The highly anticipated AI Video Model
Midjourney has officially entered the AI video arena with the launch of V1, its first image‑to‑video generation model
What does Midjourney V1 do?
- Upload an image (yours or one generated by Midjourney) and V1 produces four unique 5-second clips
- Users can extend these clips by 4 seconds at a time, up to a maximum of 21 seconds
- Two animation modes are available:
- Automatic: Midjourney generates motion based on its own prompts.
- Manual: You provide a text prompt describing the movement
- Motion intensity options let you choose between gentle (“low motion”) or dynamic (“high motion”) movement.
💻 How to Access It
- Available exclusively via Discord, using the web interface only
- Requires subscription:
- Basic plan at $10/month for starter access.
- Pro ($60) and Mega ($120) tiers offer unlimited video generation in slower ‘Relax’ mode
- Videos cost approximately 8× more computational credits than image generations—roughly the same cost per second
🌟 Strengths & Limitations
- Artistic charm: Outputs lean surreal and painterly, aligning with Midjourney’s signature aesthetic
- Coherent animation: Low motion clips maintain strong visual continuity; high motion adds energy but risks glitches
- No sound or complex editing: V1 generates silent clips at 480p/24 fps, without audio or timeline tools
How It Stacks Up
Midjourney jumps into a crowded space with competitors like OpenAI’s Sora, Runway’s Gen‑4, Adobe Firefly, and Google Veo 3
While rivals may offer higher realism or integrated audio, Midjourney’s lower cost, creative control, and distinct visual style appeal to digital artists more than commercial users
Bigger Vision
Midjourney CEO David Holz envisions V1 as a foundational step toward real-time, open-world simulation—with upcoming 3D rendering and real-time AI models on the roadmap
Legal and Ethical Context
V1 debuts amid legal scrutiny: Disney and Universal recently sued Midjourney, claiming its AI was trained using copyrighted characters like Homer Simpson and Darth Vader
This lawsuit highlights broader tensions between generative AI tools and traditional media copyright protections.
🗣️ Community Buzz
On X/Twitter, creative users like Phi Hoang praised V1 as “surpassing all my expectations”
Meanwhile, Reddit users compare it to OpenAI’s Sora, noting it still “has a way to go” without audio support
TESTED – how it stacks up
TL;DR
Midjourney’s V1 is a creative-first video tool that brings static images to life through easy, artistic animation. With flexible motion control, affordable pricing, and integration into its Discord workflow, it’s built for digital storytellers—not commercial media producers. While film-quality features like audio and editing are missing, V1’s role in a broader path toward real-time, immersive AI experiences makes it a compelling preview of the future. However, legal battles with major studios may influence how generative video evolves across the industry.
Media‑M will continue tracking V1’s rollout, community adoption, and legal outcomes. Stay tuned for our follow-up reports on audio support, multi-clip editing, and Midjourney’s march toward 3D and real-time AI.ech.
Media M 
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