You have a drawing, fantasy image, or AI photo and want it to move. Until now, this required editing skills or complicated software. Midjourney now offers something new: V1, an AI model that automatically creates a short video from a single image. The feature works via Discord and is intended for creatives who want to turn images into motion. The model produces four five-second videos per image and provides settings for movement, camera, and animation.
Midjourney is already known for its unique image styles. With V1, it is now entering the AI video generation market. This places it alongside players like OpenAI (Sora), Adobe (Firefly), and Runway (Gen-4), but it focuses less on advertising and more on creative simulations.
Consequences for businesses and creators
The introduction of V1 means that the barrier to creating videos has been lowered. Designers, game developers, or small studios can now generate a short video with just an image and a Discord account. The technology promises time savings, but it also carries risks. Hollywood reacted quickly: Disney and Universal filed a lawsuit against Midjourney last week for copyright infringement. AI-generated images resembling characters like Darth Vader and Homer Simpson are at the heart of the complaint.
Concerns from the film industry also affect other sectors. If AI content comes too close to existing IPs, legal ambiguity arises. Moreover, the use of these tools can put original creators under pressure, both in terms of pricing and authenticity.
Price, features, and future plans
V1 is currently available for users with a subscription starting at $10 per month. Generating videos costs eight times as many credits as images, which means you'll go through your bundle faster. Those who want to experiment without limits must switch to the more expensive Relax plan, which ranges from $60 to $120 per month.
The tool offers simple settings such as automatic animation or manual instructions. Images can move with low or high intensity, and videos can be extended up to 21 seconds. Midjourney views this launch as a stepping stone. In the future, the company aims to generate real-time video and even 3D content. The stage is set for a new phase in AI creation. However, whether this phase will align with existing legislation and creative rights remains uncertain.