Midjourney V1 Video Model: Complete Guide, Review & Better Alternative

What is Midjourney V1 video model

Midjourney V1, the company's groundbreaking first video generation model, came out on June 18, 2025. Marking their expansion beyond making static images. Rather than competing directly in the text-to-video space, V1 adopts an Image-to-Video (I2V) workflow, enabling users to bring their Midjourney creations—or personal uploads—to life. This choice aligns with Midjourney’s broader “world simulation” vision, positioning V1 as the foundational “motion” component ahead of planned 3D modeling and real-time features. At launch, V1 offers 480p output and is accessible only via the web interface at Midjourney.com, rather than through the Discord bot.

How to create videos with Midjourney video generator

Creating videos with Midjourney V1 is surprisingly straightforward once you understand the workflow. The process revolves around animating existing images rather than generating videos from scratch, which means you'll need a starting photo before you begin. Let's show you how:

STEP 1
1. Sign up & upload your image

Visit Midjourney.com and click on Sign up (to create a new account) or Login (if you already have an account on Discord). Once you are signed in and have access to Midjourney, click on "Create." You'll be prompted to subscribe. The basic subscription costs $10 per month.

After subscribing, click on "Create" again. This will open up Midjourney's generation screen. Now, you can either start with an existing photo in your gallery or create one within Midjourney. To add a starting image, simply click on "Choose a file or drop it here" and then select the photo. Alternatively, you can easily drag and drop on the interface. Click on it to add it as the starting frame.

STEP 2
1. Write your prompt and generate

After adding your image, it's time to write your prompt. Describe how you'd like Midjourney to animate your photo.

Once you are done, hit the "Enter" key on your keyboard or click the Send button. After a few seconds, Midjourney will create 4 videos for you to choose from based on your prompt. Hover your mouse over any generation to watch all 4 at once.

STEP 3
1. Select, extend, and download your video

Click on the generation you like the most to view in full screen. By default, you'll get a 5-second long video, but you can extend the video (up to 4x the original length) using its Extend video feature.

Happy with the result? Easily save your video creation on your device by clicking the download icon.

Midjourney videos review: The good, bad & everything between

The community response to Midjourney V1 has been notably mixed—and for good reason. Here's an honest look at what you can expect from this first-generation video model:

Midjourney V1 nails its core mission—animating that dreamy Midjourney style with smooth motion and an easy-to-use interface—but it’s more of a stepping-stone than a full video suite. The 480p ceiling, image-only inputs, 5-second base clips, and steep GPU costs leave gaps for pro workflows. If you need higher resolution output, text-to-video prompts, longer runtimes, or better value, platforms like Dreamina are built to pick up where V1 falls short.

Meet Dreamina: A feature-rich Midjourney video model alternative

As a mature AI video generator, Dreamina supports both text-to-video and image-to-video generation, giving you complete creative freedom to start from ideas or existing visuals. With the advent of the Seedance 1.0 mini model, Dreamina breaks through in fields like content coherence, realistic motion, and visual quality, taking video creation to the next level. Whether you're producing marketing content, social media videos, educational materials, or creative projects, Dreamina provides robust features and instant options for you.

Steps to create videos with Dreamina

Creating videos in Dreamina is super easy—you can move from ideation to polished final video in 3 simple steps. To get started, click the link below, create a free account, and follow along:

STEP 1
1. Upload photo or write prompt

After joining Dreamina, head to the Video generator tile and click on Generate to access its video generator. Once in, under "Image prompt", click on the “Add image as first frame” button and select the photo you wish to animate. After uploading your prompt, write a detailed prompt explaining how you want your photo animated.

Don't have a starting photo? You can easily generate videos using text prompts alone. Just click on "Text prompt" and write a detailed prompt to guide the AI.

For example: A breathtaking cinematic drone shot flying slowly over a serene mountain lake at sunrise. Golden light spills over the majestic peaks, illuminating the thick mist rising from the calm, reflective water. A lone eagle soars gracefully through the crisp morning air. The camera pans smoothly across the epic, peaceful, and highly detailed landscape.

