InstanceAnimator: Multi-Instance Sketch Video Colorization
On the map: Diffusion models → Image generation, text-to-image and editing
Abstract (arXiv)
We propose InstanceAnimator, a novel Diffusion Transformer framework for multi-instance sketch video colorization. Existing methods suffer from three core limitations: inflexible user control due to heavy reliance on single reference frames, poor instance controllability leading to misalignment in multi-character scenarios, and degraded detail fidelity in fine-grained regions. To address these challenges, we introduce three corresponding innovations. First, a Canvas Guidance Condition eliminates workflow fragmentation by allowing free placement of reference elements and background, enabling unprecedented user flexibility. Second, an Instance Matching Mechanism resolves misalignment by integrating instance features with the sketches, ensuring precise control over multiple characters. Third, an Adaptive Decoupled Control Module enhances detail fidelity by injecting semantic features from characters, backgrounds, and text conditions into the diffusion process. Extensive experiments demonstrate that InstanceAnimator achieves superior multi-instance colorization with enhanced user control, high visual quality, and strong instance consistency.
Key facts. Cited by 1 paper in the map (data through 7 Oct 2026). Placed in Image generation, text-to-image and editing, one of 14 directions in Diffusion models. Builds on 65 of its 75 references that are in the map. First posted on arXiv 26 Mar 2026.
Builds on
65 of 75 references.
Closest ancestors · 7
Same direction, newest first
- 2025AnimeColor: Reference-based Animation Colorization with Diffusion Transformers27 Jul
- 2025MakeAnything: Harnessing Diffusion Transformers for Multi-Domain Procedural Sequence Generation3 Feb
- 2025MangaNinja: Line Art Colorization with Precise Reference Following14 Jan
- 2024DiT4Edit: Diffusion Transformer for Image Editing5 Nov
- 2024LVCD: Reference-based Lineart Video Colorization with Diffusion Models19 Sep
- 2023IP-Adapter: Text Compatible Image Prompt Adapter for Text-to-Image Diffusion Models13 Aug
- 2023Adding Conditional Control to Text-to-Image Diffusion Models10 Feb
Other references · 58
- 2021Learning Transferable Visual Models From Natural Language Supervisioncited by 33,456
- 2020Denoising Diffusion Probabilistic Modelscited by 20,851
- 2021High-Resolution Image Synthesis with Latent Diffusion Modelscited by 18,694
- 2018The Unreasonable Effectiveness of Deep Features as a Perceptual Metriccited by 11,029
- 2023Segment Anythingcited by 8,158
- 2022Scalable Diffusion Models with Transformerscited by 5,931
- 2016Image-to-Image Translation with Conditional Adversarial Networkscited by 4,510
- 2023Grounding DINO: Marrying DINO with Grounded Pre-Training for Open-Set Object Detectioncited by 3,274
- 2025Wan: Open and Advanced Large-Scale Video Generative Modelscited by 2,536
- 2023Stable Video Diffusion: Scaling Latent Video Diffusion Models to Large Datasetscited by 2,526
- 2024CogVideoX: Text-to-Video Diffusion Models with An Expert Transformercited by 2,198
- 2024HunyuanVideo: A Systematic Framework For Large Video Generative Modelscited by 1,597
38 more
- 2023Align your Latents: High-Resolution Video Synthesis with Latent Diffusion Modelscited by 1,465
- 2018Towards Accurate Generative Models of Video: A New Metric & Challengescited by 1,204
- 2025Qwen-Image Technical Reportcited by 973
- 2023Animate Anyone: Consistent and Controllable Image-to-Video Synthesis for Character Animationcited by 683
- 2023MotionCtrl: A Unified and Flexible Motion Controller for Video Generationcited by 568
- 2024CameraCtrl: Enabling Camera Control for Text-to-Video Generationcited by 448
