WhatsApp Video Skill

# WhatsApp Video Skill

Create animated WhatsApp-style chat videos using Remotion. Perfect for X, TikTok, Instagram Reels.

Features

Default Settings

Prerequisites

This skill requires the **Remotion Best Practices** skill:

npx skills add remotion-dev/skills -a claude-code -y -g

Quick Start

cd ~/Projects/remotion-test

Edit the conversation in `src/WhatsAppVideo.tsx`, then render:

npx remotion render WhatsAppDemo out/my-video.mp4 --concurrency=4

How to Create a New Video

1. Define Your Messages

Edit the `ChatMessages` component in `src/WhatsAppVideo.tsx`:

// Incoming message (from assistant)
<Message
  text="Your message text here"
  isOutgoing={false}
  time="8:40 AM"
  delay={125}  // Frame when message appears (30fps)
/>

// Outgoing message (from user)
<Message
  text="Your outgoing message"
  isOutgoing={true}
  time="8:41 AM"
  delay={200}
  showCheck={true}
/>

// Typing indicator (shows "..." bubbles)
<TypingIndicator delay={80} duration={45} />

2. Timing Guide

**Typical flow:**

1. First message: `delay={20}` (~0.7s)

2. Typing indicator: `delay={80}`, `duration={45}`

3. Response: `delay={125}` (after typing ends)

4. Next typing: `delay={175}`, `duration={45}`

5. Next response: `delay={220}`

3. Adjust Scrolling

In `ChatMessages`, update the scroll interpolation based on your message count:

const scrollAmount = interpolate(
  frame,
  [scrollStart, scrollStart + 60, messageFrame, lastFrame],
  [0, firstScroll, firstScroll, finalScroll],
  { extrapolateLeft: "clamp", extrapolateRight: "clamp" }
);

Increase scroll values if messages overflow.

4. Text Formatting

Messages support:

5. Customizing the Header

In `ChatHeader` component, change:

6. Update Duration

In `Root.tsx`, set `durationInFrames` to match your video length:

7. Render

# Standard render
npx remotion render WhatsAppDemo out/video.mp4 --concurrency=4

# Higher quality
npx remotion render WhatsAppDemo out/video.mp4 --codec h264 --crf 18

# Preview in browser
npm run dev

Platform Dimensions

Edit `Root.tsx` to change dimensions:

| Platform | Dimensions | Aspect Ratio | Use Case |

|----------|------------|--------------|----------|

| **X/Instagram feed** | 1080×1350 | 4:5 | Default, most visible |

| **X/TikTok/Reels** | 1080×1920 | 9:16 | Full vertical |

| **X square** | 1080×1080 | 1:1 | Universal |

| **YouTube/X landscape** | 1920×1080 | 16:9 | Horizontal |

Project Structure

~/Projects/remotion-test/
├── src/
│   ├── WhatsAppVideo.tsx   # Main video component
│   └── Root.tsx            # Composition config
├── public/
│   └── sounds/
│       ├── pop.mp3         # Message received
│       └── send.mp3        # Message sent
└── out/                    # Rendered videos

Sound Effects

Sounds are triggered with Sequence:

<Sequence from={125}>
  <Audio src={staticFile("sounds/pop.mp3")} volume={0.5} />
</Sequence>

Tips

1. **Preview while editing**: Run `npm run dev` to see changes live

2. **Frame-by-frame**: Use timeline scrubber to check timing

3. **Keep messages concise**: Long messages may need scroll adjustment

4. **Test on mobile**: Check readability at actual size

Asking Pokey to Generate

Just describe the conversation:

Pokey will write the messages, set timing, render, and send the MP4.