Midjourney, the artsy cousin in the family of AI giants, just made a major move.They’ve launched their first video generation model, named V1.
If you thought they’d stick to dreamy stills and cosmic portraits, think again. This update brings them into the AI video ring, going head-to-head with OpenAI’s Sora, Runway’s Gen-4, Google’s Veo 3, and Adobe’s Firefly.
But unlike its slick corporate competitors, Midjourney’s angle is creativity-first. Think art-house cinema vibes, not Madison Avenue commercial polish.
So, what’s the deal with V1? Let’s break it down.
What Exactly Is Midjourney V1?
V1 is an image-to-video model. You upload a picture whether from Midjourney itself or elsewhere and it generates four five-second video clips from that image.
Early testers say the results are surreal, beautiful, and slightly trippy. Pretty much Midjourney’s signature visual DNA.
At launch:
- Available only on Discord (classic Midjourney)
- Web-only access, no standalone app yet
- Starts at $10/month, but video generations cost more than images
- Pro and Mega users get unlimited video generations in “Relax” mode
So yes, cool, but not cheap if you plan to go wild.
What Can You Actually Control?
Midjourney didn’t just throw video at the wall. V1 includes some hands-on settings for creators:
- Automatic or manual animation: Let the model decide movement or write what you want it to do
- Motion control: Choose between “low motion” (subtle shifts) or “high motion” (more dramatic scenes)
- Extend duration: Add up to 16 extra seconds (in 4-second blocks), for a total of 21 seconds per video
It’s not quite full filmmaking but it’s definitely more than a GIF generator.
How Does It Stack Up?
Let’s be honest: the AI video space is crowded. Everyone from OpenAI to Google is dropping models that can turn prompts into near-cinematic footage.
Where Midjourney stands out:
- Distinct art style (otherworldly, painterly, imaginative)
- Simplicity of use (Discord-based, minimal prompt engineering)
- Target audience: Artists, creatives, storytellers. Not ad agencies or studios (yet)
TL;DR: It’s not trying to be the next Pixar. It’s trying to be the next visual sketchpad for dreamers.
What’s the Bigger Vision?
According to founder David Holz, this isn’t just a fun new feature. It’s step one in a much larger ambition:
“Real-time open-world simulations.”
Yes, that sounds like something out of The Matrix. But in AI terms, it means building tools that can eventually power immersive digital experiences from gaming to virtual worlds to interactive storytelling.
And after video? Midjourney plans to dive into:
- 3D renderings
- Real-time AI models
- Maybe even AI-native environments
Think: “create a world” instead of “create a frame.”
Of course, there’s controversy! No AI launch is complete without a lawsuit, right?
Just last week, Midjourney was sued by Disney and Universal, who claim that its AI image models reproduced copyrighted characters like Homer Simpson and Darth Vader.
The tension is clear:
- Creatives love the tool.
- Studios fear the tool.
- The courts are about to decide who owns what.
Big picture here is that as AI gets better at mimicking existing IP, the copyright conversation is only going to get louder.
So, Should You Try It?
If you’re:
- A creative who’s tired of AI video that feels “too corporate”
- A designer or content creator looking to add motion to your visuals
- Curious about where generative art is headed
…then yes, it’s worth exploring. Especially if you’re already in Midjourney’s ecosystem.
Just be mindful, video generations cost more, so your credits will burn fast. And while the videos are short (max 21 seconds), the creative potential is not.
Midjourney isn’t just playing catch-up, it’s painting a new medium. Midjourney didn’t invent AI video. But like it did with images, it’s reimagining how beautiful, weird, and expressive it can be.
It’s not trying to be the most powerful or the most commercial, it’s trying to be the most creative and in an AI landscape increasingly driven by enterprise deals and product demos, that’s a pretty refreshing twist.
