Video Animation
Transform static images into dynamic, animated videos using AI. Create professional motion content without complex video editing software.
🎬 Pro Feature: Video Animation requires a Pro or Studio subscription plan.
How It Works
Dream Engine's Video Animation uses advanced AI to analyze your image and create smooth, natural motion. The AI understands depth, objects, and composition to generate realistic camera movements and object animations.
The Video Animation Interface
Here's what the video animation interface looks like and how to use it:
Understanding the Interface
Motion Description (Optional)
Duration Selection
Generate Video Button
Getting Started - Step by Step
Step 1: Select an Image
Navigate to the Video Animation page and choose an image from your library. The image will appear in the interface with its original generation prompt.
Images from your library automatically load with their prompts
You can also upload new images to animate
Best results with clear, high-resolution images
Step 2: Add Motion Description (Optional)
In the "Optional: Describe the motion or scene" field, you can specify the type of animation you want:
Camera Movements: "Slow zoom in", "Pan left to right", "Orbit around subject"
Object Motion: "Character walks forward"
Environmental: "Clouds move across sky", "Water flows"
Leave Blank: For automatic ambient motion
Pro Tip: Leaving the motion description blank often produces the most natural results. The AI analyzes your image and creates appropriate ambient motion automatically.
Step 3: Choose Duration
Select between 5 seconds or 10 seconds:
5 seconds: Perfect for social media, quick clips (100 tokens)
10 seconds: Better for more elaborate animations (200 tokens)
Step 4: Generate
Click the "Generate Video" button and wait 2-5 minutes:
A progress indicator shows the generation status
Don't close or refresh the page during processing
You'll receive a notification when complete
The video is automatically saved to your Media Library
Motion Types Explained
Camera Movements
The AI can simulate various camera techniques:
Zoom In/Out: "Slow zoom in on the subject" - Creates cinematic focus
Pan: "Camera pans left to right" - Horizontal movement across scene
Tilt: "Camera tilts up/down" - Vertical angle adjustment
Dolly: "Camera moves forward" - Moves toward/away from subject
Orbit: "Camera circles around subject" - Circular motion around center
Object Animation
Animate elements within your image:
Character Motion: "Character walks/runs/turns"
Natural Elements: "Wind blows", "Water flows", "Fire flickers"
Fabric & Hair: "Cloak billows in wind", "Hair sways"
Environmental: "Clouds drift", "Leaves rustle"
Ambient Motion
When no motion is specified, the AI creates subtle, professional ambient motion that:
Adds life to static images without dramatic changes
Applies depth-appropriate motion (parallax effect)
Creates natural camera drift and atmosphere
Perfect for portraits and landscape scenes
Best Practices for Quality Results
Image Selection
Resolution: Use high-resolution images (minimum 1024x1024)
Composition: Images with clear foreground/background work best
Subject Clarity: Avoid extremely busy or cluttered compositions
Aspect Ratio: Square (1:1) and landscape (16:9) formats work best
Motion Prompt Writing
Keep It Simple: Focus on one primary motion (5-15 words)
Be Specific: "Slow zoom in" is better than "zoom"
Add Speed: Use descriptors like "slow", "gentle", "rapid", "dramatic"
Specify Direction: "left to right", "toward camera", "upward"
Avoid Complexity: Simple motions look more professional
⚠️ Avoid: Requesting multiple simultaneous motions (e.g., "zoom in while panning left and character walks"). Pick one primary motion for best results.
Technical Considerations
Portrait orientation images may have limited camera movement options
Images with faces work better with subtle ambient motion
Landscape/environment images can handle more dramatic camera moves
Complex motion choreography is harder for AI to execute smoothly
Advanced Techniques
Creating Sequences
Generate multiple animated clips from different angles or moments:
1. Create multiple images with different compositions
2. Animate each with complementary motion
3. Edit together for longer sequences (coming soon: auto-concatenation)
Combining with Other Features
Add Voice: Use Voice & Lip-Sync to make characters speak
Add Sound: Generate matching sound effects for your video
Edit First: Use Image Editor to perfect composition before animating
Style-Specific Tips
Portraits: Use minimal motion, focus on ambient atmosphere
Landscapes: Camera pans and drifts work beautifully
Action Scenes: Specify direction of movement clearly
Abstract Art: Experiment with unconventional motions
Export & Sharing
Video Format
Generated videos are exported as:
Format: MP4 (H.264 codec)
Resolution: Matches source image resolution
Frame Rate: 24 FPS for cinematic quality
Audio: Silent by default (add sound effects after generation)
Social Media Optimization
Videos work perfectly for:
Instagram Reels: Use 5-second duration, 9:16 portrait images
TikTok: Short, eye-catching animations perform best
YouTube Shorts: 10-second max, focus on dramatic motion
Twitter/X: Square format (1:1) performs well
Common Use Cases
Content Creation
Animate concept art and illustrations
Create dynamic thumbnails and preview clips
Turn static posts into engaging video content
Marketing & Advertising
Product showcases with camera movement
Animated brand visuals
Eye-catching social media ads
Storytelling
Animated storyboards
Character reveal sequences
Environmental establishing shots
Professional Presentations
Dynamic slide content
Animated charts and infographics
Engaging title sequences
Troubleshooting
Motion Looks Unnatural
Solution: Try simpler motion prompts or use ambient motion (leave prompt blank). Reduce motion intensity by using descriptors like "gentle" or "subtle".
Objects Distort During Animation
Solution: Use images with clearer subject-background separation. Reduce motion complexity. Try ambient motion instead of specific directions.
Video Duration Too Short
Solution: Select the 10-second option. For longer videos, generate multiple clips and combine them using video editing software.
Generation Failed
Causes & Solutions:
Image resolution too low - Use images at least 512x512 pixels
Complex motion request - Simplify your motion prompt
Insufficient tokens - Check your token balance
Server timeout - Try again in a few minutes
Quality Not as Expected
Improvement Tips:
Start with higher resolution source images
Use images with good composition and depth
Try different motion descriptions
Test ambient motion first before complex directions
Tips for Professional Results
Test First: Start with ambient motion to see how your image animates
Quality In = Quality Out: Use the best source images possible
Subtle is Better: Professional motion is often understated
Match Content: Portraits need different motion than landscapes
Iterate: Try multiple motion styles to find what works best
Combine Features: Add voice and sound for complete experiences
Export Multiple Versions: Generate variations for A/B testing
Plan Sequences: Create complementary clips for longer stories
💡 Pro Workflow: Generate your image → Preview with ambient motion → If satisfied, try specific motion directions → Add voice/sound → Export for social media. This workflow maximizes quality while minimizing token usage.