MiniMax Video Model: Complete Guide, Review & Advanced Alternative

What is the MiniMax video model

MiniMax video model is an advanced video generation model developed by Shanghai-based MiniMax AI company. The platform evolved from Hailuo-01 (720p, 6 seconds) to the latest Hailuo-02 model with breakthrough technology that makes generated videos look incredibly realistic with up to 1080p resolution and 10-second clips. With features like Subject Reference, which uses facial photos to keep characters consistent, Live2D, which lets you animate 2D art, and Director, which gives you precise control over the camera, your videos will look like they belong in Hollywood. MiniMax excels at camera movements, emotional expression, and realistic motion, where things move and behave naturally, but clips require external audio since MiniMax generates no sound.

How to create videos with MiniMax video model

MiniMax offers three core generation modes to suit different creative workflows. We'll cover text-to-video for creating original content from descriptions, image-to-video for animating existing photos, and Subject Reference for maintaining character consistency across multiple clips. These three methods cover the essentials, so you'll have a solution no matter your video creation needs.

Method 1: Text to video generation

STEP 1
1. Access the creation page

Go to the official MiniMax homepage and click "Try Now" to enter the video creation interface. You'll see the text-to-video option as the default mode, with a large text box where you can write the description of your video.

STEP 2
1. Write your detailed prompt

Use MiniMax's proven prompting style: Main Subject + Scene + Motion + Camera Movement + Aesthetic Atmosphere. Instead of a basic prompt, like a video of a woman walking down a street.

Try a prompt like: A woman in a brown corduroy jacket walks down an ancient cobbled alleyway. The camera follows from behind, then moves to the front to capture her adjusting her vintage beret with a smile. Natural lighting with warm, cinematic tones." After entering the prompt, click "Create video" to start the process.

STEP 3
1. Configure settings

MiniMax will take about 5-10 minutes to generate your video. Once the video is generated, click on it to watch or preview it. The default duration is 6 seconds and a 768p resolution. If you're willing to go premium, then you can access the 1080p resolution and 10 second video duration. You can also change the prompt and try another style by clicking the "Recreate" button under the generated video.

STEP 4
1. Download your video

To save your video, locate the "Export" icon under the video and click on it. The exported video, however, will come with a watermark unless you subscribe to their premium offer. You can also directly share your videos on social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and TikTok.

Method 2: Image to video animation

STEP 1
1. Select image to video mode

From the MiniMax video creation interface, click on "Image to Video" to switch from the default "Text to Video" mode. You'll see a large upload area where you can drag and drop your image or click to browse your files.

STEP 2
1. Upload your image and add motion prompt

Select a well lit and clear image from your gallery (MiniMax supports common formats like JPG, PNG, etc.). When the picture shows up on the platform, scroll down and type in a focused prompt to describe the movement and camera movement you want. Think about how the people in the scene should move and how you want the camera to capture it.

For example: The man in the scene slowly uncrosses his arms and adjusts his glasses with a confident smile. He takes a slight step forward as the camera gently pushes in for a closer shot, capturing his professional demeanor. The office background remains softly focused while natural lighting enhances his confident expression.

STEP 3
1. Configure and generate

Choose your settings (6 seconds free, 10 seconds premium) and resolution (768p free, 1080p premium). Click the button that looks like a coin with number, and then wait 5 to 10 minutes for the processing to finish. The AI will analyze your picture and apply the motion described in your prompt.

STEP 4
1. Preview and export

Click on your animation video to watch or preview it. The original image will be used as a starting point, and the motion you described will be applied all the way through. Click the "Export" button below to save it to your device. Keep in mind that the free versions come with a watermark while premium subscriptions do not.

Method 3: Subject Reference for character consistency

STEP 1
1. Select Subject Reference & upload photo

Go back to the creation interface, select the "Subject Reference" mode, then click "Add Reference Character" to add your image. Upload a clear, well-lit selfie or a photo of you facing the camera directly or slightly turned. The picture needs to be at least 120x120 pixels with no face obstructions, heavy filters, or excessive blur. Once the image appears on the platform, click "Confirm" to reference the face.

