--- url: /orchestration/recipes/anima.md --- > Documentation index: https://developer.civitai.com/llms.txt — every page on this site has a markdown version at its URL + `.md`. # Anima image generation Anima is an anime-focused image generation ecosystem on Civitai's sdcpp workers. Single engine path, one operation (`createImage` — no img2img or edit support), optimized defaults for anime/illustration output: * `engine: "sdcpp"`, `ecosystem: "anima"` * **Only `createImage`** — Anima doesn't expose `createVariant` or `editImage`. Use [Flux 2 Klein](https://developer.civitai.com/orchestration/recipes/flux2.md#klein-createvariant-img2img) or [Qwen](https://developer.civitai.com/orchestration/recipes/qwen.md) if you need img2img or prompt-driven editing. * Higher default `steps` (`30`) and lower default `cfgScale` (`4`) than the SD ecosystems — tuned for anime output * Supports LoRAs for style/character injection * No checkpoint URN needed — the ecosystem ships its own model; an optional `diffuserModel` override exists for advanced cases ## Prerequisites * No checkpoint URN required — Anima uses a built-in diffuser ## Text-to-image ```http POST https://orchestration.civitai.com/v2/consumer/workflows?wait=60 Authorization: Bearer Content-Type: application/json { "steps": [{ "$type": "imageGen", "input": { "engine": "sdcpp", "ecosystem": "anima", "operation": "createImage", "prompt": "masterpiece, best quality, 1girl, solo, portrait, looking at viewer, cinematic lighting", "negativePrompt": "worst quality, low quality, blurry, bad anatomy, deformed hands", "width": 1024, "height": 1024, "cfgScale": 4, "steps": 30 } }] } ``` ### Parameters | Field | Default | Range | Notes | |-------|---------|-------|-------| | `prompt` | — ✅ | ≤ 10 000 chars | Booru-style tags work best. Lead with quality boosters (`masterpiece, best quality, …`). | | `negativePrompt` | *(none)* | ≤ 10 000 chars | Recommended. `worst quality, low quality, blurry, bad anatomy, deformed hands` is a solid starting point. | | `width` / `height` | `1024` | `64`–`2048`, divisible by 16 | Anima is trained around 1024² and well-behaved aspect ratios near that pixel count. | | `cfgScale` | `4` | `0`–`30` | **Lower than SD1/SDXL's 7.** `3`–`5` is the sweet spot for Anima. | | `steps` | `30` | `1`–`150` | **Higher than most sdcpp defaults.** `25`–`35` typical. | | `sampleMethod` | `euler` | enum | [`SdCppSampleMethod`](https://developer.civitai.com/orchestration/reference.md). | | `schedule` | `simple` | enum | [`SdCppSchedule`](https://developer.civitai.com/orchestration/reference.md). | | `loras` | `{}` | `{ airUrn: strength }` | Stack multiple; `0.6`–`1.0` strengths typical. | | `diffuserModel` | *(built-in)* | AIR URN | Optional override for the diffuser. The default built-in model is what you want in almost every case. | | `quantity` | `1` | `1`–`12` | Number of images per call. | | `seed` | random | int64 | Pin for reproducibility. | ### Aspect-ratio variants Anima handles non-square aspect ratios well near ~1 megapixel total area — similar guidance to SDXL. Well-behaved dimensions include 1024², 1152×896, 1344×768, 1536×640, and their mirrors. ```json { "steps": [{ "$type": "imageGen", "input": { "engine": "sdcpp", "ecosystem": "anima", "operation": "createImage", "prompt": "masterpiece, best quality, cyberpunk anime scene, neon city street at night", "negativePrompt": "worst quality, low quality, blurry", "width": 1344, "height": 768, "cfgScale": 4, "steps": 30 } }] } ``` ### With LoRAs Anima LoRAs are a map of AIR URN → strength. Style LoRAs usually sit at `0.6`–`1.0`; character / concept LoRAs often higher: ```json { "steps": [{ "$type": "imageGen", "input": { "engine": "sdcpp", "ecosystem": "anima", "operation": "createImage", "prompt": "masterpiece, best