A Hands-On Guide to Making Christmas Anime Art with AI

Creating Christmas-themed artwork for an original character comes with a few challenges. You might want to give your OC a festive outfit or place them in a holiday setting while keeping their recognizable appearance intact. However, some generators may alter important character details, while prompt-based generation can require several adjustments to get the intended result.

I tested different AI art workflows using my own OC to explore how each approach handles Christmas portraits, couple scenes, and holiday cards with PixAI. This article covers the process, the results, and some observations from my experiments.

Start by Choosing Your Christmas Art Concept

Before generating an image, take some time to plan the artwork you have in mind. Knowing what you want to create can help guide your choice of generation method, character references, and prompts. For this test, I focused on three types of Christmas artwork:

Choose an OC and Plan its Christmas Look

The first step is to select a character for your holiday artwork. You can work with an existing OC or create a new character before moving on to the Christmas-themed scenes. Here's the character I used for this test:

I used an anime girl OC generated with PixAI's Tsubaki.3 model for this experiment. Her overall design follows an acubi-inspired aesthetic.

To maintain her recognizable appearance throughout the different Christmas scenes, I first listed the details that needed to stay the same, along with the elements I could modify or add. Here's the breakdown:

• Consistent features: Facial features, hairstyle, hair color, eye color, earrings, and hair clips.
• Changeable elements: Background, outfit, and props.
• Christmas additions: A Santa hat and a burgundy scarf.

Route 1: Generate a Christmas-Themed Image from Scratch

For this test, I'll create a Christmas scene featuring our OC using two different approaches. First, I'll use her original image as a reference and add a prompt describing the setting. Next, I'll generate another image using only a text prompt to see how the results differ.

This is the scene I have in mind:

Our OC sits in front of a glowing Christmas tree, blushing as she gently blows on her steaming hot chocolate. The goal is to capture a cozy winter moment.

Prompt:

"An anime girl with long, sleek, straight vibrant orange hair reaching her waist and neat blunt micro bangs, wearing a trendy acubi-inspired winter outfit, a mini burgundy Santa hat, and an oversized burgundy knitted scarf. She is sitting cozily on the floor directly in front of a large, beautifully decorated Christmas tree positioned behind her, looking up directly at the viewer with big sparkling eyes and rosy blushing cheeks. She holds a festive Christmas mug filled with steaming hot chocolate close to her face, gently blowing on the drink with softly pursed lips. Dramatic slightly top-down camera angle, exaggerated foreshortening, intimate close perspective, warm glowing fairy lights and Christmas ornaments filling the background behind her, cozy golden lighting, charming festive atmosphere, detailed anime illustration."

Creating a Christmas Scene with Smart Reference

We'll begin by using our OC's original image as a reference for the Christmas scene. Here's the first step:

• Log in to PixAI and select + Create a new image to open a new canvas.

• Next, go to the Model, Styles, and Settings panel on the right side of the screen. Select Tsubaki.3 as the model for this test.

• Skip the Recipes and LoRAs for this test and head straight to Settings. Set up your generation options using these values: Generation Speed: High Priority, Number of Images: Single, Aspect Ratio: 4:3 landscape, and Resolution: XL.

• Now, we'll use Smart Reference to add our OC's original image. Go to the canvas prompt box, click +, and choose Smart Reference. Then, upload your OC's image to set it as the reference.

Before generating the image, let's make one final adjustment to our prompt. Since we're using Smart Reference, we need to mention our OC's reference image so the generator can use it as a guide for her appearance. The updated prompt should look like this:

"Use @image1 as the only reference. She is sitting cozily on the floor directly in front of a large, beautifully decorated Christmas tree positioned behind her, looking up directly at the viewer with big sparkling eyes and rosy blushing cheeks, wearing a mini burgundy Santa hat, and an oversized burgundy knitted scarf.. She holds a festive Christmas mug filled with steaming hot chocolate close to her face, gently blowing on the drink with softly pursed lips. Dramatic slightly top-down camera angle, exaggerated foreshortening, intimate close perspective, warm glowing fairy lights and Christmas ornaments filling the background behind her, cozy golden lighting, charming festive atmosphere, detailed anime illustration."

Let's put the prompt to the test:

The result turned out well! Our OC retained her recognizable appearance even with the new pose, action, and Christmas background. Her outfit, hair clips, and earrings remained consistent, while the Santa hat and scarf appeared as requested. The generated image also followed the intended framing and dynamic perspective.