STEP 2
1. Write character-focused prompt

After referencing the image, describe the scene you want to create with your uploaded character. Include specific details like style, color, and environment to help MiniMax video model recreate your idea correctly.

For example, you could write: A young woman with brown hair sits at a cozy café table, wearing a vintage red sweater and holding a steaming cup of coffee. She looks thoughtfully out the window at falling snow, then turns to smile warmly at the camera. The café has dim, amber lighting with soft jazz atmosphere in the background.

STEP 3
1. Generate your video

Configure your settings by choosing the duration and quality level, then click the Generate button (with the coin icon) to start the process. MiniMax will analyze the facial features from your uploaded photo and create a video where that exact person appears in your described scenario, maintaining their appearance, facial structure, and characteristics throughout the clip.

STEP 4
1. Download your video

After processing for 10 to 15 minutes, your character video will be generated. Watch or preview the generated video to confirm that the character consistency matches your uploaded photo. The same person will appear naturally integrated into your described scene with proper lighting and context. To save it, click the Export button, and the video will be automatically saved to your device.

MiniMax model review: Technical brilliance vs. practical limitations

After looking into what MiniMax video models can do, it's clear that this is a highly impressive platform that delivers on its promises, though it comes with some significant drawbacks. Here's an honest breakdown of what works brilliantly and where it falls short in real-world applications.

MiniMax clearly excels at what it does—creating visually stunning videos with lifelike motion and professional camera control. For content creators who don't mind working with short clips and adding audio separately, it delivers impressive results. However, silent videos, long waiting times, and no options for a final touch quickly become frustrating. These gaps, combined with the confusing model variants, can make MiniMax less than an ideal option. That's where Dreamina comes in. Instead of giving you an extended, incomplete AI creation, Dreamina Seedance model tackles these pain points with a simpler, more complete approach.

Meet Dreamina Seedance: A strong alternative to MiniMax models

Meet Dreamina’s Seedance 1.0 mini—ByteDance’s unified video generation model that’s changing how creators approach AI video. Based on ByteDance's research, Seedance breaks through on data, mechanism, and prompt response, resulting in smooth transitions, strong character consistency, and cinematic flow—even across longer clips. And it’s fast: 5-second 1080p videos render in just 41.4 seconds. Last but not least, it also incorporates AI features like HD Upscale or Generate soundtracks, lending more freedom to customization.

Steps to create videos with Dreamina

Ready to bring your creative vision to life? Getting started with Dreamina is simple and free. Click the link below first, create a free account, then follow along:

STEP 1
1. Upload photo or write prompt

Once you are signed in and inside Dreamina, head to the Video generator tile and click on Generate to gain access to the generator. Inside the generator, you'll notice two options: "Image prompt" and "Text prompt." Under the "Image prompt", click on "Add image as first frame," then select the image you want to animate. Next, write a detailed prompt explaining exactly how you want your photo animated.

For example, you can prompt: From the image, make the snowboarder carve a smooth path down the powdery slope, sending snow flying from the edge of the board. The camera follows closely from behind, capturing the dynamic motion and the texture of the snow. As the rider descends, the camera gradually pulls back, revealing the vast, fog-shrouded mountain and emphasizing the solitary journey through the epic, white landscape. The lighting remains soft and diffused by the thick clouds.

Don't have a starting image? You can create any video or scene you can imagine using text prompts alone. For this, click "Text prompt" then the empty text box and write your prompt.

Here is a sample prompt: A majestic red fox with a bushy tail steps cautiously out of a misty, dew-covered forest at sunrise. The early morning sun cuts through the fog in golden rays, illuminating the vibrant green moss on the ancient trees. The camera is positioned low to the ground, capturing a close-up of the fox's curious face as it sniffs the air. The shot then slowly pulls back, revealing the serene and magical forest landscape behind it. Cinematic, hyperrealistic, 4K, with a quiet and enchanting atmosphere.

STEP 2
1. Generate

With your photo and your prompt in place, it's now time to customize your generation settings. Start with a model, choose a preferred model (in this case, Video 3.0 by Seedance 1.0 mini). Next, the duration settings and aspect ratio. For image to video generations, the aspect ratio will be tied to the ratio of the referenced image. Once everything is set, hit the Generate button to begin creating your video.

