Midjourney has rapidly become one of the most fascinating tools for creators and digital artists. Famous for its stunning images using text prompts, it has changed the way people visualize concepts, ideas, and narratives. One question that keeps popping up is the same question: Do you think Midjourney makes animations?
Let’s take a look at what’s available as well as what’s not, and what I (as an avid Midjourney enthusiast) make use of it to create motion-based visuals that feel real, even though Midjourney does not yet allow animation in its native format.
What Is Midjourney?
Midjourney is an incredibly powerful AI image-generating platform that converts written commands into high-quality, unique artwork. It is primarily operated through Discord, enabling users to generate images by using commands such as:
Imagine a cinematic scene of a futuristic city that glows at night
In just a few seconds, you will have four gorgeous images in a matter of seconds. Midjourney’s strength lies in:
- Incredible artistic quality
- Styles of a variety (from the realistic to the fantasy)
- Rapidity and the power of community-driven innovation
However, despite its amazing visuals, Midjourney remains focused on still images. So, how can we create animations using it?
The Evolution of Animation in Midjourney
Midjourney’s path to animation began by experimenting with community members, in which users combined their own images with external tools such as Adobe After Effects or Runway ML to create motion. But native support was unavailable until 2025.
The pivotal moment came with the V1 Video Model announcement in June 2025. This model focuses on “image-to-video,” where a static image is used as the frame that starts, and AI incorporates motion in response to the text that is optionally provided. It is designed to be an initial step towards more advanced technologies, like realistic 3D simulations and modeling.
In the future, Midjourney’s plan includes tools for text-to-video, enhanced photorealism, and “NeRF-like” 3D modelling in the coming versions, such as V7. These improvements aim to create open, interactive AI environments. However, until 2025, the primary animation tool will remain based on short videos that are created from pictures.
Can Midjourney Create Animations Directly?
At the moment, Midjourney cannot create complete videos or animations on its own. It specializes in making static images, but rather than motion frames.
But — here’s where the possibilities can get exciting, there is a way to make things more exciting, you can utilize Midjourney as a main source of images for your animation projects. Through the process of creating sequences of images or scenes and animating them using the external AI programs, users are able to make stunningly fluid and realistic effects.
This technique has become increasingly popular with AI filmmakers, artists, and content creators who wish to push the boundaries of what Midjourney can accomplish.
How Does Midjourney’s Animation Feature Work?
Midjourney’s animation tool creates five-second videos through the animation of a given image. It employs AI to detect motion signals and create subtle or dynamic motions based on the settings. Videos are recorded in the resolution of 480p (SD) as the default, but 720p (HD) is available to premium subscribers using Fast Mode.
The most important elements are:
- Beginning Frame: Any image, produced in Midjourney, or uploaded from a third party.
- Motion Levels: low for mild atmospheric effects (e.g., gentle winds or slow movement of characters) and High for more intense actions (e.g., camera pans or fast subject movement); however, this may occasionally cause glitches.
- Extensions: The videos may be extended approximately 4 seconds per time, and up to 21 seconds.
- Looping: Create seamless loops in which the end frame is the same as the beginning.
- Parameters: Customize the parameters using commands such as –motion low/high –raw (for greater control over prompts) –loop, [image URL], as well as –bs # (batch size to create multiple videos at the same time).
The process is extremely resource-intensive; it consumes significantly larger GPU time than the generation of images, which is roughly 8 times more per task. This is why it’s expensive, but Midjourney says it’s more than 25 times more affordable than other services.
My Experience Animating Midjourney Art
As an avid Midjourney fan, I’ve spent many hours exploring AI-generated art. When I first started to create animations, I was amazed by how effective Midjourney can be combined with the right tools for motion.
I started by making an array of linked images, such as the futuristic drone that is flying over an illuminated skyline. I made use of uniform styles, seeds, and aspect ratios to ensure that every frame is visually consistent. After that, I loaded those photos into Kaiber AI for it to make them more real.
Watching my Midjourney images transform effortlessly into animations was fascinating. The subtle light shifts, zooms, and camera pans made my static artwork look similar to scenes in a film. I’ve since employed RunwayML as well as Pika Labs. Both provide incredible motion effects that require very minimal editing.
After a lot of trial and error, I’ve learned that the secret to successful animation is consistency – using the identical composition, aspect ratio, and lighting style across images helps everything flow seamlessly.
How to Create Animations in Midjourney: Step-by-Step Guide
Making animations with Midjourney is easy, particularly using the web application. This tutorial is detailed, and it is based on the official guidelines and tutorials for users.
1. Set Up Your Account
- Join Midjourney by using Discord or downloading the app at midjourney.com.
- Select a plan that is Basic for basic access, Standard/Pro/Mega for HD, and features that are more advanced. It is important to note that video production needs a certain number of “fast minutes” or Relax Mode (Pro+ only).
