Runway Characters

What it does

Runway Characters turns a single reference image into a real-time conversational video character. You supply the image plus a chosen voice (generated from a text prompt or cloned from a sample), optional knowledge documents, and optional tool definitions. The character listens to spoken input, answers with generated speech, and streams animated HD video at 24fps. Styles range from photorealistic to animated, human or non-human.

In practice, developers embed a character with a one-line hosted widget, a React SDK for custom interfaces, or a LiveKit Agents integration that leaves speech recognition and language model choice to the builder. Characters can see a user's webcam or shared screen, answer from attached company or policy documents, call tools that trigger UI changes or backend actions, and join Zoom, Google Meet or Microsoft Teams meetings. Example uses include tutoring, customer support, sales-coaching simulations and game characters.

It suits product and engineering teams building avatar experiences, and creators who want an interactive character. Access is through Runway Dev, where you create an API key and add credits. The widget needs no backend; the React SDK and tool calling need a server endpoint. Each session consumes credits, so longer conversations cost more. Production deployments run through Runway sales; request a quote for enterprise terms.

What it can do

• Generates a conversational video character from a single reference image across photorealistic, animated, human and non-human styles.
• Custom voices from a text prompt or a cloned voice sample, assigned for consistent tone.
• Vision: characters can view a user's webcam or shared screen during a session.
• Knowledge base: attach your own documents so answers draw on company, product and policy information.
• Tool calling: define actions a character can trigger, including UI changes and trusted backend RPCs.
• Meeting integration: join Zoom, Google Meet and Microsoft Teams calls to respond in real time.

Works with

• LiveKit Agents
• Zoom
• Google Meet
• Microsoft Teams

Example workflows

Embed a tutor on a course website

Input: a teacher's image and a voice sample, plus a short knowledge document of course material. Steps: create the character in Runway Dev, attach the document, and paste the widget script tag onto the page. Output: a student-facing video tutor that answers questions grounded in the supplied material.

Customer support avatar with a backend action

Input: a brand mascot image, a voice, support policy documents and one defined tool that looks up an order by ID. Steps: configure the knowledge base and tool, connect the React SDK to the app's connect endpoint, and start a call. Output: a conversational character that answers policy questions and returns order status from the backend.

Before you choose

• Each active session consumes credits: 2 credits upfront and 2 credits per 6 seconds of active time, so cost scales with conversation length.
• The hosted widget needs no backend, but the React SDK and tool calling require a server endpoint to hold the API key securely.
• Characters are generated video reproductions of a single image; production deployments and enterprise terms are handled through Runway sales, so request a quote.

Listed under

• Creative

Get started

Sign up at dev.runway.com, create an API key, add credits, then use the quickstart template or hosted widget.

1. Create a Runway Dev account at dev.runway.com and generate an API key, copying it when it is shown because it is not displayed again.
2. Add credits in Billing, since credits are charged when a session starts.
3. For a custom app, clone the React SDK template, install dependencies on Node.js 18+, set RUNWAYML_API_SECRET in a .env file, and run the dev server.

Creating a character is free; credits are charged when a realtime call starts: 2 credits upfront, then 2 credits per 6 seconds of active session time. Runway's dev pricing docs hold the full rate table.

Source: runway.com/product/characters, checked 28 Oct 2026. Prices can change; check before you buy.

Sources for this overview

Product pages, documentation, and pricing checked 28 Oct 2026. Each source supports part of the overview; availability and prices can change.

• Runway Characters | Interactive AI Avatars ↗runway.com
• AI Image and Video Pricing from $12/month | Runway AI ↗runway.com
• Quickstart | Runway Dev ↗docs.dev.runwayml.com

Company website

runway.com: product, pricing and policy pages

Web search

Confirms the official site

Social accounts

Accounts the company links, and its posts on X

Human review

Checked by a person

knowledge_base

Last checked 28 Oct 2026. Every field keeps its source and date; unknown means we couldn’t confirm it.