Seedance 2.0 Storyboard & Video Generation

End-to-end workflow from concept to final video: Storyboard → Reference images → Submit video task → Get results.

Step 0: Determine Execution Mode (MCP or Script)

Check MCP availability first:

• Check xskill-ai MCP service status (read mcps/user-xskill-ai/STATUS.md)

• If MCP is available → use submit_task / get_task and other MCP tools

• If MCP is unavailable or returns errors → switch to Script Mode

Script mode prerequisites:

• Verify XSKILL_API_KEY environment variable is set (run echo $XSKILL_API_KEY | head -c 10)

• If not set, prompt the user:

export XSKILL_API_KEY=sk-your-api-key

Get your API Key: https://www.xskill.ai/#/v2/api-keys

• Verify requests is installed (pip install requests)

Script path: Located under this skill's directory at scripts/seedance_api.py:

# Find via Glob tool

glob: .cursor/skills/seedance2-api/scripts/seedance_api.py

In the following steps, each API call provides both MCP method and Script method. Choose one based on the Step 0 result.

Step 1: Understand the User's Idea

Collect the following information (proactively ask if anything is missing):

• Story concept: one-sentence summary of the video

• Duration: 4–15 seconds

• Aspect ratio: 16:9 / 9:16 / 1:1 / 21:9 / 4:3 / 3:4

• Visual style: realistic / animation / ink wash / sci-fi / cyberpunk, etc.

• Assets: existing images/videos/audio, or need AI generation

• Function mode: first & last frame control (first_last_frames) or default omni mode (omni_reference)

Step 2: Deep Dive (5 Dimensions)

Guide the user through each dimension for richer detail:

• Content – Who is the subject? What are they doing? Where?

• Visuals – Lighting, color palette, texture, mood

• Camera – Push in / pull out / pan / tilt / track / orbit / crane

• Motion – Subject actions and pacing

• Audio – Music style, sound effects, dialogue

Step 3: Build Storyboard Structure

Break down shots along the timeline using this formula:

[Style] _____ style, _____ seconds, _____ ratio, _____ mood

0-Xs: [Camera movement] + [Visual content] + [Action description]

X-Ys: [Camera movement] + [Visual content] + [Action description]

...

[Audio] _____ music + _____ SFX + _____ dialogue

[References] @image_file_1 _____, @video_file_1 _____

See reference.md for detailed templates and examples.

Step 4: Generate Reference Images (If Needed)

If the user has no existing assets, use Seedream 4.5 to generate character art, scenes, first/last frames, etc.

Text-to-Image

Call submit_task tool:

• model_id: fal-ai/bytedance/seedream/v4.5/text-to-image

• parameters:

• prompt: detailed image description (English works best)

• image_size: choose based on video aspect ratio

• num_images: number needed (1–6)

python .cursor/skills/seedance2-api/scripts/seedance_api.py submit \

  --model "fal-ai/bytedance/seedream/v4.5/text-to-image" \

  --params '{"prompt":"An astronaut in a white spacesuit...","image_size":"landscape_16_9","num_images":1}'

Image Editing (Modify Existing Images)

Call submit_task tool:

• model_id: fal-ai/bytedance/seedream/v4.5/edit

• parameters:

• prompt: editing instructions (use Figure 1/2/3 to reference images)

• image_urls: array of input image URLs

• image_size: output size

python .cursor/skills/seedance2-api/scripts/seedance_api.py submit \

  --model "fal-ai/bytedance/seedream/v4.5/edit" \

  --params '{"prompt":"Change the background to a forest","image_urls":["https://..."],"image_size":"landscape_16_9"}'

Poll Image Results

Images typically complete in 1–2 minutes.

Call get_task tool to check status:

• First query after 30 seconds

• Then every 30 seconds

• Extract image URL when status is completed

Single query:

python .cursor/skills/seedance2-api/scripts/seedance_api.py query \

  --task-id "TASK_ID_HERE"

Auto-poll (recommended for images, interval 10s, timeout 180s):

python .cursor/skills/seedance2-api/scripts/seedance_api.py poll \

  --task-id "TASK_ID_HERE" --interval 10 --timeout 180

image_size Reference

Aspect Ratio

Recommended image_size

Note

16:9

landscape_16_9

Landscape

9:16

portrait_16_9

Portrait

4:3

landscape_4_3

Landscape

3:4

portrait_4_3

Portrait

1:1

square_hd

Square

21:9

landscape_16_9

Approximate ultrawide

Step 5: Compose the Final Prompt

Merge the storyboard structure and reference images into the final prompt:

