Video to ASCII Converter
Turn video clips into retro ASCII animation with a live preview, then export them for your video editor.
How to use the Video to ASCII Converter
Three steps, all processed in your browser.
Load a video
Open an MP4, WebM or MOV file from your device. It never leaves your browser.
Preview and style it
Pick a character set and colors, and choose a green or transparent background for keying.
Export the clip
Export MP4, WebM or a short GIF loop, then drop it into CapCut, Premiere or DaVinci Resolve.
Turning video into ASCII animation
The video converter applies the ASCII effect to every frame and shows a live preview while the clip plays. When you export, each frame is drawn as characters on a canvas and encoded into a new video file in your browser.
Export formats:
- MP4 (H.264) works in almost every editor and on every phone.
- WebM can keep a transparent background in browsers that support it.
- GIF is best for short loops in chats and forums.
For video editing, choose the green background (#00FF00). In CapCut, Premiere Pro, After Effects or DaVinci Resolve you can then remove the green with a chroma key and lay the ASCII characters over your original footage.
On phones, the tool limits resolution and clip length to avoid running out of memory.
Frequently asked questions
Is my video uploaded? ▼
No. Decoding, rendering and encoding all happen in your browser, so the video never leaves your device.
Why is the export slow? ▼
Every frame is redrawn and re-encoded on your device. Short clips at a moderate width export fastest; a recent version of Chrome or Edge is usually the quickest.
How do I overlay the ASCII effect on my original clip? ▼
Export on the green background, put the export on a track above your footage, then apply your editor's chroma key or ultra key to the green.