That’s exactly what Wan 2.2 Animate Replace, now available on Artificial Studio, brings to the table.
Developed by Tongyi Lab (Alibaba), Wan 2.2 introduces a powerful Replace mode that lets you insert a new character into an existing video. The magic lies in its ability to maintain: Scene lighting and tone, Micro-expressions like blinks and glances, Consistent body and facial movements
This makes the output look natural, cutting down on tedious post-production edits by up to 50–70%.
For marketers, indie filmmakers, and content creators, this tool opens up entirely new workflows:
- Ethical “digital doubles” → swap actors with branded mascots or influencer avatars.
- Product campaigns → insert animated characters into demos without reshoots.
- Social content → create quick swaps for TikTok, Reels, or Shorts in seconds.
- Education → build consistent animated instructors for training videos.
- Game dev & VFX → use as pre-visualization or to reduce reliance on complex CGI pipelines.
A growing trend is “remix culture”, where communities experiment with character swaps in memes, reactions, or fan art. The key: do it ethically, with proper permissions for likeness use.
How it works
1. Go to the Replace Character tool inside the Artificial Studio platform
You’ll see two inputs on the left—one for your video, and below it the image of the character that will replace it. On the right, you’ll see the final output.
2. Add your video and image
Make sure your visuals are clear, and that the replacement character’s image is looking straight ahead with the body in a frontal position—this helps get better results. You can upload a file by clicking to browse, dragging and dropping it into the input, or using Ctrl+V to paste from the clipboard.
3. Run it and download it
It will take a few moments after you press the blue “Run” button. Then you’ll receive a video just like yours, but with the character replaced! You can download it and use it wherever you want.
Wan 2.2 uses a staged training approach (body → face → joints → replace) to achieve realism. It also integrates LoRA-based relighting, meaning characters seamlessly match complex lighting setups.
Developers highlight that it outperforms baselines like Animate Anyone, achieving stronger scores on video quality metrics such as FVD.
AI platforms like Higgsfield AI and ComfyUI are already incorporating Wan 2.2 into their all-in-one workflows. Higgsfield allows instant character swaps without prompts, perfect for fast-moving content like Shorts. Artificial Studio brings this capability to creators with an easy-to-use web tool and API, letting anyone test and integrate Wan 2.2 without technical overhead.
Micro-Trends to Watch
- Relighting with custom LoRAs → better integration into cinematic shots.
- Animating animals and abstract art → tails, gestures, and subtle motion preserved.
- AR/VR avatars → consistent, interactive character identities.
These trends signal that AI character replacement isn’t just a gimmick—it’s a long-term shift in content creation.
If you want to replace characters in your own videos, you can try Wan 2.2 Animate Replace directly inside Artificial Studio. Upload your video, add the image of the new character, and watch the transformation. Find this and 50 other AI tools for agencies and creators who move fast in Artificial Studio. Create video, image, branding & marketing content.
Mariko - Product Marketing Manager
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