STEP 3
1. Download

After a few seconds (usually under 2 mins), Dreamina's AI will create a video based on your prompt and generation settings. Click the video to watch your creation on full screen. Happy with the outcome? With Dreamina, you can easily save your creations. Simply click the download icon at the top of the video to save it on your computer.

Customization tools of Dreamina Seedance

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1. HD Upscale

Dreamina's "HD Upscale" tool can take your videos to 4K clarity. This tool uses AI to look at each frame and automatically improve or sharpen details, get rid of pixelation, and make everything clearer overall. This means that you can make clear, movie-like content that looks great on any screen.

2
1. Extend video

Break free from short clip limitations by seamlessly extending your videos beyond the initial generation. Dreamina "Extend" AI intelligently continues your narrative, maintaining visual consistency and natural flow to create longer, more engaging content without obvious transitions.

3
1. Frame interpolation

Achieve silky-smooth motion with advanced frame interpolation that generates additional frames between existing ones. Dreamina's "Frame interpolation" tech eliminates choppy playback and creates fluid, cinematic movement that rivals professional video production standards.

4
1. Generate soundtrack

Bring your videos to life with AI-generated background music crafted to match your content’s mood and style. Dreamina’s "Generate soundtrack" feature lets you pick from a range of themes, genres, and instruments—automatically creating original music that fits your visuals perfectly. No need for external audio tools or stock music searches.

Conclusion

We've walked you through everything you need to know about MiniMax video model, from its impressive Hailuo-02 architecture and specialized generation modes to the technical brilliance that makes it stand out in AI video creation. While MiniMax delivers on its technical promises, the reality of using it for complete projects reveals some workflow challenges. When you consider the time it takes to learn how to choose between the different model variants, then you're looking at a tool that will require significant time and investment to master. Dreamina's AI-powered approach eliminates these workflow interruptions entirely. With features like automatic soundtrack generation, seamless video extension, and unified creation tools, Dreamina lets you focus on creativity rather than technical workarounds. Try Dreamina for free today and experience what complete AI video generation feels like.

FAQs

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1. What is the difference between the Hailuo 01 and Hailuo 02 models?

Hailuo-02 represents a significant upgrade over Hailuo-01, improving from 720p/6-second clips to 1080p/10-second videos with 3x more processing power and enhanced motion realism thanks to NCR architecture. The newer model delivers superior physics simulation, better prompt adherence, and specialized variants for different use cases. However, both models still lack audio generation and require manual clip stitching for longer content. Dreamina's Seedance 1.0 takes a different approach entirely, offering both text-to-video and image-to-video generation with built-in audio capabilities and seamless video extension. Experience next-generation AI video creation with Dreamina today.

2
1. Do MiniMax models generate BGM for the video？

No—MiniMax models, including Hailuo-01 and Hailuo-02, do not support any form of audio generation. They lack native tools for background music, sound effects, or synchronized soundtracks, which many users see as a major drawback—especially when compared to models like Google Veo 3. This forces creators to manually add audio in post-production, slowing down workflows and increasing complexity. Dreamina’s Seedance 1.0 fills that gap with its built-in Generate Soundtrack feature. Just describe your desired mood or genre, and the AI produces custom background music that fits your video perfectly—no extra tools, no licensing issues. Want professional-quality video with sound included? Try Dreamina’s all-in-one solution today.

3
1. How much do MiniMax video models cost to use?

MiniMax uses a credit-based pricing system, with plans starting at $14.90/month for 1,000 credits and going up to $119.99/month for 10,000 credits. There's also a pay-per-use option, charging $0.28–$0.56 per video clip via API. Paid plans get rid of watermarks and speed up access, but users often complain about payment problems and support that isn't always helpful. Dreamina takes a simpler, more user-friendly route—offering generous free daily credits and transparent pricing without surprise fees. This means users can return daily to create videos for free without an active subscription. Ready for stress-free video creation? Try Dreamina today.