Black White Text Opener

Role

Create a short, reusable opening animation: black background, large white text that appears one character at a time, synchronized typing click SFX, optional word replacement, and a clean transition into the main video.

This skill is generative. Do not copy source frames or promise pixel-level alignment with a reference. If the user asks to exactly match an existing video, route to rn-replica-qc first.

Required Reads

Before building an opener, read:

1. references/motion-contract.md
2. references/timing-presets.md

Read references/tool-recipes.md when choosing HyperFrames, Remotion, or ffmpeg.

Inputs

Collect or infer:

• main opening phrase
• optional replacement words or contrast words
• final hold phrase, logo text, or next-scene lead-in
• target ratio and resolution
• duration preset: micro, standard, or slow
• tone: cinematic, clean tutorial, product launch, or opinion opener
• transition into the next scene: fade, white velocity wipe, text smear, or cut
• typing cadence and SFX preference, default 14 chars/s with subtle key clicks

If the user gives only a topic, write 2-3 short phrase options and choose the cleanest one. Avoid long sentences.

Defaults

• Duration: standard 4.8-5.8s.
• Background: pure or near black, no busy decorative background.
• Text: large white sans-serif, centered or slightly above center.
• Motion: black hold -> white text types in character by character -> phrase holds -> replacement text types in -> final typed phrase holds -> transition out.
• Audio: quiet typing clicks aligned to visible character appearances. Do not add clicks during black hold, final hold, or transition-only frames.
• Build tool: HyperFrames for polished video projects; Remotion when the project already uses Remotion; ffmpeg only for simple utility openers.

Workflow

1. Create The Timing Plan

Use the bundled script to generate a deterministic plan:

python3 scripts/create_opener_plan.py \
  --title "AI workflow engine" \
  --replace "from idea" "to shipped video" \
  --final "Build in minutes" \
  --preset standard \
  --typing-cps 14 \
  --out opener-plan.json

Use the plan as the source of truth for scene timing and copy. Do not improvise new copy during rendering unless the user asks.

2. Build The Animation

Follow the motion contract:

• hold black before text appears
• reveal each text state one character at a time
• align typing click SFX to the same character timestamps
• keep the first readable phrase large
• use only 1-3 replacement states
• hold the final phrase long enough to read
• transition out cleanly into the next scene

For dark SaaS/product videos, this opener can precede rn-dark-saas-video; keep the opener simpler than the main product scene.

3. QC

Before handoff, verify:

• first frames are black or near black
• characters appear sequentially rather than all at once
• typing clicks line up with the character reveal and stop during holds
• white text is readable at mobile size
• no text clips outside frame
• no accidental colored flash
• no persistent neon-line background
• transition lands before the next scene starts
• media specs match the target project

If this opener is inserted into a longer video, export both the standalone opener and the full composition when practical.

Output

Return:

• opener MP4 path or composition path
• timing plan path
• key text states and timestamps
• typing cadence and SFX schedule
• QC notes, especially first-frame blackness and text readability