Only a few changes were needed in the prompt. I added “@image1” to identify the uploaded reference and included “Use @image1 as the only reference” to make it clear that the image should guide the character's main features. I then placed “burgundy Santa hat and scarf” after the action and pose instructions. Since Smart Reference was already handling the character's appearance, I removed her original character descriptions from the prompt.

Based on this test, using Smart Reference is a practical option for creating new scenes around an existing OC image. You can also read PixAI’s Tsubaki.3 prompt guide for more details about prompting and using Smart Reference.

A Prompt-Only Approach to Christmas Scene Generation

For the second approach, we'll create the same Christmas scene using only a text prompt, without uploading our OC's image. To keep the comparison consistent, use the same Tsubaki.3 model and generation settings: Generation Speed: High Priority, Number of Images: Single, Aspect Ratio: 4:3 landscape, and Resolution: XL.

After configuring the settings, enter the main prompt in the prompt box and click Generate. Here's what the generator produced:

The generated image included the long, straight orange hair, the requested pose, and the Christmas details. However, it didn't retain every part of our OC's original design. Her acubi-inspired outfit, hair clips, and earrings were missing, while her micro-bangs appeared longer than before. Despite these differences, the generator still captured the Christmas scene we described.

A prompt-only approach can be useful when you don't have a finished OC image to use as a reference. You can describe the character's appearance, outfit, and intended setting in the prompt instead.

With both results ready, let's compare the two approaches side by side:

Prompts for Generating Christmas-Themed Images

You can also test these approaches with your own OC using the two prompt templates below. Choose a model and aspect ratio that suits your intended result. To guide the generator using an existing character image, upload it as a reference and include “@image1” in your prompt. Here's an example of how to use it:

Snow Angel Scene

Prompt:

"Use @image1 as the only reference. She is lying on her back in fresh, fluffy snow, joyfully making a snow angel with both arms and legs spread out, leaving a beautifully defined angel-shaped imprint around her, with a mini burgundy Santa hat, oversized burgundy knitted scarf, cozy fitted sweater, pleated mini skirt, and winter boots. She has a cheerful, blushing expression, looking up toward the viewer. High-angle diagonal bird’s-eye view from an elevated corner, dramatic three-quarter overhead perspective, looking down at the character. Her head and upper body appear closer to the viewer while her legs extend farther into the background, creating strong perspective and natural foreshortening. Dynamic diagonal composition with her body positioned across the frame, full snow angel imprint visible around her, layered foreground and background elements. An open snowy forest clearing surrounded by snow-covered pine trees, several adorable uniquely decorated snowmen wearing colorful scarves and accessories, scattered snow-covered branches in the foreground, gently falling snowflakes. Beautiful warm golden sunlight filtering through the pine trees, soft golden highlights reflecting on the snow, subtle cool winter ambience, magical Christmas atmosphere, highly detailed anime illustration."

To customize the prompt, replace the [with a mini burgundy Santa hat, oversized burgundy knitted scarf, cozy fitted sweater, pleated mini skirt, and winter boots.] section with your preferred Christmas outfit details. Keep the remaining instructions as they are.

I tested this prompt using my acubi-inspired OC, the Tsubaki.3 model, and a 4:3 landscape aspect ratio. Once the prompt and settings were ready, I clicked Generate.

Here's what the generator produced:

Snowball Wishes

Prompt:

"Use @image1 as the only reference. She gently holds a magical glowing snowball close to the camera with both hands, gazing at it with wide sparkling eyes and a soft fascinated smile, her cheeks slightly flushed, with mini burgundy Santa hat, oversized burgundy knitted scarf, and delicate silver accessories. Cinematic three-quarter close-up composition, slightly low camera angle positioned near the snowball, dramatic perspective and foreshortening, the glowing snowball prominently enlarged in the foreground while her expressive face remains clearly visible just behind it. Warm golden light radiating from the snowball illuminates her face and reflects beautifully in her eyes. A lavishly decorated Christmas tree fills the softly blurred background, glowing golden fairy lights, burgundy ornaments, delicate ribbons, floating sparkling snow particles, dreamy golden bokeh, magical warm Christmas atmosphere, beautiful luminous lighting, highly detailed anime illustration."

You can customize the holiday details or experiment with a different outfit for your OC. Make sure to upload your character image and set it as the reference before generating.

Route 2: Customize Your OC’s Christmas Outfit

For this approach, we'll use PixAI's AI Christmas Photo Generator to give our OC a more festive look. Rather than describing each holiday detail in a prompt, we can select from the available styles. Upload your OC's image, choose a holiday style, and click Generate to create the result.

