Building Cinematic Moments with the Cutscene Timeline
The cutscene timeline editor lets you sequence camera movements, character animations, effects, and dialog on a draggable track-based timeline.
Some moments in a visual novel need more than static dialog — a dramatic reveal, a chase sequence, or an emotional flashback. That's where the cutscene timeline comes in.
Track-based sequencer
The cutscene editor is a fullscreen timeline with draggable tracks. Each track represents a different layer:
- Dialog — timed dialog and narration
- Characters — enter, exit, animate, change expression
- Camera — zoom, pan, shake
- Effects — screen flash, fade, tint
- Audio — BGM, SFX, ambient, voice
- Background — scene transitions
- Wait — pause points
Drag blocks on the timeline to position them. Resize to change duration. The playhead scrubs through the sequence in real time.
Camera system
The camera track lets you create cinematic movements:
- Zoom — focus on a character or detail
- Pan — slide the viewport across the scene
- Shake — impact effects with configurable intensity
- Reset — return to default viewport
Camera movements interpolate smoothly between keyframes.
Live preview
Hit play to watch your cutscene in the preview area above the timeline. Pause, scrub, and adjust. The preview shows the exact output your players will see.
When to use cutscenes
Cutscene nodes work best for:
- Opening and ending sequences
- Action scenes that need precise timing
- Flashbacks with camera effects
- Musical moments with synced animations
For regular dialog scenes, Write mode is faster. Cutscenes are for when you want frame-level control.