Midjourney V1 Video Model Excels in Hand-Drawn and Stylized Animation, Offers Cost-Effective Creative Tool

Midjourney, the artificial intelligence research lab renowned for its image generation capabilities, has launched its first video model, V1, which is gaining attention for its exceptional ability to render hand-drawn and stylized animation. The new image-to-video tool, released on June 18, 2025, allows users to transform static images into dynamic five-second video clips, extendable up to 21 seconds. This development positions Midjourney V1 as a significant player in the burgeoning AI video generation market, particularly for artists and creators seeking a distinct aesthetic.

OscarAI, a prominent figure on social media, recently lauded the model's performance on a popular platform, stating, "I'm constantly impressed by how well Midjourney's video model handles these hand-drawn styles ✏️🎬." He further emphasized the model's unique artistic fidelity, adding, "The textures, the motion, the feeling \u2014 it captures that authentic handmade look better than anything else out there right now." This sentiment highlights V1's strength in maintaining artistic consistency and a "painterly" style, a hallmark of Midjourney's image generation.

Midjourney V1 operates as an image-to-video model, enabling users to animate images generated within Midjourney or uploaded from external sources. Users can select between "low motion" for subtle movements or "high motion" for more dynamic scenes, and can also provide manual prompts to guide the animation. This intuitive control aims to make video creation accessible to a broader creative audience, moving beyond traditional animation complexities.

While competitors like OpenAI's Sora and Google's Veo 3 often focus on photorealistic video generation, Midjourney V1 carves out a niche by prioritizing artistic and stylized outputs. David Holz, CEO of Midjourney, stated that the V1 model is a "stepping stone" towards the company's long-term vision of "real-time open-world simulations," indicating future advancements in 3D and interactive AI environments. This strategic focus on artistic integrity and user-friendly tools differentiates Midjourney in a competitive landscape.

The cost-effectiveness of Midjourney V1 is also a notable aspect. According to the company, generating a video costs approximately eight times more GPU time than an image, yet it is reportedly 25 times cheaper per second than many other AI video services on the market. This pricing structure aims to make advanced animation accessible, with video generation available across all subscription tiers, though Pro and Mega plans offer unlimited "Relax" mode generations. Despite its recent launch, V1 has already garnered positive feedback for its quality and potential to revolutionize artistic video production.