How to Animate a Picture?

Want to learn how to animate a picture? Transforming static images into captivating videos has never been easier with AI.

I will describe below the different techniques available to animate pictures using the latest AI technology available, including

and .

You'll discover powerful tools that can add subtle movements, create dramatic transformations, or bring characters to life - all from a single image.

Text-to-Motion Animation

Text-to-motion animation tools allow you to transform static images into dynamic videos simply by describing the motion you want using a text prompt. These AI models interpret natural language descriptions to generate fluid, realistic animations that match your creative vision. This approach is also sometimes called text-to-video or text-guided animation.

Here's an example showing how AI can animate a picture by providing an image and a simple text prompt in Melies using Hailuo AI Minimax:

The simplest way to animate a picture is through text prompts. You simply describe how you want your image to move, and the AI brings it to life:

• Luma Dream Machine
  - Type natural descriptions like "zoom into the subject's face" or "pan across the landscape" to create professional animations
• Runway Gen-3 Alpha
  - Use text to control camera movements, transitions, and style variations
• Kling AI
  - Write prompts to generate fluid animations in both simple and complex scenes
• Hailuo AI MiniMax
  - Transform static images through text-guided motion and effects

These video models make animating pictures as simple as writing a description and are

so you so need to have a subscription for each one!

Video-Driven Animation

Video-driven animation provides more precise control by using reference footage to guide the animation. This approach is particularly effective for character animation and complex movements that need to match specific timing or motion patterns.

This example demonstrates how a single portrait photo can be brought to life with realistic facial movements and expressions:

If you want to animate characters and have more precise control over how your picture animates, there are several tools allowing you to enact and use reference videos as animation guides:

is an open source tool that specializes in animating portrait photos. Upload a video of someone talking or moving, and LivePortrait will map those exact movements onto your still image, creating natural-looking animations that follow the reference video perfectly.

takes video-driven animation further by letting you use any reference video to guide your picture's movement. Want your landscape photo to have the same sweeping motion as a drone shot? Simply provide the drone footage as reference, and Runway will animate your image accordingly.

excels at creating talking head videos from still photos. Upload a video of someone speaking, and HeyGen will animate your portrait photo with matching lip movements, expressions, and head motions. It's perfect for creating presenter videos or animated avatars from a single photo.

These tools give you precise control over your picture's animation by using existing videos as motion templates. Whether you prefer the simplicity of text prompts or the precision of video-driven animation, Melies integrates these powerful tools to help you bring any picture to life.