quality, detailed portrait of a magical girl in a forest", "negativePrompt": "worst quality, low quality", "width": 1024, "height": 1024, "cfgScale": 4, "steps": 30, "loras": { "urn:air:anima:lora:civitai:123456@789012": 0.8 } } }] } ``` Only Anima-tagged LoRAs work on the `anima` ecosystem. ## Reading the result Standard `imageGen` output: an `images[]` array, one entry per `quantity` ([shape and URL expiry](https://developer.civitai.com/orchestration/recipes.md#reading-results)). ## Runtime Typical wall time per 1024×1024 image is 10–25 s. `wait=60` works comfortably for `quantity ≤ 2`. Higher `steps` counts and larger dimensions compound runtime; submit with `wait=0` and poll for large batches or atypical aspect ratios. ## Cost Preview the exact charge with `whatif=true` ([Payments (Buzz)](https://developer.civitai.com/orchestration/guide/submitting-work.md#payments-buzz)). Per-pixel + per-step scaling against 1024² / 25 steps: ``` total = 8 × (width × height / 1024²) × (steps / 25) × quantity ``` | Shape | Buzz | |-------|------| | 1024²/`steps: 30`/`quantity: 1` (defaults) | **~9.6** | | 1024²/`steps: 30`/`quantity: 4` | ~38 | | 1344×768/`steps: 30` | ~7.5 × 1.2 ≈ **~9** | | 1024²/`steps: 40` | ~12.8 | ## Troubleshooting Timeouts, moderation blocks and expired blob URLs: see [Common troubleshooting](https://developer.civitai.com/orchestration/recipes.md#common-troubleshooting). | Symptom | Likely cause | Fix | |---------|--------------|-----| | `400` with "operation must be createImage" | Passed `editImage` or `createVariant` | Anima only supports `createImage`. Use [Qwen](https://developer.civitai.com/orchestration/recipes/qwen.md) or [Flux 2 Klein](https://developer.civitai.com/orchestration/recipes/flux2.md#klein-createvariant-img2img) for img2img / edit on anime-style inputs. | | `400` with "ecosystem must be anima" | Typo | Lowercase `"anima"`. | | `400` with "model is not a valid property" | Sent `model` field | Anima has no checkpoint picker — delete the field, or if overriding, use `diffuserModel` instead. | | Output looks flat or off-style | `cfgScale: 7` (SD default) on Anima | Drop to `cfgScale: 4`. Anima wants lower guidance than SD1/SDXL. | | Output underbakes | `steps` too low for the prompt complexity | Bump to `steps: 30`–`40`. Anima's default is already `30` — don't go much below `20`. | | LoRA has no effect | Wrong AIR URN, model private / not published, or ecosystem mismatch | Verify the URN on the LoRA's Civitai page; only Anima-tagged LoRAs work on the `anima` ecosystem. | ## Related * [`SubmitWorkflow`](https://developer.civitai.com/orchestration/reference/operations/SubmitWorkflow.md) · [`GetWorkflow`](https://developer.civitai.com/orchestration/reference/operations/GetWorkflow.md) * [Qwen image generation](https://developer.civitai.com/orchestration/recipes/qwen.md) — alternative with edit + variant operations and LoRA support * [SDXL image generation](https://developer.civitai.com/orchestration/recipes/sdxl.md) — higher-fidelity general-purpose alternative * [Flux 2](https://developer.civitai.com/orchestration/recipes/flux2.md) / [Flux 1](https://developer.civitai.com/orchestration/recipes/flux1.md) image generation — newer open-weights families * [Image upscaling](https://developer.civitai.com/orchestration/recipes/image-upscaler.md) — chain after `imageGen` for higher-res output * [Prompt enhancement](https://developer.civitai.com/orchestration/recipes/prompt-enhancement.md) — LLM-rewrite a prompt before feeding it in via `$ref` * Full parameter catalog: the `AnimaCreateImageGenInput` schema in the [API reference](https://developer.civitai.com/orchestration/reference.md) * [`imageGen` OpenAPI spec](https://orchestration.civitai.com/v2/consumer/recipes/imageGen/openapi.yaml)