- 2023Follow Your Pose: Pose-Guided Text-to-Video Generation using Pose-Free Videoscited by 312
- 2023Recognize Anything: A Strong Image Tagging Modelcited by 305
- 2024Champ: Controllable and Consistent Human Image Animation with 3D Parametric Guidancecited by 271
- 2024Follow-Your-Emoji: Fine-Controllable and Expressive Freestyle Portrait Animationcited by 172
- 2024Identity-Preserving Text-to-Video Generation by Frequency Decompositioncited by 155
- 2023SSR-Encoder: Encoding Selective Subject Representation for Subject-Driven Generationcited by 142
- 2023Make-Your-Video: Customized Video Generation Using Textual and Structural Guidancecited by 129
- 2025Phantom: Subject-consistent video generation via cross-modal alignmentcited by 126
- 2025EasyControl: Adding Efficient and Flexible Control for Diffusion Transformercited by 118
- 2025Controllable Video Generation: A Surveycited by 93
- 2025Follow-Your-Motion: Video Motion Transfer via Efficient Spatial-Temporal Decoupled Finetuningcited by 81
- 2025Uni3C: Unifying Precisely 3D-Enhanced Camera and Human Motion Controls for Video Generationcited by 75
- 2025CineMaster: A 3D-Aware and Controllable Framework for Cinematic Text-to-Video Generationcited by 73
- 2024ToonCrafter: Generative Cartoon Interpolationcited by 68
- 2025Follow-Your-Creation: Empowering 4D Creation through Video Inpaintingcited by 61
- 2025CF-VLM:CounterFactual Vision-Language Fine-tuningcited by 57
- 2025GAM-Agent: Game-Theoretic and Uncertainty-Aware Collaboration for Complex Visual Reasoningcited by 56
- 2020Reference-Based Sketch Image Colorization using Augmented-Self Reference and Dense Semantic Correspondencecited by 53
- 2025Follow-Your-Emoji-Faster: Towards Efficient, Fine-Controllable, and Expressive Freestyle Portrait Animationcited by 41
- 2025PhysAnimator: Physics-Guided Generative Cartoon Animationcited by 40
- 2025KABB: Knowledge-Aware Bayesian Bandits for Dynamic Expert Coordination in Multi-Agent Systemscited by 36
- 2025Stochastic Self-Guidance for Training-Free Enhancement of Diffusion Modelscited by 35
- 2025MultiShotMaster: A Controllable Multi-Shot Video Generation Frameworkcited by 33
- 2025Follow-Your-Shape: Shape-Aware Image Editing via Trajectory-Guided Region Controlcited by 27
- 2026FastVMT: Eliminating Redundancy in Video Motion Transfercited by 23
- 2024AniDoc: Animation Creation Made Easiercited by 22
- 2025MAGREF: Masked Guidance for Any-Reference Video Generation with Subject Disentanglementcited by 22
- 2025Follow-Your-Preference: Towards Preference-Aligned Image Inpaintingcited by 18
- 2025Taming Preference Mode Collapse via Directional Decoupling Alignment in Diffusion Reinforcement Learningcited by 18
- 2024Sakuga-42M Dataset: Scaling Up Cartoon Researchcited by 17
- 2025Generative AI for Cel-Animation: A Surveycited by 17
- 2025RaCoT: Plug-and-Play Contrastive Example Generation Mechanism for Enhanced LLM Reasoning Reliabilitycited by 14
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Citing papers per year: 2026: 1.
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Close in wording, no citation either way
- 2026Uni-Animator: Towards Unified Visual Colorization
- 2025Image Referenced Sketch Colorization Based on Animation Creation Workflow
- 2024VIRES: Video Instance Repainting via Sketch and Text Guided Generation
- 2024ColorizeDiffusion: Adjustable Sketch Colorization with Reference Image and Text
- 2025Instance-aware Image Colorization with Controllable Textual Descriptions and Segmentation Masks
- 2025MangaDiT: Reference-Guided Line Art Colorization with Hierarchical Attention in Diffusion Transformers
- 2025Consistent Video Colorization via Palette Guidance
- 2024Control Color: Multimodal Diffusion-based Interactive Image Colorization