• First, open the official AI Christmas Photo Generator page.

• Upload the Character Image.

• Once the image is uploaded, choose the festive elements you want to add to your OC. You can select from three available options: Christmas Hat, Festive Scarf, and Holiday Outfit.

For this experiment, we'll try each of the three festive options. First, select the Christmas Hat, then click Generate to create the image.

The Christmas Hat option worked well! Our OC retained her original appearance, including her hairstyle, hair color, eyes, outfit, and accessories. The generator also kept her original pose while adding the festive hat.

For the next tests, we'll use Festive Scarf and Holiday Outfit. Generate an image with each option selected, then compare the three outputs side by side:

All three results retained my OC's recognizable appearance. Her main features, hair clips, earrings, hairstyle, and pose stayed consistent despite the changes to her holiday outfit. The generator also maintained the same background and framing, allowing me to compare how the different Christmas additions looked on my character.

To test this with your own OC, follow the steps below. You can choose from three available presets, but keep in mind that you may have limited control over the specific clothing generated.

Route 3: Change the Background Without Changing Your OC's Outfit

Our previous tests showed how PixAI can keep our OC recognizable while adding different Christmas elements. So far, we've tried Smart Reference and the AI Christmas Photo Generator. For the next experiment, we'll use PixAI Edit Pro to make changes to the scene instead.

This time, we'll remove the burgundy Santa hat and scarf to restore her original acubi-inspired outfit. We'll leave her character design untouched and focus the prompt on three things: the background, lighting, and two props.

Here's the Christmas scene we'll create:

For this scene, our OC will be aboard a festive Christmas sleigh, peeking inside a mysterious gift bag while excitedly reaching for a beautifully wrapped present.

First, open PixAI and select + Create a new image to open a new canvas. Choose PixAI Edit Pro as the model and apply these settings: Resolution to 1K, Aspect Ratio to 5:4 landscape, and Quality to Standard. Once the settings are ready, upload your OC's image as a reference in the prompt box. Then, enter the prompt below:

"Use the uploaded image as the only reference. She is leaning forward inside a luxurious burgundy Christmas sleigh, excitedly opening a large gift bag and reaching for a beautifully wrapped burgundy present with a champagne-gold satin ribbon. She looks directly down at the viewer with sparkling eyes and a delighted smile. Immersive first-person POV from inside the open gift bag, looking upward at the character, the bag’s opening and folded edges framing the foreground, dramatic wide-angle perspective, strong foreshortening, her face and hands appearing closer to the viewer. An ornate golden Christmas handbell rests beside the gift bag. The sleigh features intricate gold carvings, burgundy velvet upholstery, and elegant festive decorations. A magical snow-covered pine forest surrounds the sleigh, glowing golden lanterns, softly falling snow, distant Christmas lights. Dramatic warm golden illumination from the lanterns, radiant golden backlighting, soft highlights on her orange hair, beautiful reflections on the golden ornaments, contrasting cool moonlit snow, luminous floating sparkles, cinematic lighting, rich festive colours, highly detailed anime illustration. Keep the same character and outfit."

Here's how the generation turned out! We'll compare it with the original OC reference side by side to see which details changed and which ones stayed the same.

This generation cost 8,000 Credits and produced the scene in a single attempt. The result retained our OC's original outfit, main visual features, and accessories. Her color palette also stayed consistent despite the new lighting and background. The main difference was the addition of a warm Christmas glow to the overall scene.

A Side-by-Side Comparison of the Three Routes

Each of the three approaches produced good results, but they handled the Christmas makeover differently. Some were better suited for changing outfits, while others offered more control over the character's appearance or background. To see which method fits your needs, let's compare the results and the key observations from each experiment:

Creating a Christmas Scene Featuring Two Characters

Let's add another character to our OC and create a Christmas couple scene together.

For this test, I'll be using my male OC, which I generated with PixAI's Tsubaki.3 model as well.

For our next experiment, we'll bring both OCs together in one Christmas scene. The Duo Character Generator allows us to include two characters in the same image and specify their interaction. Let's get started:

• Open the AI Christmas Photo Generator again and scroll down to Explore More AI Tools. Find and select the AI Couple Photo Generator. This will take you to the Couple Photo Generator canvas.

• Use the uploader to upload the images of your two OCs.

• Once both OCs are uploaded, we can select their interaction. For this scene, we'll choose Head Pat.

