AI Video Generator: Turn Text and Images Into Video in 2026

A year ago, generating video from a text prompt felt like a party trick — cool but not exactly useful. In 2026, AI video generation is a legitimate creative tool. The clips are longer, the motion is more coherent, and the models actually understand what you're asking for most of the time.

If you've been curious about AI video generators but didn't know where to start, this guide walks you through how it works on Myjourney, what to expect, and how it compares to the other options out there.

The State of AI Video Generation in 2026

The space has gotten crowded fast. OpenAI's Sora made a huge splash, Runway keeps iterating on Gen-3, Google shipped Veo 2 and then Veo 3, and newer players like Kling and Pika are pushing things forward too. Every few weeks there's a new demo reel that makes your jaw drop.

But here's the honest truth: AI video generation is still early. The results can be stunning one moment and bizarre the next. Hands still do weird things. Physics isn't always respected. And generation times mean you're not exactly editing in real-time.

That said, the quality floor has risen dramatically. A well-crafted prompt on a good model consistently produces clips that would have been impossible just twelve months ago. For social media content, creative concepting, storyboarding, or just having fun — it's genuinely useful right now.

How Myjourney Handles AI Video Generation

On Myjourney, there are two ways to generate video, and they serve different creative needs.

Text-to-Video with Veo 3

The most straightforward path: you type a prompt, and Veo 3 generates a video clip — complete with audio. That last part is worth emphasizing. Veo 3 doesn't just create silent footage; it generates synchronized sound effects, ambient audio, and even dialogue if your prompt calls for it.

• Model: Google Veo 3
• Cost: 250 credits ($0.50 per generation)
• Output: 16:9 aspect ratio, 720p resolution, approximately 5–8 seconds
• Audio: Yes — generated audio is included

This is the option to reach for when you have a scene in mind and want to see it come to life from scratch. You write a prompt, hit generate, and wait for the model to do its thing.

Image-to-Video with Veo 2 and Veo 3.1 Fast

The second path is arguably more powerful for polished results: start with a still image and animate it into video. This is where Myjourney's integrated pipeline pays off.

You have two options here:

• Veo 2 — 200 credits ($0.40 per generation). Reliable, good motion quality, solid for most use cases. Outputs around 3–5 seconds at 720p in 16:9.
• Veo 3.1 Fast via FAL.ai — 500 credits ($1.00 per generation). Higher quality with faster inference. Better motion coherence and more detail, especially for complex scenes.

Both take a source image and a motion prompt to produce a short video clip. The source image anchors the visual style, composition, and subject — the model's job is to figure out how to make it move convincingly.

The Workflow: Images First, Then Video

Here's the approach that consistently produces the best results on Myjourney, and it's something you can't easily do on most other platforms without switching between tools:

Step 1: Generate images with FLUX. Start by creating a set of still images from your concept. (If you're new to text-to-image, our guide to AI image generation from text covers the fundamentals.) FLUX models on Myjourney are fast and high-quality. Generate a few variations and pick the one that nails the look you want.

Step 2: Pick your best shot. Look for images with clear subjects, good composition, and a scene that implies motion. A person mid-stride is better than a person standing still. A wave about to crash is better than a calm ocean.

Step 3: Animate it to video. Take that image and feed it into Veo 2 or Veo 3.1 Fast with a prompt that describes the motion you want. This is where you describe camera movement, subject action, and environmental changes.

This image-first workflow gives you much more control over the final result. Instead of hoping the text-to-video model interprets your entire scene correctly, you lock in the visual foundation first and only ask the video model to handle motion.

It's all in one UI. No downloading images, re-uploading to a different tool, or juggling browser tabs. Generate the image, click through to video generation, write your motion prompt, and go.

Writing Better Video Prompts

This is where most people go wrong at first. If you've been writing prompts for image generation, you need to shift your thinking. Image prompts describe a frozen moment. Video prompts need to describe what happens.

Good habits for text-to-video prompts:

• Describe motion explicitly: "A woman walks slowly through a foggy forest, leaves falling around her"
• Include camera direction: "Slow dolly forward," "Camera pans left to right," "Low-angle tracking shot"
• Mention timing and pace: "Gradually," "suddenly," "in slow motion"
• Set the mood with audio cues (for Veo 3): "Ambient forest sounds with distant birdsong"
• Keep it focused — one scene, one action, one camera move

Good habits for image-to-video prompts:

• Describe what changes, not what's already there (the model can see the image)
• Focus on the motion: "The subject turns their head to the left and smiles"
• Describe environmental movement: "Wind picks up, hair and clothes billow gently"
• Specify camera behavior: "Slow zoom in" or "Camera holds steady"

Things to avoid:

• Don't describe static scenes ("A beautiful mountain landscape at sunset") — that's an image prompt, not a video prompt
• Don't ask for too much action in one clip — you've got 3–8 seconds to work with
• Don't over-specify every detail — give the model room to interpret

Think of it like directing a very short film. You're telling the camera operator and the actor what to do, not writing a novel.