• Use @image_file_1, @image_file_2, etc. to reference images in the image_files array

• Use @video_file_1, etc. to reference videos in the video_files array

• Use @audio_file_1, etc. to reference audio in the audio_files array

Reference syntax example:

@image_file_1 as character reference, follow @video_file_1 camera movement, with @audio_file_1 as background music

Important: The Nth URL in image_files maps to @image_file_N. video_files and audio_files are independently numbered.

Step 6: Submit Video Task

Handle asset URLs:

• Seedream-generated images: URL already available, use directly

• User-provided web images: use directly

• User-provided local images: upload first to get URL (see upload methods below)

Upload Local Images

Call upload_image tool: image_url or image_data

# Upload from URL

python .cursor/skills/seedance2-api/scripts/seedance_api.py upload \

  --image-url "https://example.com/image.png"

# Upload local file

python .cursor/skills/seedance2-api/scripts/seedance_api.py upload \

  --image-path "/path/to/local/image.png"

Submit Seedance 2.0 Task (Omni Reference Mode)

Call submit_task tool:

• model_id: st-ai/super-seed2

• parameters:

• prompt: the full prompt from Step 5

• functionMode: omni_reference (default, can be omitted)

• image_files: reference image URL array (up to 9, order matches @image_file_1/2/3...)

• video_files: reference video URL array (up to 3, total duration ≤ 15s)

• audio_files: reference audio URL array (up to 3)

• ratio: aspect ratio (16:9 / 9:16 / 1:1 / 21:9 / 4:3 / 3:4)

• duration: integer length (4–15)

• model: seedance_2.0_fast (default, faster) or seedance_2.0 (standard quality)

python .cursor/skills/seedance2-api/scripts/seedance_api.py submit \

  --model "st-ai/super-seed2" \

  --params '{

    "prompt": "Cinematic realistic sci-fi style, 15 seconds, 16:9...",

    "functionMode": "omni_reference",

    "image_files": ["https://img1.png", "https://img2.png"],

    "ratio": "16:9",

    "duration": 15,

    "model": "seedance_2.0_fast"

  }'

Submit Seedance 2.0 Task (First & Last Frames Mode)

Call submit_task tool:

• model_id: st-ai/super-seed2

• parameters:

• prompt: video description prompt

• functionMode: first_last_frames

• filePaths: image URL array (0 = text-to-video, 1 = first frame, 2 = first & last frames)

• ratio: aspect ratio

• duration: integer length

• model: seedance_2.0_fast or seedance_2.0

python .cursor/skills/seedance2-api/scripts/seedance_api.py submit \

  --model "st-ai/super-seed2" \

  --params '{

    "prompt": "Camera smoothly transitions from first frame to last frame, fluid motion",

    "functionMode": "first_last_frames",

    "filePaths": ["https://first-frame.png", "https://last-frame.png"],

    "ratio": "16:9",

    "duration": 5,

    "model": "seedance_2.0_fast"

  }'

Step 7: Poll for Video Results

Video generation takes approximately 10 minutes.

Polling strategy:

• After submission, inform the user: "Video is generating, estimated ~10 minutes"

• First query after 60 seconds via get_task

• Then every 90 seconds

• Report status to the user after each query

Recommended: auto-poll (runs in foreground, interval 30s, timeout 600s):

python .cursor/skills/seedance2-api/scripts/seedance_api.py poll \

  --task-id "TASK_ID_HERE" --interval 30 --timeout 600

Progress is printed to stderr; final JSON result is printed to stdout when complete.

Manual single query:

python .cursor/skills/seedance2-api/scripts/seedance_api.py query \

  --task-id "TASK_ID_HERE"

Status reference:

• pending → "Queued..."

• processing → "Generating..."

