> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://runcrate.ai/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Sora 2 Video API
> Generate AI videos with OpenAI's Sora 2 models via the Runcrate API — text-to-video with realistic physics simulation.
export const RuncrateStyles = () => {
if (typeof document !== 'undefined' && !document.getElementById('runcrate-overrides')) {
const s = document.createElement('style');
s.id = 'runcrate-overrides';
s.textContent = `
/* Match Runcrate's rounding scale (--radius: 0.75rem) */
.rounded-sm { border-radius: 0.5rem !important; } /* 8px */
.rounded-md { border-radius: 0.625rem !important; } /* 10px */
.rounded-lg { border-radius: 0.75rem !important; } /* 12px */
.rounded-l-sm { border-top-left-radius: 0.5rem !important; border-bottom-left-radius: 0.5rem !important; }
.rounded-r-sm { border-top-right-radius: 0.5rem !important; border-bottom-right-radius: 0.5rem !important; }
.rounded-l-md { border-top-left-radius: 0.625rem !important; border-bottom-left-radius: 0.625rem !important; }
.rounded-r-md { border-top-right-radius: 0.625rem !important; border-bottom-right-radius: 0.625rem !important; }
.rounded-l-lg { border-top-left-radius: 0.75rem !important; border-bottom-left-radius: 0.75rem !important; }
.rounded-r-lg { border-top-right-radius: 0.75rem !important; border-bottom-right-radius: 0.75rem !important; }
/* Cards: never pure white in light mode */
.card { background-color: #fcfcfc !important; border-radius: 0.75rem !important; }
html.dark .card { background-color: #141414 !important; }
/* Docs hero box */
.rc-hero { background-color: #fcfcfc; border: 1px solid #e0e0e0; }
html.dark .rc-hero { background-color: #141414; border-color: #242424; }
html.dark .rc-hero h1 { color: #f5f5f5; }
/* Runcrate scrollbar — thin, transparent track, hide-until-hover thumb */
::-webkit-scrollbar { width: 6px; height: 6px; background-color: transparent; }
::-webkit-scrollbar-track { background-color: transparent; }
::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb { background-color: rgba(155, 155, 155, 0.5); border-radius: 10px; transition: opacity 0.3s ease; opacity: 0; }
::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb:hover { background-color: rgba(155, 155, 155, 0.7); }
*:hover::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb,
*:focus::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb,
*:active::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb { opacity: 1; }
* { scrollbar-width: thin; scrollbar-color: rgba(155, 155, 155, 0.5) transparent; }
`;
document.head.appendChild(s);
}
return null;
};
Generate videos using OpenAI's Sora 2 models through the Runcrate API. Sora 2 excels at realistic physics simulation, consistent object permanence, and cinematic camera work.
**Sora API is being discontinued in September 2026.** Plan migrations to [Veo 3](/examples/ai-video-pipeline), [Seedance](/examples/seedance-video-api), or [Kling v3](/examples/ai-video-pipeline) before the deadline.
## Available models
| Model | Durations | Best for |
| -------------- | --------- | ---------------------------------- |
| **Sora 2** | 4, 8, 12s | General-purpose video generation |
| **Sora 2 Pro** | 4, 8, 12s | Production-quality, complex scenes |
***
## Basic text-to-video
```python Python theme={"theme":"github-dark"}
from runcrate import Runcrate
client = Runcrate(api_key="rc_live_YOUR_API_KEY")
job = client.models.generate_video_and_save(
"sora-demo.mp4",
model="openai/sora-2",
prompt="A paper airplane folds itself from a blank sheet, launches off a wooden desk, "
"and flies through an open window into a bright blue sky. Tracking shot.",
duration=8,
on_status=lambda j: print(f" {j.status}..."),
)
```
```typescript TypeScript theme={"theme":"github-dark"}
import Runcrate from '@runcrate/sdk';
const rc = new Runcrate({ apiKey: 'rc_live_YOUR_API_KEY' });
const job = await rc.models.generateVideo({
model: 'openai/sora-2',
prompt: 'A paper airplane folds itself from a blank sheet, launches off a desk, flies through a window.',
duration: 8,
});
let status = job;
while (status.status !== 'completed' && status.status !== 'failed') {
await new Promise(r => setTimeout(r, 5000));
status = await rc.models.getVideoStatus(job.id);
}
const videoBuffer = await rc.models.downloadVideo(job.id);
await Bun.write('sora-demo.mp4', videoBuffer);
```
***
## Sora 2 Pro — production quality
```python theme={"theme":"github-dark"}
from runcrate import Runcrate
client = Runcrate(api_key="rc_live_YOUR_API_KEY")
job = client.models.generate_video_and_save(
"hero-video.mp4",
model="openai/sora-2-pro",
prompt="Slow-motion close-up of water droplets falling onto a leaf, each creating "
"concentric ripples. Macro lens, natural diffused lighting, shallow depth of field.",
duration=12,
on_status=lambda j: print(f" {j.status}..."),
)
```
***
## Sora 2 vs. alternatives
| Feature | Sora 2 | Veo 3.0 | Seedance 1.0 |
| --------------- | ----------------------- | ----------------- | ------------ |
| Max duration | 12s | 8s | 12s |
| Physics realism | Excellent | Good | Good |
| Resolution | HD | 4K | HD |
| Audio | No | Yes (Veo 3 Audio) | No |
| Status | **Sunsetting Sep 2026** | Active | Active |
## Migration plan
The API shape is identical across all video models — changing the `model` parameter is the only code change needed:
| Current | Migrate to | Why |
| ---------- | ---------- | --------------------------------------- |
| Sora 2 | Veo 3.0 | Higher resolution, audio support |
| Sora 2 Pro | Veo 3.0 | Comparable quality, actively maintained |
***
## Tips
* **Sora 2 excels at physical interactions** — dominos, water, fabric, collisions.
* **Camera language works well** — "tracking shot," "dolly zoom," "slow motion" are understood.
* **12s is the maximum** — for longer videos, generate multiple clips and stitch them.
* **Start with Sora 2** for drafts, use Sora 2 Pro for finals.
## Next steps
* [Video generation reference](/models/video-generation)
* [Seedance Video API](/examples/seedance-video-api) — ByteDance's alternative
* [AI Video Pipeline](/examples/ai-video-pipeline) — batch generation with multiple models