How to make a Bad Times AI video from one photo

What do you need to make a Bad Times AI video?

• One photo. A JPG or PNG up to 10 MB, front-facing and well lit, with the face and upper body visible.
• An account. Generating requires signing in with Google or email. You can choose the photo first; it waits in your browser until you sign in.
• Credits. A video costs 4 to 17 credits, depending on length and resolution. There are no trial credits, so you need a credit pack or a plan before your first video.

Full body

Waist-up

How to make a Bad Times AI video, step by step

1. 1

   Choose your photo

   Open the generator and add one JPG or PNG up to 10 MB. You can do this before signing in: the photo waits in your browser and uploads after you sign in.

2. 2

   Pick a template

   Choose Angry Dance Filter (the argument dance from VCap’s CapCut template), Sheldon dance or Angry lady dance (the kitchen clip). The first two work best with a full-body photo; a waist-up photo works for Angry lady dance.

3. 3

   Choose the length and resolution

   Pick 5 s, 10 s or the full dance, and 720p or 1080p. Shorter lengths keep the start of the dance. The credit cost shows before you generate, from 4 credits for 5 s at 720p to 17 for 15 s at 1080p.

4. 4

   Sign in and generate

   Sign in with Google or email, make sure your credit balance covers the cost, and start the video. It usually takes a few minutes.

5. 5

   Preview and download

   When the video is ready, play the preview and download it. You get a vertical MP4.

6. 6

   Find it later in My Creations

   Finished videos stay in My Creations, so you can come back and download them again.

7. 7

   Add the Bad Times sound when you post

   Upload the MP4 to TikTok, Instagram or CapCut and add the Bad Times sound from the app’s library; the music license then stays with the platform.

Which Bad Times template should you use?

Each template is a reference clip whose moves the AI copies onto your photo, so pick the one whose framing matches the photo you have. Angry Dance Filter and Angry lady dance both act out an argument with the camera, which is the trend’s basic format; Sheldon dance is a playful routine instead. The baby version, zallmw_’s Bad times dance CapCut template, uses the same moves as VCap’s, so Angry Dance Filter is the one that matches it.

The kitchen version has its own page: the angry lady dance template. Angry Dance Filter is an independent website, not affiliated with CapCut, TikTok, ByteDance or Imael Angel.

How much does a Bad Times AI video cost?

Every template costs the same for the same length, so only length and resolution change the price. The generator shows the cost before you start.

The 5 s and 10 s versions are cut from the start of the dance, so they end partway through the routine. Pick the full dance if you want every move.

Credits come in one-time packs that never expire, from $6.99 for 10 credits to $499 for 3,000, or with monthly plans from $29.90 a month for 100 credits; annual plans and the full list are on the pricing page.

What photo works best for a Bad Times AI video?

• Face the camera. A front-facing photo with the face and upper body visible works best.
• Use good light. Pick a well-lit photo over a dark one.
• Match the template. Use a full-body photo for Angry Dance Filter and Sheldon dance; waist-up is enough for Angry lady dance.
• Check the file. JPG or PNG, up to 10 MB.
• Pets and cartoon characters can work, but results vary.

Too dark

Cropped, side-on

What happens if a video fails?

If a video fails, its credits are refunded to your balance automatically, so a failed 15 s video at 1080p puts all 17 credits back. Before you try again, use a clearer photo or a template that fits it: Angry lady dance for a waist-up shot, Angry Dance Filter or Sheldon dance for a full-body one.

Can you use someone else’s photo?

Only if you have permission to use it. A photo of yourself is the simple case; for a friend, partner or coworker, ask them before you upload it. The acceptable use policy sets out what the site does not allow.

Questions people ask