The heaven hug is one of the most shared videos on TikTok this October. Someone runs across a sea of golden clouds, sees a person they lost waiting for them with open arms, and they hold each other one more time. In Spanish it goes by "abrazo en el cielo" or "alguien te espera", and families post it for Día de Muertos, Father's Day, Mother's Day and the anniversary of a loss. This guide explains where the trend comes from, what happens in each second, and how to make a 10-second version from 2 photos with the AI Heaven Hug template on Viberot.

Two people hold each other tightly above a sea of golden clouds in soft heavenly light
One more hug, above the clouds

Where the heaven hug comes from#

The format started as CapCut templates made for Father's Day in June 2026: you add your photo and a photo of a parent who has passed away, and the template animates the two of you meeting in heaven. One version has you running up glowing steps into the clouds; the newer one, "Alguien te espera" ("someone is waiting for you"), puts you on an endless sea of clouds at sunset. The second one took off in early October around Día de Muertos and is the version most people are posting now.

The templates have been used more than a million times between them, and many of the clips that go viral are simply a person's own photo and an old picture of their mother, father or grandparent.

Why it moves people#

  • It is the hug people wish they had. The caption that comes with it is usually some version of "if I could ask for one impossible thing, it would be one last hug".
  • It uses the photos you already have. Most families have only a few old pictures of someone they lost. This turns one of them into a moment.
  • It is gentle. Clouds, soft light, a smile and a hug. Nothing dramatic or sad to watch, even though it often makes people cry.
  • It fits days of remembrance. Día de Muertos, Father's Day, Mother's Day, birthdays and anniversaries all bring it back.

The video, second by second#

Here is what the 10-second version you get looks like:

  1. 0–2s: Running across the clouds. The camera follows you from behind as you walk, then run, across a sea of soft white clouds toward a low golden sun.
  2. 2–4s: Someone is waiting. Far ahead, your loved one stands in the light and slowly opens their arms with a warm smile.
  3. 4–6s: You recognise them. A close-up of your face: tears, disbelief, then a smile.
  4. 6–8s: The hug. You reach them and hold each other tight.
  5. 8–10s: Together again. A close-up of the two of you, foreheads touching, eyes closed, in soft golden light.

Each of you keeps your own face, age and clothes from your photos. The backgrounds of the photos are replaced by the heaven scene. The video has no sound, so you can add a song that means something to you.

Step by step: how to make a heaven hug video#

  1. Open the template. Go to the AI Heaven Hug page and sign in.
  2. Upload your photo. A clear photo of you, half-body or full-body if you have one.
  3. Upload a photo of your loved one. One photo of the person waiting for you. An old print or a scan is fine.
  4. Pick the aspect ratio. 9:16 for TikTok, Reels and Shorts, or 16:9 for YouTube or a family TV.
  5. Pick a quality. Standard 480p or 720p is enough for social. Higher tiers give more detail and cost more.
  6. Generate. No prompt to write: the clouds, the run and the hug are already set. Rendering usually takes a few minutes.
  7. Download, add music and share. You get a 10-second MP4 ready to post or keep.

Picking photos that work#

Works well Causes trouble
One person in each photo Group photos where the face is tiny
Face clearly visible, looking at the camera Sunglasses, hats pulled low, faces turned away
Half-body or full-body for your own photo Very dark, blurry or heavily filtered photos
An old print scanned flat and straight A photo of a photo taken at an angle with glare
  • The age stays as in the photo. If you upload a photo of your father at 40, he appears at 40. Pick the photo that feels most like the person you remember.
  • Old photos are fine. Black-and-white or faded prints work as long as the face is clear.
  • Crop to one person. If the only photo you have is a group shot, crop it to the one face before you upload.

Note

Photos that appear to show public figures or celebrities are rejected before any credits are charged. Use photos of yourself and of people close to you.

Ideas for your post#

  • The classic caption. "Imagine you get to heaven and God tells you: someone is waiting for you." Or in Spanish: "Imagina que vas al cielo y Dios te dice: alguien te está esperando."
  • Día de Muertos. Post it next to your ofrenda photo, with their favourite song.
  • Father's Day or Mother's Day. "Happy Father's Day up in heaven" is how many of these clips are shared.
  • Anniversaries and birthdays. A quiet way to mark the day and let family know you are thinking of them.
  • Keep it private. You don't have to post it at all. Many people just send it to a sibling or keep it on their phone.
  • Hashtags. #heavenhug, #abrazoenelcielo, #alguienteespera and #diademuertos put your clip where people are already watching.

AI heaven hug vs. the CapCut template#

The CapCut templates need the app, put their own song and captions on the clip, and give you whatever version the template was built around. The AI Heaven Hug template makes a new clip from your two photos:

  • No app to install. It runs in the browser on your phone or computer.
  • Both faces from your photos. Each person keeps their own face, age and clothes.
  • No captions or watermark baked in. Add your own words and song when you post.
  • Two aspect ratios. 9:16 vertical or 16:9 widescreen.

If you want a lighter, everyday hug instead, the AI hugging GIF makes a short looping hug from two photos, and AI talking photo brings a single photo to life.

How much it costs#

A Standard 720p heaven hug video costs 137 credits; 480p costs 64. Higher tiers cost more, and the exact price is always shown next to the Generate button before you start. Credit packs are one-time payments, not a subscription. They start at $9.90 for 600 credits and never expire. If a generation fails, the credits go straight back to your balance. See the pricing page for details.

Frequently asked questions#

What is the heaven hug video?#

A 10-second video made from two photos, yours and one of someone you miss: you run across the clouds in heaven, find them waiting and hug one more time.

How much does it cost?#

64 credits at 480p and 137 credits at Standard 720p. The price is shown before you generate.

How many photos do I need?#

  1. One of you and one of your loved one, with one person in each.

Can I use an old photo of someone who has passed away?#

Yes. Old prints, scans and low-resolution phone photos work as long as the face is visible. The video keeps the age they have in the photo.

Do we keep our own clothes?#

Yes. Each person wears the clothes from their own photo; only the background changes to the clouds.

Can I use my pet?#

Not yet. The template is made for two people.

Does it have music?#

No. The video comes without sound so you can add the song that matters to you, or one from your platform's library, when you post.

Which photos are rejected?#

Photos that appear to show public figures or celebrities are blocked before any credits are charged, and explicit images are always blocked.