V1: A New Video Generator That Impresses with Both Quality and Affordability

Midjourney has introduced its first AI model for creating videos. Not only is it more affordable than other video generators, but its quality rivals major players such as OpenAI's Sora and Google's Veo 3.

From Image to Video

Midjourney is undoubtedly one of the leaders in generative artificial intelligence. Its image generator immediately won fans around the world and had more than 20 million users last year.

This year, however, the company decided to take a major step in a new direction, unveiling its first Midjourney V1 video generator to the world last week. It impressed not only with its outstanding visuals, but also with its ambition to compete with popular tools such as Sora and Veo 3.

How Midjourney V1 Works

This first AI video model works on the “image-to-video” principle, which means it can create 5-second video clips from images. Like the image generator, it is available to users through the Discord platform and is currently in beta. So how can you create your first video clip?

1. Create an image in Midjourney or upload your own image and mark it as the “starting frame.”

2. Click the “Animate” button. It will automatically appear below the image and switch you to “image-to-video” mode.

3. Choose automatic or manual mode. Automatic mode creates a “motion prompt” based on the content of the image and offers a quick and easy way to animate it. Manual mode, on the other hand, allows you to enter your own text prompt and adjust the animation as needed.

4. Set the motion intensity. Midjourney V1 lets you choose “low motion” (subtle and calm movement) or “high motion” (more action-packed and dynamic animation).

5. Generate and download the video.

Up to 21 Seconds of Video from a Single Image

Midjourney V1 automatically creates 5-second videos. However, they can be up to 21 seconds long thanks to the gradual extension feature. A video can be extended afterward—specifically, four times by four seconds.

Availability and Pricing

The new Midjourney V1 video generator competes with other players not only through its intuitive controls and animation quality, but also through its affordability. Although a video costs roughly 8x more than an image, it is still approximately 25x less expensive than competing tools.

For this price, users also receive four 5-second videos at once, meaning that, on average, the cost of one second of video is equal to the cost of one image. You can therefore use the basic plan (priced at $10) to generate videos. However, you should expect your subscription allowance to run out eight times faster than usual.

A Creative or Commercial Tool?

If you plan to create videos in Midjourney V1, you should know that, like the image generator, it has its own distinctive aesthetic. Rather than creating convincing, super-realistic videos for film or advertising, it focuses on creativity and artistic expression.

Midjourney's Vision

According to Midjourney founder and CEO David Holz, this difference from conventional video generators is no coincidence. As he stated on the blog, the company ultimately aims to achieve an open-world simulation in real time. The image and video generators are therefore not isolated projects. They are important pieces of a puzzle that, together with the planned 3D visualization of space, will create a unique simulated world and take AI visual creation to an entirely new level. And the new Midjourney V1 AI video generator is undoubtedly proof that the company has found its own path.

Source: TechCrunch, TechRadar