Captivating animated videos are a powerful tool to engage audiences and convey your message effectively. However, for those who lack experience with video editing or animation software, the process of creating such videos can seem daunting. That’s where the magic of AI comes into play. AI image to video generators have begun to revolutionize the way we create animated videos, making the process easier, faster, and more accessible to everyone. And these tools are in the youth of their technological development. Exciting times are ahead.
So let’s get cozy with the frontrunners of AI image to video generators that enable you to transform your images, photographs and even drawings into engaging animated videos without the need for any significant financial investment.
AI Image to Video: Video Creation
Runway Gen-2: The Next Leap in Generative AI
Gen-2 by Runway is a game-changer in the realm of generative AI. With its ability to translate text, images, and video clips into captivating video sequences, it opens up new avenues for creativity and storytelling. From its Text to Video and Image to Video modes to its advanced Stylization and Customization options, Gen-2 offers a diverse set of tools that cater to the needs of creators across various domains, standing as a testament to the power of innovation and the limitless possibilities of multimodal AI systems. Runway Research’s dedication to pushing the boundaries of technology and creativity reinforces their position as trailblazers in the AI community.
For the Cave of the Rusalka short film, I first generated the images in Midjourney, prompting for the look and feel of the Rusalka’s world. By using Runway’s Image to Video feature, all it took was to simply upload each of the Midjourney generations for Runway to animate them in its unique way, creating 4-second scenes for each, which I was then able to edit as I would any other video. (I like to use Filmora 12.) Runway has a very convenient FREE FOREVER option, though if you’re working on longer projects, it’s worth investing in one of its paid plans, which start at $12/mo.
Kaiber: Where Words Take Shape
Through its animation functionality, Kaiber infuses vitality into your static visuals. Its image to video function easily harmonizes your 2D images with animation, (and even more impressive is its video to video function as seen below.) This innovative, user-friendly AI generator introduces a captivating dimension of fluid motion to your videos, allowing you to uniquely narrate your tale with its style options and prompt functionality.
Using Kaiber’s video to video generator, I took the Runway-generated short film Cave of the Rusalka and ran it through Kaiber. Above is the effect using the Cyberpunk and cinematic prompts. In my humble opinion, Kaiber’s video to video feature is where its true power really lies in creating captivating content. Kaiber has a very affordable $5 beginner monthly plan, which is worth it in my opinion for this sort of visually-interesting content creation.
AI Image to Video: Depth Animation
CapCut: Unleash the Power of 3D Zoom Pro
CapCut is perhaps the go-to video app for the TikTok generation, and with good reason. It’s fast and efficient at creating short form videos from photos and video to capture attention and showcase them on social media. One of its more eye-catching features is CapCut’s powerful 3D Zoom effect. It’s simple and easy to get started. Just download the CapCut app for on your phone and begin a new project. Simply upload your photos, select an image in the timeline, choose the 3D Zoom or 3D Zoom Pro in the style options, and watch your images come to life. But remember, the key to extraordinary AI results is great input, so make sure you have high-quality images for the best outcomes. (That rule goes for all of these other generators as well.) Like many apps, you can use the free version of CapCut to achieve results, with additional in-platform paid features available.
Leia Pix: Dive into Immersive Depth Animation
Leia Pix is a gateway to a world of immersive animation. A quick and easy free way to add depth and movement to your 2D content. Simply upload your image, customize the animation cycle length and style (if you want), or dive into the advanced editor for even more control. Leia Pix Converter at this stage of the game is completely free to use. Definitely try it out!
Pika Labs: Creating AI-Powered Visuals
Pika’s image to video feature can turn your images into engaging visuals. Similar to Midjourney and other tools, Pika’s video beta currently runs on Discord, so you must join the community to run this tool (sign up with your Google account and it takes 2 seconds.). Once in Discord, you can generate dynamic video scenes effortlessly with basic commands and by adding your own images. Make sure to read the directions onn the initial Discord screen to understand how Pika’s generative functionality works. For now, Pika is completely free and comes with a range of options to fuel your imagination.
