers = {
    "Content-Type": "application/json",
    "Authorization": f"Bearer {API_KEY}"
}

def create_character_from_url(video_url: str, timestamps: str) -> dict:
    """Method 1: Create character from video URL"""
    response = requests.post(
        f"{API_BASE}/characters",
        headers=headers,
        json={
            "model": "sora-2-character",
            "url": video_url,
            "timestamps": timestamps
        }
    )
    return response.json()

def create_character_from_task(task_id: str, timestamps: str) -> dict:
    """Method 2: Create character from task ID"""
    response = requests.post(
        f"{API_BASE}/characters",
        headers=headers,
        json={
            "model": "sora-2-character",
            "from_task": task_id,
            "timestamps": timestamps
        }
    )
    return response.json()

# Usage examples
# Method 1: Create from video URL
result1 = create_character_from_url(
    video_url="https://your-cdn.com/video/hero.mp4",
    timestamps="5,8"
)
print(f"Character creation task: {result1}")

# Method 2: Create from task ID
result2 = create_character_from_task(
    task_id="video_f751abfd-87a9-46e2-9236-1d94743c5e3e",
    timestamps="2,4"
)
print(f"Character creation task: {result2}")

import requests
import time

API_BASE = "https://api.apiyi.com/sora/v1"
API_KEY = "sk-your-api-key"

headers = {
    "Content-Type": "application/json",
    "Authorization": f"Bearer {API_KEY}"
}

def create_character(video_url: str, timestamps: str) -> str:
    """Create character and return character ID"""
    # 1. Initiate character creation request
    response = requests.post(
        f"{API_BASE}/characters",
        headers=headers,
        json={
            "model": "sora-2-character",
            "url": video_url,
            "timestamps": timestamps
        }
    )
    task_data = response.json()
    task_id = task_data.get("task_id")

    # 2. Poll until task completes
    while True:
        status_response = requests.get(
            f"{API_BASE}/characters/{task_id}",
            headers=headers
        )
        status_data = status_response.json()

        if status_data.get("status") == "completed":
            return status_data.get("character_id")
        elif status_data.get("status") == "failed":
            raise Exception(f"Character creation failed: {status_data}")

        time.sleep(5)  # Check every 5 seconds

def generate_video_with_character(prompt: str, character_id: str) -> str:
    """Generate video using character"""
    # Reference character in prompt via @character_id
    full_prompt = f"@{character_id} {prompt}"

    response = requests.post(
        f"{API_BASE}/videos",
        headers=headers,
        json={
            "model": "sora-2",
            "prompt": full_prompt,
            "duration": 8,
            "resolution": "1080p"
        }
    )
    return response.json()

# Complete workflow example
if __name__ == "__main__":
    # Step 1: Create character
    character_id = create_character(
        video_url="https://your-cdn.com/video/hero.mp4",
        timestamps="5,8"
    )
    print(f"Character created successfully, ID: {character_id}")

    # Step 2: Use character to generate video series
    scenes = [
        "walking through a futuristic city at night",
        "sitting in a coffee shop, reading a book",
        "running on a beach at sunset"
    ]

    for i, scene in enumerate(scenes):
        result = generate_video_with_character(scene, character_id)
        print(f"Video {i+1} generation task: {result}")

Tip: Access Sora 2 Character API through apiyi.com, which provides complete character management features and technical support.

FAQ

@char_abc123xyz walking through a futuristic city with neon lights flashing

Summary

Key points about the Sora 2 Character API:

1. Two creation methods: Video URL extraction and task ID reuse, flexibly adapting to different scenarios
2. timestamps parameter: Time range of 1-3 seconds, choose segments where the character is clearly visible
3. Character reuse: Create once, use multiple times across videos, maintaining character consistency
4. CDN configuration: When using the video URL method, ensure global accessibility

Once you've mastered the Character API, you'll be able to:

• Create reusable virtual characters for brand IPs
• Produce series video content with consistent characters
• Achieve professional-grade continuous narrative videos

We recommend accessing the Sora 2 Character API through APIYI apiyi.com. The platform provides stable service and free testing credits to help you quickly get started with character creation features.

📚 References

⚠️ Link Format Note: All external links use the Resource Name: domain.com format, making them easy to copy but not clickable, which helps prevent SEO weight loss.

1. OpenAI Sora 2 Official Release: Introduction to Sora 2's features and capabilities

   • Link: openai.com/index/sora-2/
   • Description: Get the official information about Sora 2 and its character functionality

2. OpenAI Help Center – Characters Feature: Guide to creating and using characters

   • Link: help.openai.com/en/articles/12435986-generating-content-with-characters
   • Description: Official documentation on how to use the characters feature

3. OpenAI API Documentation – Video Generation: Sora API technical documentation

   • Link: platform.openai.com/docs/guides/video-generation
   • Description: API interface specifications and parameter details

4. OpenAI Sora Characters Page: Product introduction for the characters feature

   • Link: openai.com/sora/characters/
   • Description: Product positioning and use cases for the characters feature

Author: Tech Team
Tech Discussion: Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments. For more resources, visit the APIYI apiyi.com tech community