What is image-to-video AI?

Image-to-video AI generates a video clip from a still image. The image provides the starting visual context, and a prompt guides camera movement, subject motion, and atmosphere.

What image formats are supported?

The workflow is designed for JPG, PNG, and WebP source images.

How long are generated videos?

Duration depends on the selected model and available settings. The tool shows model-specific options and credit cost before generation.

Does the AI exactly follow camera movement prompts?

Not always. Prompted camera moves help steer the model, but exact motion, framing, and physics vary by provider and source image.

Can I animate AI-generated images?

Yes. A common Melies workflow is to create an image first, then use it as the source frame for image-to-video.

How is this different from text-to-video?

Text-to-video creates visuals from a prompt alone. Image-to-video starts from a specific image, which gives more visual control but still requires review for motion artifacts.

AI Agents Pricing

Image to Video AI Generator

Turn a still image into a short AI video clip. Upload a frame, describe the motion, choose a video model, and generate a clip for storyboards, product shots, social content, and AI film experiments.

Upload your image

JPG, PNG, or WebP

Choose an available video model

Camera Movement

Settings

Duration

Aspect Ratio

Portrait first frame before motion — First frame

Generated motionMuted preview

Image to video product facts

What the Melies image-to-video workflow currently supports.

Input: Still image + prompt; Upload an image and describe camera movement, subject motion, environment, and mood.
Backend: Model-based video generation; Available models, duration, size, speed, and credit cost vary by selected provider.
Output: Generated video asset; The result is saved as a video clip in Melies and can be downloaded or reused in projects.
Limits: Motion varies; The model may reinterpret faces, hands, text, logos, physics, or exact camera moves. Review before production use.

How to turn an image into a video with AI

Upload a still image

Use a photo, AI-generated frame, product shot, storyboard panel, or character image. The image acts as the starting visual context for the clip.

Prompt the motion

Describe subject movement, camera direction, atmosphere, and timing. Short, concrete camera language usually works better than long abstract prompts.

Generate and review

Choose a model, spend the required credits, then review the MP4 result for identity, motion, artifacts, and usable framing.

Control and fidelity

Image-to-video control for practical creative work

Runway, Kling, Luma, and Pika pages lead with model quality and examples. Melies focuses on the workflow: pick the model, prompt the shot, and keep the generated clip with your other assets.

Model Choice: Use the available video model that fits your shot style, cost, and expected motion quality.
Camera-Style Prompts: Prompt push-in, orbit, pan, tilt, handheld drift, crane up, or static lock-off. Exact execution depends on the model.
Character and Product Starting Frames: Animate portraits, product images, concept frames, and storyboards while keeping the source image as the visual anchor.
Video Asset Workflow: Generated clips remain in Melies so they can support scenes, ads, thumbnails, subtitles, sound, and later video tools.
Prompt Recipes: Use concise recipes: subject action, camera move, environment motion, style, lens feel, and what should stay stable.
Quality Caveats: AI video can introduce warping, temporal artifacts, identity drift, or unexpected motion. Strong stills and specific prompts help.

Choose the right video model for the shot

Melies routes image-to-video through provider models. Availability, durations, resolutions, and credit costs can change as model support evolves.

Kling

MotionStart with controlled subject and camera motion. Review hands, faces, and fine edges.

Veo

CinematicUse for cinematic scene development. Check framing changes and temporal continuity.

Sora

CreativeUse when creative motion matters. Compare output against the original composition.

Wan

StylizedA useful option for stylized sources. Inspect texture stability across the full clip.

Hailuo

ExpressiveTest expressive subject motion. Watch for identity drift and background deformation.

Seedance

ActionTest action-led shots. Review speed, physics, and whether the first frame stays recognizable.

Model availability, duration, resolution, and credit cost are shown in the live selector before generation.

Motion Presets

Write motion like a shot brief

A strong image-to-video prompt names the subject action, camera direction, environment motion, and visual style in one compact sentence.

Camera movement presets — dolly, orbit, crane, pan and more

Consistency

Use the still image as the anchor

The source image gives the model composition and identity cues. Clear faces, products, and backgrounds usually produce more controllable clips.

Character reference guiding an image-to-video generation

Workflow

Keep the clip in your creative workflow

Animate an image, then continue with sound, subtitles, translation, slow motion, or other Melies tools as the project develops.

Image to video pipeline — generate, animate, extend in one workflow

What can you create with image-to-video AI?

Image-to-video works best when you already like the still frame and want motion around it.

01Storyboard AnimationAnimate key frames into rough previz clips for pacing, camera feel, and client review.
02Social Video HooksTurn a strong static visual into a short vertical clip for TikTok, Reels, Shorts, and paid social tests.
03Product Motion TestsAdd subtle push-ins, turntable-like motion, or lifestyle movement to product concepts.
04Film PrevizTry camera movement on concept art before production or before generating longer sequences.
05Portrait AnimationAdd subtle motion to portraits, avatars, and creator images before moving to talking head or lip sync workflows.
06Ad Creative VariantsCreate several moving versions of one image to test pacing, motion, and visual hooks.

Turn a still frame into a motion test

Upload an image, describe the movement, choose a model, and review the generated video clip before using it in a project.

Image to video AI: frequently asked questions

Practical answers before you start creating.

Animate your still image

Upload a frame, prompt the motion, choose a model, and generate an AI video clip.

Choose a plan to generate and export