The embodiment of the invention discloses a video data generation method. The video data generation method comprises the following steps: when a terminal camera is operated, acquiring a target area of a shot interface, and confirming a target from targets of the target area; after receiving a shooting instruction, acquiring images according to a preset step length from a preset time as a start moment before a shooting moment to a preset time as an ending moment after the shooting moment; cutting an area which includes the target and has a same size as that of the target area as each sub-image from each image; matching the target area with each sub-image, keeping the sub-image if matching succeeds, and discarding the sub-image if matching fails; and generating video data according to kept sub-images, and preserving the video data and images taken at the shooting moment. The embodiment of the invention further discloses a terminal.