Hailuo gets feature competitive with image-to-video AI

Hailuo AI, a product of Chinese startup MiniMax, has officially launched its Image-to-Video (img2video) feature on the web, providing a new tool for creators looking to turn static images into dynamic video content.

Backed by Chinese tech giants Alibaba (e-commerce) and Tencent (video game and digital content publisher) and founded by AI researcher Yan Junjie,, MiniMax, quickly made a name for itself in the AI video space thanks to the release of its ultra realistic Hailuo AI video generation model earlier this year.

A fast-rising newcomer to AI video generation

At the time it was released in early September 2024, Hailuo only supported text-to-video, meaning users could only type in text descriptions of the video they wanted to generate, and Hailuo would attempt to follow these.

However, it quickly gained a following among early adopter AI video creators for its vivid, coherent videos with human motions that were much more fluid and lifelike — often faster — than other rival video generators from U.S. companies such as Runway and Luma AI.

Catching up to U.S. rivals

Yet, Hailuo was still behind the curve when it came to allowing users to upload static images — be they AI generated or their own photos or traditionally crafted images made in other programs — which most rivals do offer.

Now, by adding img2video, Hailuo AI is offering a feature competitive platform. By combining both text and image inputs, Hailuo allows for highly personalized visual outputs that integrate creative instructions with AI-powered precision.

This feature is designed to bring even complex artistic visions to life, offering precise control over object recognition and manipulation in generated videos.

Other features

One of the standout characteristics of Hailuo’s offering is the diversity of styles available to users. Whether creators want to work in super-realism, explore fantasy and sci-fi, or delve into anime and abstract visuals, the platform provides a wide array of choices, allowing for customization that suits varied artistic needs.

This diversity of styles is likely to appeal to a broad range of users, from filmmakers to digital artists and game developers.

MiniMax’s rise in the AI world has been rapid, particularly with its earlier release of a video generation tool, “video-01.” This model drew widespread attention for its handling of human movements and gestures, a challenge for many other AI models.

The company’s capabilities were showcased in a viral video featuring a lightsaber battle between Star Wars characters, which demonstrated its technical prowess in producing hyper-realistic content — as well as its capability to reproduce likenesses of copyrighted and well-known characters.

The viral success of that video by AI filmmaker Dave Clark underscored the potential of MiniMax’s technology, with both critics and enthusiasts impressed by the results.

In addition to its video generation tools, MiniMax has expanded its portfolio with a suite of other AI-driven products. The Music Generation Model allows users to create unlimited music tracks in various styles, offering flexibility to both casual users and professionals. Meanwhile, the Hailuo AI platform supports tasks like intelligent search, document summarization, and even voice communication. These tools highlight MiniMax’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of AI technology across multiple industries.

MiniMax also offers the Xingye App, a unique product that lets users create and interact with customizable AI companions. With flexible personalities and imaginative scenarios, the app allows for highly creative and personalized experiences, whether for entertainment or emotional engagement.

However, most of these apps are available only in Mandarin Chinese interfaces for now. Hailuo is the notable exception with English language support. In addition, one of the moderators of its Hailuo AI Discord server, MiniMax_Melon, wrote today in a message to members: “Stay tuned—our pricing plans with fantastic perks are dropping in very soon!”

For those looking to elevate their creative output with video, Hailuo AI’s new feature is now available for use at Hailuo AI’s website. Whether producing a short clip or developing a more complex artistic project, Hailuo’s new Image-to-Video tool provides creators with both precision and flexibility, marking another step forward for AI-driven creativity.

As MiniMax continues to develop its AI offerings, its rapid growth signals a shift in the landscape of generative AI.