AI Image to Video: Animation
Animated Drawings: Breathe Life into Your Characters
This turned out to be one of my unexpected favorite tools. Do you have creative characters you’d love to see come alive? Animated Drawings, is a fantastic generative AI tool by Meta, designed to animate characters. And it’s incredibly easy to use. While it’s primarily intended for children’s drawings, you can upload any character with separate limbs (generate your character in a ‘T-pose’ using Midjourney or other AI art/image generators) on a white background, upload your character, tweak the animation points (the tool will guide you if you hover on each point) and then watch your character come to life. It’s extremely fun, and currently, completely free.
Genmo: Quick and Cool Animations
If you’re seeking quick and cool animations, Genmo is your go-to tool. With a user-friendly interface, you can easily animate your images or even transform them into 3D objects. Genmo’s versatility allows you to experiment with various styles and lengths to achieve your desired look. So whether you’re creating meme videos or adding an extra flair to your YouTube channel, Genmo has everything you need to bring your images to life. Genmo uses a “fuel” token system that resets for free every day (100 fuel per day, each generation depending on length etc uses different amounts of fuel.) It’s an excellent options for hobbyists. There is also a paid plan for 1,000 fuel per day coming in at $10/mo, which also removes watermarks, gives access to Genmo chat and prioritizes paid users for new models.
AI Image to Video: Face Animation
D-ID AI Video Generator: Speaking Avatars
Live Portrait by D-ID, is an innovative AI technology that animates still photos as life-like animations, while D-ID’s Speaking Portrait is a feature that enables the creation of highly realistic video presentations of human presenters with authentic expressions and realistic voices. Users can upload their own videos or choose from a library of pre-existing footage. D-ID’s AI seamlessly integrates talking avatars into selected videos, offering endless possibilities for storytelling and personalization.
If you’re looking for an AI video generator that allows you to explore your creative potential without committing to a subscription upfront, D-ID is the perfect choice. D-ID offers a free trial option, giving you the opportunity to experience the power of AI-generated videos without any financial barriers.
HeyGen AI Video Generator: Unleash Your Creativity
HeyGen is a leading AI video generator that not only produces high-quality animated videos (similar to D-ID’s Speaking Portrait) but also offers avatars suitable for various purposes, such as educational videos or advertisements. Getting started with HeyGen is a breeze. You can upload a photo from your computer or let the AI image to video tool generate an image for you. You can choose your preferred speaker’s voice and fine-tune the speed and pitch of the sound to achieve the desired effect. Once you’re satisfied with your settings, simply hit the generate button, and your animated video is ready to be shared with the world. HeyGen has a free plan limited to 1 minute of generated video a month (credits reset at each billing cycle). There are a variety of paid monthly plans depending on your needs.
MyHeritage AI Video Generator: Breathe Life into Vintage Photos
Preserving cherished memories and giving new life to old images is now possible with MyHeritage AI Video Generator. This exceptional AI tool specializes in revitalizing vintage photos, enabling you to create animated videos that tug at the heartstrings of your audience. (For the purpose of this demo video, I used Midjourney to generate my subject, though both of my grandfathers did indeed fight in WW2.) To utilize MyHeritage, select the DeepStory option under the photo header and upload the image you wish to animate. Next, indicate your photo’s gender and input a first and last name, setting the stage for your video’s story. Afterward, enter your desired text and choose your preferred speaker’s voice from the available options to bring authenticity to the narrative, all while adding more images to create a story. For a less immersive experience, create a simple animation with the Deep Nostalgia function. This is a free tool and produces some pretty cool results.
SadTalker: Your Images Come to Life
You can animate faces and make them say anything you want. Upload an image, write a script, or upload your own audio, and watch as these AI-powered tools work their magic. While free, this tool does take some time to render unless your system is a GPU powerhourse, though github does offer a few options for toggling GPU performance (FYI, we did not apply those here.)
Closing Thoughts: Imagine the Possibilities
There’s already a treasure trove of AI image to video tools and techniques out there, and this field of AI development is just getting started, which promises heaps of untapped potential for the future. Whether you’re a social media influencer, content creator, or a creative enthusiast seeking to enhance your personal projects, these tools can serve as a gateway to new possibilities. Designed to be user-friendly and intuitive, they empower you to bring your creative vision to life with ease and efficiency.