Generate Video#

Create videos with yummycli gemini veo using Google Veo.

When to Use#

Load this skill when the user asks to generate, create, or animate a video using AI — including text-to-video, animating a still image, or generating a video guided by reference images.

Prerequisite: Apply the yummy-shared skill first.

This skill covers three generation modes with a single command:

• Text-to-video (no images)
• Image-to-video (one starting frame)
• Reference-guided video (two or three reference images)

Command Contract#

Two equivalent entry points are available:

Entry pointWhen to useyummycli gemini veoDefault — human-friendly, Gemini Veo presets appliedyummycli video generate --provider geminiScripting / automation — explicit, provider-agnostic form

Both share the same flags and defaults. Prefer gemini veo unless the task explicitly requires the provider-agnostic form.

Basic usage:

bash

yummycli gemini veo --prompt "<prompt>"

With one or more input images:

bash

yummycli gemini veo \
  --prompt "<prompt>" \
  --input-image ./frame.png \
  --input-image ./style.jpg

Optional output controls:

bash

--output <file.mp4>
--model <model>
--aspect-ratio <ratio>
--duration <seconds>
--resolution <resolution>

Default values when omitted: --model veo-3.1-fast-generate-preview, --aspect-ratio 16:9, --duration 8, --resolution 1080p.

Image Routing Rules#

The number of --input-image flags determines the API path automatically:

CountBehaviour0Text-to-video. Prompt drives the entire generation.1Image-to-video. The image is used as the starting frame.2–3Reference-guided. Images are passed as ASSET reference images; the prompt describes the motion and content.

Never pass more than 3 --input-image flags — the API rejects it.

Model Selection#

Default model: veo-3.1-fast-generate-preview.

Use the following mapping when the user explicitly names a model variant:

User saysUseveo 3.1, 3.1 fast, or no preferenceveo-3.1-fast-generate-preview (default)veo 3.1 full or veo 3.1 standard``veo-3.1-generate-preview``veo 3, veo 3 fast``veo-3.0-fast-generate-001``veo 3 standard``veo-3.0-generate-001``veo 2``veo-2.0-generate-001

Do not switch models from vague quality words alone. Only apply a mapping when the user's wording clearly refers to model choice.

Model Compatibility#

Supported duration values (seconds)#

Duration accepts only discrete values — not a range.

ModelValid durationsveo-2.0-generate-0015, 6, 7, 8veo-3.0-*4, 6, 8veo-3.1-*4, 6, 8

Supported resolutions#

ModelSupported resolutionsveo-2.0-generate-001``720p onlyveo-3.0-*``720p, 1080p``veo-3.1-*``720p, 1080p, 4k

Constraints:

• 1080p requires --duration 8.
• 4k requires --duration 8 and a veo-3.1 model.

Supported aspect ratios#

All models: 16:9 (landscape) and 9:16 (portrait).

Intent to Parameters#

Translate clear user intent into CLI flags when the mapping is obvious.

Aspect ratio guidance:

• Use --aspect-ratio 9:16 for vertical/portrait outputs: phone wallpaper, short-form vertical video, story format.
• Use --aspect-ratio 16:9 for landscape outputs: film, presentation, widescreen. This is the default.
• If the user already specifies a ratio, pass it through directly.

Duration guidance:

• Use the longest valid duration for the model unless the user requests shorter.
• If the user says "short clip" or "quick", use --duration 4 (veo-3+) or --duration 5 (veo-2).
• Never pass a duration that is not in the valid set for the selected model.

Resolution guidance:

• Default ( 1080p) is appropriate for most requests.
• Use --resolution 4k only when the user explicitly asks for 4K quality and a veo-3.1 model is in use; pair with --duration 8.
• Use --resolution 720p when the user asks for a smaller or faster result.

Output path guidance:

• If --output is omitted, yummycli generates a timestamped .mp4 filename in the current working directory. Do not invent your own filename unless the user provides one.
• The output path must end in .mp4. Reject or correct any other extension.

Output Contract#

Video commands return JSON on stdout. Read the response and use the output field as the generated file path.

Example (text-to-video):

json

{
  "provider": "gemini",
  "output": "veo_20260417_142301_047.mp4",
  "model": "veo-3.1-fast-generate-preview",
  "duration_seconds": 8,
  "aspect_ratio": "16:9",
  "resolution": "1080p",
  "elapsed_seconds": 73
}

Example (image-to-video, one starting frame):

json

{
  "provider": "gemini",
  "output": "veo_20260417_143010_112.mp4",
  "model": "veo-3.1-fast-generate-preview",
  "duration_seconds": 8,
  "aspect_ratio": "16:9",
  "resolution": "1080p",
  "elapsed_seconds": 89,
  "input_images": ["./dog.jpg"]
}

Execution Rules#

• Check yummycli auth status --provider gemini before running if credentials may not be configured.
• Use one --input-image flag per local image file; preserve the user-specified order.
• Validate duration and resolution against the selected model's constraints before running.
• Video generation is slow (typically 45–120 seconds). Inform the user that generation is in progress; do not treat a long wait as an error.
• If the command returns a validation error (bad duration, unsupported resolution, missing file), fix the arguments before retrying. Do not retry with the same invalid arguments.
• Report the final output path back to the user after a successful run.

Examples#

Text-to-video:

bash

yummycli gemini veo \
  --prompt "A golden retriever puppy chasing a red ball in a sunny park"

Image-to-video (animate a still):

bash

yummycli gemini veo \
  --prompt "The dog starts running toward the camera" \
  --input-image ./dog.jpg

Reference-guided (two images):

bash

yummycli gemini veo \
  --prompt "Combine the character from the first image with the environment from the second" \
  --input-image ./character.png \
  --input-image ./background.jpg

Short portrait clip with veo-2:

bash

yummycli gemini veo \
  --prompt "Falling cherry blossoms in slow motion" \
  --model veo-2.0-generate-001 \
  --aspect-ratio 9:16 \
  --duration 5 \
  --resolution 720p

4K landscape with veo-3.1:

bash

yummycli gemini veo \
  --prompt "Timelapse of clouds moving over mountain peaks at golden hour" \
  --resolution 4k \
  --duration 8