• For the final step, choose Landscape (16:9) as the layout, then click Generate.

Here's what the generator produced:

The result looks great! Both OCs appear together and retain their recognizable features. However, the scene could use more Christmas details. To make it more festive, we'll use the AI Christmas Photo Generator to change their outfits.

Upload the generated couple image, select Holiday Outfit, then click Generate to see the result:

Both characters remain recognizable, and the generator successfully added a holiday outfit. However, only our female OC got the Christmas makeover. The cherry blossom background also feels out of place for a holiday scene.
To make some adjustments, click Customize to open the image in the PixAI canvas. Select PixAI Edit Pro under Model, then apply these settings: Aspect Ratio to 4:3 landscape, Resolution to 1K, and Quality to Standard.

Image Editing Prompt:

"Preserve both characters’ original facial features, hairstyles, hair colours, body proportions, and recognizable identities. Dress the female character in a cute festive Christmas outfit consisting of a fluffy red coat with white fur trim, a cozy white inner top, and a red-and-white reindeer headband with adorable little antlers. Have her hold a beautifully wrapped Christmas present with a large red ribbon in both hands. Add a thick burgundy knitted scarf around the male character’s neck, complementing his existing outfit. Transform the background into a charming snow-covered street outside a cozy Christmas coffee shop, with large frosted windows, warm glowing interior lights, festive wreaths, pine garlands, and a beautifully decorated Christmas tree nearby. Snow-covered pavement, gentle falling snowflakes, warm golden light spilling from the coffee shop, soft cinematic illumination, beautiful contrast between warm amber lighting and cool winter blues, dreamy romantic Christmas atmosphere. Preserve their original couple pose and composition."

Here's how our Christmas couple scene turned out:

This looks much better! The characters interact naturally, and the new outfits, background, and Christmas details create the festive atmosphere we wanted. Both OCs also retain their recognizable appearances.

Let's Turn Our Christmas Scene Into a Card

Let's give our Christmas scene a new purpose and turn it into a greeting card! We'll use one of our earlier creations: the Snow Angel scene.

This time, we'll ask PixAI to add an English greeting: “Merry Christmas”, along with the short line “Sending you warm wishes and a little winter magic.” Let's see how well it handles the requested text, font, and overall card design.

I used PixAI Edit Pro for this test, with 4:3 landscape as the aspect ratio, 1K resolution, and Standard quality. Then, I uploaded the Snow Angel scene image.

Editing Prompt:

"Use the uploaded image as the only reference. Transform the illustration into an elegant vintage Christmas greeting card while preserving the original artwork and character. Add a delicate warm ivory border with subtle champagne-gold corners and tiny snowflake decorations. Place “Merry Christmas” at the upper center in large, elegant burgundy calligraphy lettering with graceful flourishes and a subtle gold outline. Directly beneath it, add the exact line “Sending you warm wishes and a little winter magic.” in small, refined Cormorant Garamond serif lettering, centered in muted warm brown. Add a tiny decorative snowflake divider between the texts. Keep the typography within the upper negative space without covering the character. Balanced layout, sophisticated festive details, polished postcard design."

Result:

Nice! PixAI got all the requested text right and placed it where it wouldn't cover our character or other important details. The border also looks properly positioned, and the spelling matches our prompt. That means we got a successful Christmas card in a single attempt!

The final file took up 3.68 MB, and its dimensions stayed the same at 1632 x 1232.

Before you send or print your own Christmas card, don't forget to check these details:

• Are all the words spelled correctly?
• Does the text stay clear of the character's face?
• Are any important details cut off near the edges?
• Is the image large enough for where you'll use it, such as a social media post, message, or print?

Conclusion

With an anime Christmas AI generator, I managed to give my OC a full holiday makeover, from festive outfits to different Christmas scenes. If you're looking forward to seeing your own character in a Christmas setting, why not try the same workflows I explored in this article?

Need a quick holiday outfit? Give the AI Christmas Photo Generator a try. Want to keep your OC's original look while changing the scene? Use PixAI's available reference features. If you prefer more control, write detailed prompts to guide the generation. For a scene with two characters, create their interaction using the AI Couple Photo Generator, then add festive touches with the AI Christmas Photo Generator. Planning to make a Christmas card? Set your aspect ratio to landscape and double-check the generated text.

With the right workflow for each result, you can create a complete set of holiday artwork using just one OC. Head over to PixAI and give your character a Christmas makeover!