Separates creative grammar (renderer_family) from technical engine
(render_runtime) so HyperFrames can stand alongside Remotion as a
first-class runtime instead of masquerading as a Remotion sub-case.
Locks runtime choice at proposal stage and enforces it end-to-end: the
schemas require it, video_compose routes by it, the reviewer fails
closed on silent swaps, and a parametrized contract test walks every
pipeline manifest to ensure each planning-stage skill explains the
conversation to the user. Adds hyperframes_compose (scaffold/lint/
validate/render/doctor/add_block), a playbook -> CSS style bridge, and
vendored HyperFrames Layer 3 skills from commit d291358, pinned via
PROVENANCE.md for future re-sync. Final_review now records
render_runtime_used and runtime_swap_detected so compose lies are
catchable after the fact.
Mirror the official GSAP AI skills (greensock/gsap-skills, MIT) into
.agents/skills/ and add the Layer 2 wiring that makes them discoverable
from a fresh context.
GSAP covers animation needs that Remotion primitives strain at:
per-character text reveals (SplitText), SVG shape morphs (MorphSVG),
curved camera paths (MotionPath), stroke-reveal line drawing (DrawSVG),
layout-to-layout flight (Flip), and custom bezier easings (CustomEase).
Also becomes mandatory day-1 knowledge if we wire in HyperFrames later
(HF uses GSAP timelines as its native animation runtime).
Layer 3 adds (.agents/skills/):
- gsap-core, gsap-timeline, gsap-plugins, gsap-utils
- gsap-react, gsap-performance
- gsap-scrolltrigger, gsap-frameworks (situational)
- gsap/README.md — OpenMontage-specific framing and Remotion-safe usage
Layer 2 wiring (the discovery triggers):
- skills/meta/animation-runtime-selector.md — NEW routing meta-skill.
Decision matrix covering Remotion primitives, GSAP plugins, framer-
motion, Lottie, Manim, D3, TerminalScene. Enforces the "keep it
simple" bias: reach for GSAP only when the plugin genuinely earns
its bundle weight.
- skills/pipelines/explainer/asset-director.md — references GSAP for
kinetic typography, multi-step choreography, SVG line draws.
- skills/pipelines/animation/asset-director.md — references GSAP for
logo morphs, motion paths, FLIP transitions, custom easings.
- skills/pipelines/cinematic/asset-director.md — references GSAP for
cinematic camera moves, per-char title reveals, prestige easings.
- AGENT_GUIDE.md — adds a categorized Layer 3 skills table so a fresh-
context agent can find the right skill by what they're trying to do,
plus a pointer to animation-runtime-selector.md for routing.
Determinism: every GSAP use inside Remotion must drive timeline progress
from useCurrentFrame(), never requestAnimationFrame. Three Remotion-safe
patterns are documented in both the gsap/README and the selector skill.
Attribution: https://github.com/greensock/gsap-skills (MIT).
Compose-director had contradictory instructions: Step 2 described Remotion
captions/audio, but Steps 5/5b gave detailed FFmpeg code that agents followed
instead. This caused three failures in production: FFmpeg subtitles instead of
Remotion CaptionOverlay, missing audio (mixed externally but never embedded in
Remotion props), and skipped audio verification in post-render review.
Changes:
- compose-director: Remotion is now DEFAULT for audio, captions, text overlays;
FFmpeg is labeled FALLBACK only. Post-render review has mandatory ffprobe gate
and audio transcription with explicit stop conditions.
- remotion.md: routing table updated (captions/audio → Remotion), added universal
Post-Render Verification Protocol for all pipelines (only 2/10 had one).
- scene-director, asset-director: added pitfall for AI-generated text in CTA
screens — must use Remotion text_card for verbatim text.
- image-provider-usage: added Recraft V4 caveat (style param causes 422 on fal.ai).
- recraft_image.py: documented the style parameter 422 issue inline.
Implements the 2026-04-02 transformation spec (Phases 1-8) and fixes all
critical bugs found during 5-pipeline E2E testing.
Governance & Decision Intelligence:
- Pipeline-specific stage order in checkpoint (replaces global STAGES list)
- Provider scoring engine (lib/scoring.py) with 7-dimension weighted ranking
- Decision log artifact enforced at proposal/idea stage across all 10 pipelines
- Delivery promise classifier prevents silent motion-to-still downgrades
- Structured shot language in scene_plan schema (camera, lens, lighting, DOF)
- Variation checker and slideshow risk scorer block samey output before render
- Creative intake, capability extension, and creative-intake meta skills
- Final self-review artifact with 5 mandatory checks before presenting output
- Source media review contract for user-supplied footage
Render & Theme System:
- Remotion AnimatedBackground now derives colors from playbook (no more hardcoded
dark blue fintech gradient on every video)
- video_compose builds custom ThemeConfig from playbook YAML colors/fonts —
custom playbooks flow through to Remotion automatically
- Explainer component wires theme to all child components (charts, cards, etc.)
- resolveAsset() handles absolute paths on Windows/Unix via file:// URIs
- RENDERER_FAMILY_MAP synced with actual Remotion compositions
Critical Bug Fixes:
- Windows npx subprocess: run_command() resolves .cmd wrappers via shutil.which()
- Silent renderer downgrade: Remotion failure now returns explicit error with
options instead of silently falling back to FFmpeg
- .env inline comment parsing strips trailing # comments from API keys
- concat_path UnboundLocalError in video_compose finally block
- audio_mixer and showcase_card capture=True kwarg bug
- Selector estimate_cost() calls fixed (_select_tool -> _select_best_tool)
- asset_manifest schema expanded with provider, license, subtype fields
- screen-demo subtitle_gen moved from required to optional tools
- Duration drift detection in post-render final review (>25% warns)
Prove that adding one API key (OPENAI_API_KEY) to the zero-key foundation
produces dramatically better videos for ~$0.69 each. Two compositions built:
The Abyss (deep ocean visual essay) and VOID (neural interface product ad).
New tools:
- audio_probe: ffprobe wrapper with probe_duration() helper
- composition_validator: pre-render checks (asset existence, audio-video sync)
- pixabay_music: royalty-free music scraper (no API key needed)
- freesound_music: Freesound API search + download
Remotion upgrades:
- BackgroundImageLayer: AI images behind data scenes with ken-burns + dark overlay
- Gradient support: all 9 components changed from backgroundColor to background CSS
- CaptionOverlay: word spacing fix, WhisperX word-level subtitles
- HeroTitle: reduced overlay opacity so background images show through
Process codified in agent skills:
- compose-director: audio acquisition flow (present user with voice/music/subtitle
options), mandatory pre-render validation, post-render self-review (extract
frames + transcribe + inspect + present findings to user)
- scene-director: narration duration budgeting (word budget from video duration)
- remotion skill: pre-render validation section
- TTS tool: now returns audio_duration_seconds in result
README updated with VOID product ad video embed.
Fix ComparisonCard and CalloutBox dark-theme passthrough in SceneRenderer.
Add 8 demo-props JSON files (3 fixed originals + 5 new compositions).
Update scene-director and compose-director skills with all 10 Remotion
scene types and zero-key rendering guidance. Document the proven
all-dark-background formula in remotion.md. Add cinematic renderer,
onboarding skill, prompt gallery, and demo render script.