• completed → Extract the video URL and present to the user

• failed → Report the error; suggest adjusting the prompt and retrying

Full Workflow Example

User says: "Make a video of an astronaut walking on Mars"

When MCP Is Available

1. Gather info → 15s, 16:9, cinematic sci-fi style, no existing assets

2. Generate astronaut + Mars scene images with Seedream 4.5

   submit_task("fal-ai/bytedance/seedream/v4.5/text-to-image", {...})

   → poll get_task → get image URLs

3. Compose prompt → submit video task

   submit_task("st-ai/super-seed2", {...})

4. Poll get_task, ~10 min later → get video URL

When MCP Is Unavailable (Script Mode)

1. Gather info → 15s, 16:9, cinematic sci-fi style

2. Generate reference images:

   python scripts/seedance_api.py submit \

     --model "fal-ai/bytedance/seedream/v4.5/text-to-image" \

     --params '{"prompt":"An astronaut in white spacesuit on Mars...","image_size":"landscape_16_9"}'

   → get task_id

3. Poll for image results:

   python scripts/seedance_api.py poll --task-id "xxx" --interval 10 --timeout 180

   → get image URL

4. Submit video task:

   python scripts/seedance_api.py submit \

     --model "st-ai/super-seed2" \

     --params '{"prompt":"...storyboard prompt...","functionMode":"omni_reference","image_files":["IMAGE_URL"],"ratio":"16:9","duration":15,"model":"seedance_2.0_fast"}'

   → get task_id

5. Poll for video results:

   python scripts/seedance_api.py poll --task-id "xxx" --interval 30 --timeout 600

   → get video URL

Model Parameters Quick Reference

Seedream 4.5 Text-to-Image

Parameter

Type

Required

Description

prompt

string

Yes

Image description

image_size

string

No

auto_2K / auto_4K / square_hd / portrait_4_3 / portrait_16_9 / landscape_4_3 / landscape_16_9

num_images

int

No

1–6, default 1

Seedream 4.5 Image Editing

Parameter

Type

Required

Description

prompt

string

Yes

Editing instructions, reference images as Figure 1/2/3

image_urls

array

Yes

Input image URL list

image_size

string

No

Same as above

num_images

int

No

1–6, default 1

Seedance 2.0 Video (Omni Reference Mode)

Parameter

Type

Required

Description

prompt

string

Yes

Storyboard prompt, use @image_file_N/@video_file_N/@audio_file_N

functionMode

string

No

omni_reference (default)

image_files

array

No

Reference image URL array (up to 9)

video_files

array

No

Reference video URL array (up to 3, total ≤ 15s)

audio_files

array

No

Reference audio URL array (up to 3)

ratio

string

No

21:9 / 16:9 / 4:3 / 1:1 / 3:4 / 9:16

duration

integer

No

4–15, default 5

model

string

No

seedance_2.0_fast (default) / seedance_2.0

Seedance 2.0 Video (First & Last Frames Mode)

Parameter

Type

Required

Description

prompt

string

Yes

Video description prompt

functionMode

string

Yes

first_last_frames

filePaths

array

No

Image URL array (0 = text-to-video, 1 = first frame, 2 = first & last)

ratio

string

No

21:9 / 16:9 / 4:3 / 1:1 / 3:4 / 9:16

duration

integer

No

4–15, default 5

model

string

No

seedance_2.0_fast (default) / seedance_2.0

Tools Quick Reference

MCP Tools

Action

Tool

Key Parameters

Submit task

submit_task

model_id, parameters

Query result

get_task

task_id

Upload image

upload_image

image_url or image_data

Check balance

get_balance

(none)

Script Commands (When MCP Is Unavailable)

Action

Command

Description

Submit task

python scripts/seedance_api.py submit --model MODEL --params '{...}'

Returns task_id

Single query

python scripts/seedance_api.py query --task-id ID

Returns current status

Auto-poll

python scripts/seedance_api.py poll --task-id ID --interval N --timeout N

Blocks until done

Check balance

python scripts/seedance_api.py balance

Returns account balance

Upload image

python scripts/seedance_api.py upload --image-url URL or --image-path PATH

Returns image URL

Script path note: The scripts/seedance_api.py path above is relative to .cursor/skills/seedance2-api/. Use the full path .cursor/skills/seedance2-api/scripts/seedance_api.py when executing, or cd into the skill directory first.

Seedance 2.0 Limitations

• Realistic human face uploads are not supported

• Maximum 12 files: images ≤ 9 + videos ≤ 3 + audio ≤ 3

• Total video/audio reference duration ≤ 15 seconds

• Video references consume more credits

More Resources

See reference.md for detailed storyboard templates, full examples, and camera movement glossary.