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Guide · Open source

How to use Toonflow-app: setup, canvas workflow and tips

Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data

Toonflow-app is an open-source tool for making short dramas, motion comics and short videos. It brings script writing, storyboarding, character and scene asset management, and image and video generation onto one infinite canvas. This guide explains what it is good for, how to get it running from the repository, and how to work through a basic creation pipeline.

ToonflowHBAI-Ltd/Toonflow-app · ★ 20.2k · MIT

Quick start

  1. 1Clone the repository. Run the git clone command from the README to copy Toonflow-app to your machine.
  2. 2Read the setup docs. The README excerpt does not list prerequisites, so read the README and docs in the cloned repository before installing anything.
  3. 3Or download a client. Use the GitHub Releases page linked in the README if you prefer a desktop client to building from source.
  4. 4Plan your script and characters. Write your script and list the characters and scenes you need before generating any assets.
  5. 5Build storyboards on the canvas. Lay out shots on the infinite canvas and attach character and scene assets to each one.
  6. 6Connect your models and generate. Set up the image and video models you want to use, then generate and review output.
  7. 7Extend when needed. Add AI agents, MCP or plugins if your pipeline needs more than the built-in tools.

What Toonflow-app does

Toonflow is described as an AI short drama and motion comic creation tool. Its README lists script creation, intelligent storyboarding, management of character and scene assets, image generation and video generation as core parts of the workflow.

The project combines an infinite canvas, AI agents and a visual workflow. It is built with TypeScript and is released under the MIT licence.

  • Script writing and storyboarding on a canvas
  • Character and scene asset management
  • Image and video generation
  • Self-hosted deployment and choice of your own models
  • Extension through AI agents, MCP and plugins

Who should use Toonflow-app

The README points to independent creators making short dramas or motion comics who want a self-hosted workflow, creators who want to pick their own generation models, developers extending a canvas pipeline with plugins or MCP, and teams that want to keep creative assets on their own infrastructure.

Install Toonflow-app from the repository

The README's install command clones the repository from GitHub. The excerpt provided does not list prerequisites or the steps after cloning, so check the repository documentation for the rest of the setup.

The README also links to a client download page on GitHub Releases, so you can choose between building from source and downloading a client if one suits you.

  • Clone the repository, then read the README and docs in the cloned folder for setup details
  • Or open the GitHub Releases page to download a client
git clone https://github.com/HBAI-Ltd/Toonflow-app.git

Build a project on the infinite canvas

The canvas is where script, storyboard and asset work comes together. The README describes a canvas-based approach similar to LibTV and TapNow, with an AI agent and visual workflow around it.

The README excerpt does not give a step-by-step editing guide, so treat the outline below as the general order of the workflow the README describes rather than exact menu names.

  • Write the script for your short drama or motion comic
  • Break the script into storyboard shots
  • Create character and scene assets to reuse across shots
  • Generate images, then video, using the models you have connected

Connect your own models

Toonflow lets you choose your own models for image and video generation. The README does not list which models are supported or how well they perform, so test any model you plan to use on a small sample before committing to a full project.

Extend it with agents, MCP and plugins

The README says the creation pipeline can be extended with AI agents, MCP and plugins. It links to a plugin marketplace, which is a useful place to see what has been published, though the excerpt does not describe how to write a plugin.

What people use it for

  • Drafting a short drama script and turning it into storyboard shots on a canvas
  • Producing a motion comic by generating images for recurring characters and scenes
  • Keeping character and scene assets in one place for consistency across episodes
  • Building a custom generation pipeline with plugins or MCP for a team

Frequently asked questions

Is Toonflow-app free to use?

Toonflow-app is released under the MIT licence, as stated in the README. The licence covers the code; any third-party model or service you connect may have its own costs, and the README does not list prices.

What do I need to install Toonflow-app?

The README does not list prerequisites in the excerpt provided. Start by cloning the repository with the README's git command, then check the repository documentation for requirements.

How do I install Toonflow-app?

The README gives the clone command: git clone https://github.com/HBAI-Ltd/Toonflow-app.git. It also links to client downloads on GitHub Releases. The excerpt does not include the full setup steps after cloning.

Is Toonflow-app a cloud service or self-hosted?

The README describes local deployment and self-hosting, and it links to client downloads. It is not presented as a fully managed cloud service.

What is Toonflow-app similar to?

The README describes a canvas-based approach similar to LibTV and TapNow. Comparable projects listed for this guide include ComfyUI, Pixelle-Video and LibTV. ComfyUI is a node-based tool, so it may suit users who want to build their own graphs, while Toonflow is focused on short drama and motion comic production.

Why is my Toonflow-app output not good?

The README does not specify which models are supported or how well they perform, so output quality depends on the models you connect. Test your chosen image and video models on a short sample before a full project.

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Our verdict

Toonflow-app suits independent creators and small teams who want a self-hosted, canvas-based short drama or motion comic workflow and want to choose their own models. It is a poor fit if you want a managed cloud service, a one-click video maker, or guaranteed output quality from specific models, since the README gives limited onboarding detail and no model list.

Install options & downloads