whiteboard-explainer skill
A skill makes a video from a script where diagrams and captions are drawn stroke by stroke as the narrator speaks.
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- Last commit
Minimal access
Why this level
- The skill runs local scripts, installs Python packages and calls ffmpeg.
Install
- Works in
In your terminal, with SkillFoxx CLI
npx skillfoxx add skills/whiteboard-explainerDetects the agents on your machine, shows the access level and pins the version.
Other ways to install
Access and checks
How we reviewMinimal accessThe tool runs nothing and makes no network calls.
- The skill runs local scripts, installs Python packages and calls ffmpeg.
This is third-party code. Review the repository files before installing.
What it does
`whiteboard-explainer` turns an explanation script into a whiteboard video: shapes are traced stroke by stroke, captions are written letter by letter, and a drawing appears exactly as the narrator mentions it. Synchronisation works frame by frame. There are two modes. The slide mode draws a separate board for each line. The single-canvas mode grows elements on one large diagram, which suits mathematical derivations and flowcharts. Five colour themes, 54 drawing components and narration in any language through `edge-tts` are included. Frames render locally and redraw in seconds.
Who it is for. Teachers, course authors and developers who need short explainer videos without filming or an image generator.
Good fit when
- An article or notes become a hand-drawn style video.
- A formula derivation is shown step by step on one canvas.
- The same video is needed in several colour themes.
- Narration is recorded in Russian, English or another language.
Not a fit when
- You need photos, real people or complex scenes.
- Output above 1280 pixels on the long side is required without upscaling.
- You need a dark chalkboard theme.
Example request
Use whiteboard-explainer to make a solar eclipse video: five slides, Russian narration, warm theme.Limitations
Rendering caps at 1280 pixels on the long side. A dark theme is unsupported because the engine draws on white and recolours afterward. The background must be solid, without gradients or noise. `edge-tts` is blocked in some regions, and the README describes an `apiz` fallback. Image generation through Agnes is paid; without a key drawings come from PIL. Python and ffmpeg with `libx264` are required. The README states MIT while GitHub reports NOASSERTION.
How to disable. Delete the skill folder from the agent's skills directory. Python dependencies such as `whiteboard-animator` are removed separately with `pip uninstall`.
FAQ
How do I change the colour theme?
Pass `--theme` to `scripts/render_explainer.py`, for example `--theme warm`. The `WHITEBOARD_THEME` variable switches themes in batches.
How do the two modes differ?
Slide mode draws a separate board per line. Single-canvas mode grows elements on a shared diagram, which fits formulas and flowcharts.
What if `edge-tts` fails?
Use the `apiz` fallback described in `references/apiz-tts-fallback.md`.
Is an image key required?
No. An Agnes key is only for generated boards; without it drawings are built programmatically with PIL.
What dependencies are needed?
Python, ffmpeg with `libx264` and the packages from `requirements.txt`, including `whiteboard-animator`. `scripts/setup.sh` installs them.
Discussion
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Related
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Comparison with similar tools
Cards that share the main search query, and how they differ.
| Tool | Official | Repository stars | Main difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| whiteboard-explainer (this card) | no | 113 | |
| whiteboard-teacher-video | no | 543 | by the same author, draws the board in code in a browser; this one is a stroke renderer with a single-canvas mode and five themes |
| Codex Whiteboard Video Skill | no | 350 | makes video from images and SVG in 30 styles; here drawings are traced in strokes frame-aligned to speech |
README in short
Installation, two modes, five themes and engine limits. Theme-check tools help choose a background.