The whiteboard explainer is a 15-second vertical video in which one hand letters a title, draws a subject in red marker and underlines the point on a whiteboard. On videosi you can make the AI version from one photo, and this guide answers the questions the trend page does not: what the format is, where it came from, why the writing breaks, what sound to use and what to check before you post.
Key takeaways
- The whiteboard explainer is an emerging format: we first saw it on 2026-11-01, and no original creator is confirmed.
- The videosi version needs one photo of one clear subject, writes the title and notes for you and takes no prompt.
- Text is the weak spot of AI video, so the words are short on purpose and you should read them before posting.
- The clip is silent, 15 seconds long and costs 13 credits at Standard 720p. Add your own music or voiceover and label it as AI.
In this guide
- What exactly is a whiteboard explainer video?
- Where did the whiteboard explainer trend come from?
- Can AI make a whiteboard explainer from a photo?
- What kind of photo works best?
- Why does the writing on AI whiteboards go wrong?
- Does the video have sound or music?
- How much does a whiteboard explainer cost?
- Can I make one by hand instead?
- Is there a filter or CapCut template for it?
- Do I have to label the video as AI?
- What should I check before posting?
- Is the whiteboard explainer still trending?
What exactly is a whiteboard explainer video?
A whiteboard explainer video explains one idea by drawing it in marker while the viewer watches. The short vertical version has one hand, one whiteboard and a fixed camera: a title is lettered, a drawing grows line by line, two notes get circled and one line is underlined. Nothing else is on screen. That is the format the whiteboard explainer page on videosi recreates from a photo.
The version we studied runs 15 seconds and explains a Formula 1 term with a red marker sketch of a race car and airflow arrows. The same structure works for a product, a rule, a place or a pet, which is why the format spreads so easily: the viewer learns the point by watching the page fill up.
Where did the whiteboard explainer trend come from?
We first saw this exact 15-second format on 2026-11-01, as an Instagram Reels style clip. We could not identify an original creator or a first-post date, so the origin is unconfirmed.
Searching TikTok for the phrase returns mostly general explainer, business and sketching videos rather than one single viral clip, and a search for the F1 version returns fan whiteboards that track race results, which is a different format. So videosi treats the whiteboard explainer as an emerging format, not a proven viral trend. It could grow or fade quickly.
Can AI make a whiteboard explainer from a photo?
Yes, with limits. A video model such as Seedance can render a hand drawing on a whiteboard, but it works best when it is given a real whiteboard clip to follow. On videosi the whiteboard explainer generator uses a short reference clip for the hand, the camera and the stroke order, and your photo decides what gets drawn.
What you get is a new 15-second video, not an edit of your photo: a title that names the subject, a red marker sketch based on the photo, two circled notes and an underlined closing line. The words are written by the model, so they are short on purpose.
What kind of photo works best?
Pick one subject that is whole in the frame, on a plain background. A single car, bottle, shoe, pet or landmark gives the model a clean outline to turn into marker lines.
Side or three-quarter views suit this format because the sketch in the original is a side view. Crowded photos, collages and fine patterns are the usual causes of a messy drawing, because the model has to guess which part is the topic.
Why does the writing on AI whiteboards go wrong?
Text is the weakest part of current video models. A long label, a number or small print can warp between frames, and the model sometimes misspells a word it was told to write.
The practical fix is to keep every word short. The prompt behind the videosi page asks for a one or two word title, a short subtitle, two brief notes and one closing line, all in plain capitals. You cannot type your own title yet, so if exact wording matters, generate the video and cover the text with your own captions in an editor.
Does the video have sound or music?
No. The reference clip has no sound track and no single sound is tied to the format, so the videosi video is silent. That is a feature for explainers: you can lay a voiceover or a calm music bed over it in any editor.
If you want a spoken explanation, record it after you see the finished clip so the narration matches the order of the drawing: title, subtitle, sketch, notes, closing line.
How much does a whiteboard explainer cost?
A standard 15-second video (Standard model, 720p) is 13 credits on videosi. Higher resolutions and model tiers cost more, and the price shows before you press Generate. There is no free generation, and a failed, timed-out or blocked render returns its credits automatically.
Check the pricing page for the current pack and plan prices, because credit packs and plans change more often than this guide.
Can I make one by hand instead?
You can, and it is how the format started. Film a whiteboard from the front with your hand in frame, draw the title first, then the sketch, then the notes, and speed the footage up so the whole board fits in about 15 seconds. A fixed phone or tripod keeps the framing steady.
The AI version saves the filming and the drawing practice, but it will not reproduce your own handwriting or your own hand. If you want your real hand and your real board, film it yourself.
Is there a filter or CapCut template for it?
We did not find a filter or template that draws your own subject. Drawing-animation apps exist, but they are a different style, with a cartoon hand or a stylised sketch and a voiceover.
If you want the live-action look of one real hand on a real board, a video model with a reference clip is the closest thing we know of. That is the approach behind the videosi page.
Do I have to label the video as AI?
Yes, treat it as required. Instagram, TikTok and YouTube all ask creators to mark realistic AI-generated video, and a whiteboard clip with a real-looking hand can pass for footage.
Switch on the platform's AI label when you post, and do not present the clip as a real person drawing. It is a good habit anyway when the video explains something factual.
What should I check before posting?
Read every word on the board. If a label is misspelled or the drawing does not match the subject, generate again with a cleaner photo before you post.
Check that the toy on the tray and the drawing do not show a logo or a brand you do not want to feature, then add your sound and the AI label. If the topic is a serious one, such as health, money or safety, verify the facts yourself: the board shows short labels, not checked information.
Is the whiteboard explainer still trending?
As of November 2026 it is an emerging format. We first saw it on 2026-11-01 and could not find one viral original, so how far it spreads is unknown. The trending page on videosi tracks new formats as they appear, and the whiteboard explainer page records any change in its stage.
Ready to try it?
Open the whiteboard explainer AI page, upload one clear photo, pick a format and press Generate. The result lands in My creations if you close the page.
