Midjourney launches its first AI video generation model, V1
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Midjourney launches its first AI video generation model, V1
Midjourney, one of the most popular AI image generation startups, announced on Wednesday the launch of its much-anticipated AI video generation model, V1. V1 is an image-to-video model, in which users can upload an image — or take an image generated by one of Midjourney’s other models — and V1 will produce a set of four five-second videos based on it. The company says it has larger goals for its AI video models than generating B-roll for Hollywood films or commercials for the ad industry. The launch of V1 comes just a week after the startup was sued by two of Hollywood’s most notorious film studios: Disney and Universal. The suit alleges that images created by the AI models depict the studio’s copyrighted characters, like Homer Simpson and Darth Vader. To start, Midj Journey says it will charge 8x more for a video generation than a typical image generation, meaning subscribers will run out of their monthly allotted generations significantly faster when creating videos than images.
V1 is an image-to-video model, in which users can upload an image — or take an image generated by one of Midjourney’s other models — and V1 will produce a set of four five-second videos based on it. Much like Midjourney’s image models, V1 is only available through Discord, and it’s only available on the web at launch.
Introducing our V1 Video Model. It’s fun, easy, and beautiful. Available at 10$/month, it’s the first video model for *everyone* and it’s available now. pic.twitter.com/iBm0KAN8uy — Midjourney (@midjourney) June 18, 2025
The launch of V1 puts Midjourney in competition with AI video generation models from other companies, such as OpenAI’s Sora, Runway’s Gen 4, Adobe’s Firefly, and Google’s Veo 3. While many companies are focused on developing controllable AI video models for use in commercial settings, Midjourney has always stood out for its distinctive AI image models that cater to creative types.
The company says it has larger goals for its AI video models than generating B-roll for Hollywood films or commercials for the ad industry. In a blog post, Midjourney CEO David Holz says its AI video model is the company’s next step toward its ultimate destination, creating AI models “capable of real-time open-world simulations.”
After AI video models, Midjourney says it plans to develop AI models for producing 3D renderings, as well as real-time AI models.
The launch of Midjourney’s V1 model comes just a week after the startup was sued by two of Hollywood’s most notorious film studios: Disney and Universal. The suit alleges that images created by Midjourney’s AI image models depict the studio’s copyrighted characters, like Homer Simpson and Darth Vader.
Hollywood studios have struggled to confront the rising popularity of AI image and video-generating models, such as the ones Midjourney develops. There’s a growing fear that these AI tools could replace or devalue the work of creatives in their respective fields, and several media companies have alleged that these products are trained on their copyrighted works.
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While Midjourney has tried to pitch itself as different from other AI image and video startups — more focused on creativity than immediate commercial applications — the startup cannot escape these accusations.
To start, Midjourney says it will charge 8x more for a video generation than a typical image generation, meaning subscribers will run out of their monthly allotted generations significantly faster when creating videos than images.
At launch, the cheapest way to try out V1 is by subscribing to Midjourney’s $10-per-month Basic plan. Subscribers to Midjourney’s $60-a-month Pro plan and $120-a-month Mega plan will have unlimited video generations in the company’s slower, “Relax” mode. Over the next month, Midjourney says it will reassess its pricing for video models.
midjourney introduces video generation and it’s surpassing all my expectations. pic.twitter.com/lWqakbSTVV — Phi Hoang (@apostraphi) June 18, 2025
V1 comes with a few custom settings that allow users to control the video model’s outputs.
Users can select an automatic animation setting to make an image move randomly, or they can select a manual setting that allows users to describe, in text, a specific animation they want to add to their video. Users can also toggle the amount of camera and subject movement by selecting “low motion” or “high motion” in settings.
While the videos generated with V1 are only five seconds long, users can choose to extend them by four seconds up to four times, meaning that V1 videos could get as long as 21 seconds.
Much like Midjourney’s AI image models, early demos of V1’s videos look somewhat otherworldly, rather than hyperrealistic. The initial response to V1 has been positive, though it’s still unclear how well it matches up against other leading AI video models, which have been on the market for months or even years.
Midjourney’s Secret Weapon: Unveiling the Mysterious V1 Video Revolution Amidst Legal Storms! – West Island Blog
Midjourney, a prominent AI startup best known for image generation tools, unveiled its first-ever AI video creation model, V1, on Wednesday. This new technology allows users to upload an image and produce four distinct five-second videos based on that single input. At launch, users can access V1 exclusively through Discord and only via web platforms. V1’s announcement arrives at a controversial moment for Midjourney. Just a week ago, the startup became the target of litigation from entertainment industry heavyweights Disney and Universal. The lawsuit alleges copyright infringement related directly to characters such as Homer Simpson and Darth Vader appearing in images generated by midjourney”s AI. The entertainment sector is increasingly wary of AI-generated media due to concerns that such technologies might dilute or outright displace traditional creative jobs.
Midjourney’s distinctive style, aimed squarely at the creative community rather than purely commercial purposes, has always differentiated it from other AI providers in the marketplace. The arrival of V1 positions the startup directly against established rivals including OpenAI’s Sora, Runway’s Gen 4, Adobe’s Firefly, and Google’s Veo 3. However, the company insists that its long-term goal goes beyond simply competing for commercial video content such as promotional clips or cinematic B-roll.
In announcing V1, Midjourney CEO David Holz explained in a blog post that the new technology represents an important milestone in a broader journey towards offering AI models capable of creating “real-time open-world simulations.” Following video, Holz revealed Midjourney intends to pursue AI-generated 3D renderings and eventually real-time interactive environments.
Notably, V1’s announcement arrives at a controversial moment for Midjourney. Just a week ago, the startup became the target of litigation from entertainment industry heavyweights Disney and Universal. The lawsuit alleges copyright infringement related directly to characters such as Homer Simpson and Darth Vader appearing in images generated by Midjourney’s AI.
The entertainment sector is increasingly wary of AI-generated media due to concerns that such technologies might dilute or outright displace traditional creative jobs. Studios have regularly expressed concern over AI tools that allegedly rely upon proprietary intellectual property to train their algorithms—claims implicitly driving some of this industry’s pushback.
Despite the ongoing controversies, Midjourney’s video capabilities immediately attracted interest. For now, though, generating video comes at a premium: each video creation costs eight times as much as creating a single image, meaning subscribers’ monthly generation limits will reach their cap significantly quicker when producing videos. However, subscribers to Midjourney’s upper-tier plans ($60/month Pro plan and $120/month Mega plan) will receive unlimited video generations, provided they use the slower “Relax” mode.
Initially, users can experiment with V1 through the company’s lowest-priced Basic subscription at $10 per month. Midjourney acknowledged that pricing could change over the next month as they assess usage patterns and demand.
The V1 model offers several settings designed for creative flexibility. Users can choose an automatic animation feature that creates spontaneous movements, or manually specify detailed actions through text prompts. There are also settings to configure the degree of camera movement and subject motion, allowing for “low motion” or “high motion” outputs. Though initial V1 videos are limited to a five-second duration, users can extend these clips incrementally by four seconds up to four times, providing the potential for clips as long as 21 seconds.
Just as with Midjourney’s image generation models, early demonstrations of V1 video generation suggest a distinctive and somewhat surreal aesthetic, rather than aiming for hyper-realistic renderings. Initial reactions emphasize enthusiasm, although V1’s longer-term reception and competitiveness compared to its more mature rivals remain to be seen.
Source: https://techcrunch.com/2025/06/18/midjourney-launches-its-first-ai-video-generation-model-v1/