STEP 2
1.  Generate

After adding your prompt, it's time to adjust your generation settings. Start with choosing a model for your video generation. Next, choose your duration (5s or 10s) and aspect ratio. For image to video generations, your aspect ratio will be tied to the ratio of your photo—so choose portrait photos if you want vertical videos or landscape photos for wide ones. Finally, hit the Generate button.

STEP 3
1. Download

After a few seconds, Dreamina's AI will generate a video for you based on your prompt and generation settings. Click on the video to watch in full screen. Happy with your video? Click the download icon at the top of your video to save it on your device.

More AI tools from Dreamina

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1. HD upscale

Dreamina's "HD Upscale" tool uses deep-learning super-resolution to intelligently reconstruct textures, sharpen edges, and remove compression artifacts—preserving the original color palette and style. The result is broadcast-ready footage ideal for client presentations, high-end social media campaigns, or big-screen displays without manual tweaking or expensive hardware.

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1. Extend video

Break free from short video limits by seamlessly extending your clips beyond the initial generation. Dreamina's "Add 3s" feature intelligently generates new, contextually appropriate content that matches your original style, allowing you to create longer, more substantial videos without obvious transitions or repetitive loops.

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1. Frame interpolation

Create silky-smooth motion by generating additional frames between existing ones. Dreamina's "Frame interpolation" tool analyzes your video and intelligently fills gaps to produce fluid, professional-looking movement that eliminates choppy playback and makes fast-moving scenes appear more natural.

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1. Generate soundtrack

With Dreamina's "Generate soundtrack" feature, you can choose sounds based on a genre, mood, or instrument and let Dreamina's music engine craft an original score. Each soundtrack adapts dynamically to scene changes and emotional beats, giving your content that professional polish without royalty worries or hours spent on manual composition.

Conclusion

Midjourney V1 makes a compelling debut—transforming its signature art style into motion with ease and charm—but its 480p ceiling, image-only workflow, and steep GPU demands leave professional needs unmet. Dreamina fills those gaps, delivering 4K output, both text-to-video and image-to-video flexibility, extended clip lengths, and robust editing tools like HD upscaling and custom soundtracks. If you're after a complete, scalable solution for high-quality video production, Dreamina has you covered. Get started today with free daily credits and discover how effortless—and powerful—your next video project can be.

FAQs

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1. Is Midjourney V1 free to use?

No, Midjourney V1 requires an active subscription starting at $10/month for the Basic plan. Video generation consumes GPU minutes at 8 times the rate of image creation, meaning your Fast Time quota depletes rapidly—a single video job costs as much as 8 image generations. This makes experimentation expensive on lower-tier plans and pushes most users toward the $60/month Pro plan for unlimited Relax Mode access. Dreamina offers a more accessible approach with generous free daily credits for video generation, letting you create professional videos without subscription pressure. Ready to try video generation without the cost barriers? Get started with Dreamina's free credits today.

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1. Can I use text to create videos with Midjourney?

No, you can't. Midjourney V1 only supports Image-to-Video (I2V) at launch, so you must input an existing image (from your gallery or an upload) as the starting point. There's no text-to-video option, which limits creative flexibility. Dreamina, by contrast, offers both full text-to-video and image-to-video generation, so you can start from a prompt or a photo. Experience the flexibility of both text-to-video and image-to-video generation—try Dreamina for free and see the difference.

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1. What resolution does Midjourney V1 support?

Midjourney V1 outputs are limited to 480p resolution with no built-in upscaler available at launch. This Standard Definition quality feels dated in today's 4K world and makes videos unsuitable for professional use or high-quality production work. While Midjourney has promised a video upscaler for future release, the timeline remains unclear. Dreamina solves this immediately with higher resolution outputs and a powerful HD Upscale tool that can boost your videos to crisp 4K clarity. Don't settle for 480p limitations—create professional-quality videos with Dreamina's HD capabilities today.