What the Generation Process Looks Like

When you hit generate, here's what actually happens behind the scenes:

• Your prompt is sent to the video model (Veo 2, Veo 3, or Veo 3.1 Fast depending on your choice)
• The model begins generating — this takes time, typically 30 to 90 seconds depending on the model and server load
• Myjourney polls for the result automatically, so you'll see a loading state while it works
• Once complete, the video appears in your generation history and you can preview, download, or share it

There's no way around the wait time right now. Video generation is computationally expensive, and every platform has similar generation times. Grab a coffee, check another tab, or start working on your next prompt while you wait.

If a generation fails or produces something unusable, that's also normal. The models are good but not perfect. Sometimes you'll nail it on the first try, sometimes you'll need two or three attempts with tweaked prompts.

How Myjourney Compares to Other AI Video Generators

Let's be real about the alternatives, because there are good options out there:

Runway Gen-3 Alpha / Gen-3 Turbo

• Runway is the OG of AI video tools and Gen-3 produces impressive results
• Pricing starts at $15/month for the Standard plan, and you'll burn through credits fast if you're generating video regularly
• Great tool, but the subscription model means you're paying whether you generate one video or a hundred

OpenAI Sora

• Bundled with ChatGPT Plus ($20/month) or Pro ($200/month)
• Impressive quality, especially for cinematic scenes
• Limited generations on the Plus tier; Pro gives you more but at a steep price
• No integrated image generation pipeline — it's a standalone tool

Pika

• Good for quick, stylized generations
• Free tier available but limited
• Subscription plans for heavier usage
• More focused on effects and short-form creative clips

Kling

• Strong on motion quality and longer clips
• Competitive pricing with various tiers
• Popular in the AI video community for certain styles

Myjourney's approach is different in a few key ways:

• Pay-per-use pricing. No subscription — the same model that makes Myjourney one of the best MidJourney alternatives for image generation. You buy credits and use them when you need them. Text-to-video with Veo 3 costs $0.50. Image-to-video with Veo 2 costs $0.40. You're not paying $15–200/month for a subscription you might not fully use.
• Integrated image-to-video pipeline. Generate images with FLUX, then animate them to video — all in the same interface. This is genuinely faster and more convenient than bouncing between separate tools.
• Multiple model options. Choose between Veo 2 (affordable, reliable), Veo 3 (text-to-video with audio), or Veo 3.1 Fast (higher quality image-to-video). Different tools for different needs.
• No lock-in. Use it this week, skip next month, come back when you need it. Your credits don't expire and there's no recurring charge.

Practical Use Cases

Where does AI video generation actually make sense right now?

• Social media content. Short, eye-catching clips for Instagram Reels, TikTok, or Twitter/X. Generate a striking image, animate it, post it. The 3–8 second length is perfect for scroll-stopping content.
• Creative concepting. Visualize ideas before committing to expensive production. Show a client what a scene could look like. Storyboard with actual moving footage instead of static frames.
• Music and audio visualization. Pair AI-generated video with music tracks for visual content. Veo 3's audio generation opens interesting possibilities here too.
• Learning and experimentation. Honestly, a lot of people are just exploring what's possible. And that's a perfectly valid use case. The technology is new enough that simply playing with it teaches you things.
• Product and marketing content. Animated product showcases, background footage for presentations, or short promo clips. Not replacing a professional video team, but great for quick iterations and drafts.

Honest Limitations

I'd rather set the right expectations than have you disappointed:

• Generation takes time. You're waiting 30–90+ seconds per clip. This is not real-time editing.
• Results vary. You might get something amazing on the first try, or you might need several attempts. Prompt crafting is a real skill that takes practice.
• Short clips only. You're getting 3–8 seconds per generation. For longer content, you'd need to generate multiple clips and edit them together externally.
• 720p resolution. The output is good but not 4K. Fine for social media and web use, less ideal if you need broadcast-quality footage.
• Physics and anatomy aren't perfect. The models have gotten much better, but you'll still occasionally see impossible reflections, extra fingers, or objects that defy gravity. It's part of the current state of the art.
• Not a replacement for real video production. AI video generation is a new creative tool, not a substitute for a camera, actors, and a production crew. Use it for what it's good at.

Getting Started

If you want to try AI video generation on Myjourney, here's the quickest path:

1. Sign up at myjourney.so/sign-up — you get free credits to start, no subscription required
2. Grab some credits from the pricing page — start small, you can always add more
3. Generate an image first using FLUX — get a strong visual foundation
4. Animate it with Veo 2 (200 credits) for a quick test, or go straight to text-to-video with Veo 3 (250 credits) if you have a scene in mind
5. Iterate on your prompts — this is the real skill. Each generation teaches you what works and what doesn't

The barrier to entry has never been lower. You don't need a subscription, you don't need video editing experience, and you don't need to understand the underlying technology. Write a prompt, generate, and see what happens.

What's Next for AI Video

The pace of improvement in this space is staggering. Models are getting better at longer coherent clips, higher resolutions, and more accurate physics. Audio generation is becoming standard rather than exceptional. And the cost per generation continues to drop.

On Myjourney, we're actively integrating new models as they prove themselves. Veo 3.1 Fast is already available through FAL.ai, and we're watching the space closely for the next leap in quality.

The best time to start experimenting with AI video generation was six months ago. The second best time is right now. The tools are accessible, the quality is genuinely impressive, and the only way to get good at prompting is to practice.

Head over to myjourney.so and make something move. Or browse the gallery to see what others have created with AI video.