2. Generate or Upload an Image
- Images of Midjourney: Utilize the Discord command /imagine as well as the Web prompt bar in Discord to make an image. For example: “A serene forest landscape at dawn– ar 16:9”.
- External Images: Upload the image using the image icon in the web app or copy and paste a URL into Discord using the option –video at the end.
3. Animate the Image
- On the Web App :
- View your image within the Gallery.
- Simply click “Animate Image” (Auto for rapid creation or Manual to alter on the screen).
- Change settings: Choose Low/High Motion, turn on Loop, or include the URL of an ending frame.
- Include a motion-related prompt, e.g., “gentle breeze rustling leaves, slow camera pan right”.
- Size of the batch (1-4) along with Resolution (SD/HD).
- Wait for the generation and submit. It can take several minutes, based on the mode.
- On Discord :
- You can upscale your image by using the U1-U4 buttons.
- Use the Animate (Low/High Motion) buttons.
- Add parameters such as –motion high and loop.
4. Preview and Extend
- Click to play on the internet; download it as MP4 or GIF.
- To extend: Use “Extend Auto/Manual” on the web or the Extend buttons in Discord. Repeat as many times as you like for videos that last 21 seconds.
5. Tips for Better Results
- Begin with high-quality images to ensure smoother animations.
- Utilize the low Motion in real-life scenes to reduce artifacts.
- Test using raw for more precise control.
- For storytelling, combine multiple videos or employ external editors to join clips.
- Beware of complicated prompts and keep them focused on movement.
Limitations of Midjourney Animations
While it’s exciting but not perfect, Midjourney’s animation doesn’t do it justice:
- Size and Resolution: The limit is 21 seconds maximum, and 720p HD is best.
- There is no text-to-video: requires a start image. Pure text prompts for video aren’t yet supported.
- Glitches: High-speed motion may create unrealistic effects or cause errors.
- Costs: High GPU usage may exhaust free tiers quickly.
- Compatibility: Image parameters are compatible with HTML0; images that are external must adhere to strict guidelines in order to avoid blocking moderation.
- Platform: The best on the web, Discord is functional, but it isn’t as user-friendly.
Alternatives to Midjourney for Animations
If Midjourney isn’t a good fit for your requirements, think about:
- Runway ML: Full text-to-video, including longer videos and tools for editing.
- Pika Labs: It is user-friendly for short animations and works with Discord.
- Stable Video Diffusion is an open-source solution for video-to-image conversion.
- Adobe Firefly: Integrated with Photoshop to create seamless workflows.
- Luma AI: It is a specialist in 3D animations derived from either images or text.
These tools differ in cost and complexity; however, most offer free trials.
Why Midjourney Art Works Perfectly for Animation
While it’s not able to create animations in a direct way, Midjourney is an excellent tool for creating animation assets. Here’s why:
- Consistent Aesthetics: With parameters such as the –style as well as –seed, you can ensure that frames are in line visually.
- Amazing Detail: Every image has cinematic qualities, ideal for panning or close-up shots.
- Creativity Freedom: It is possible to blend real, surreal, and futuristic graphics effortlessly.
- Fast Iteration: Produce multiple versions fast to create animation storyboards.
When combined using motion-based tools, Midjourney work feels handmade, and with the added benefit that comes with AI speed and scaling.
My Final Thoughts
After many tests, I’ve discovered that even though Midjourney hasn’t been designed to be a tool for motion yet, it’s the ideal base for it. Every frame it produces can be a part of a live, changing world. You need only the right tools to realize the potential.
When you’re making a music video, branding introductions, or even short stories, combining Midjourney with AI motion tools allows you to transform your imagination from static to cinematic motion.
FAQs About Midjourney Animations
Are there ways for Midjourney to make animations?
Yes, Midjourney is able to create animations using their V1 video Model that transforms static images to 5-second videos (extendable up to 21,2 seconds).
Does Midjourney’s animation feature cost anything?
The software requires an annual subscription. Video production requires much more GPU time, and you’ll require enough fast time or the ProPlus plan with Relax Mode.
How long will Midjourney’s animations last?
The initial videos run for 5 seconds; however, you can increase the duration to 21 seconds by adding 4-second increments every four times.
Does Midjourney support text-to-video?
It’s not yet available in the V1 model. It’s image-to-video only. In the future, similar to V7, it could include text-to-video capabilities.
Can I animate external images using Midjourney?
Yes, you can upload images using the web app or via URLs within Discord; however, you must follow the guidelines of the community to avoid blocking.
What resolutions are Midjourney videos?
Standard is 480p HD; The 720p HD is available as a Fast Mode option for StandardPlus plans. Dimensions differ based on aspect ratio.
How can I create looping animations with Midjourney?
Use the –loop parameter, or activate the Loop option in the web application to ensure that the frame’s end aligns with the start.
Do you have tutorials on Midjourney animations?
Yes, go to YouTube for beginner-friendly tutorials, such as “Animate Images using Midjourney Video: Beginner Tutorial [2025]” for step-by-step directions.