Midjourney, the creative-focused AI image generation startup, has officially stepped into the AI video space with the launch of its first video model: V1.
Unveiled on Wednesday, V1 is an image-to-video model that generates short, five-second video clips from a single still image. Users can upload their own image or use one created through Midjourney’s existing AI models. Each prompt produces four video outputs. As with Midjourney’s image tools, V1 is accessible exclusively via Discord and is available only on the web at launch.
“Introducing our V1 Video Model. It’s fun, easy, and beautiful,” the company shared on X. “Available at $10/month, it’s the first video model for everyone.”
Competing in a Crowded Field
V1 enters an increasingly competitive market, alongside high-profile offerings like OpenAI’s Sora, Runway’s Gen-4, Adobe Firefly, and Google’s Veo 3. While many rivals are targeting film and advertising industries with commercial-grade video tools, Midjourney has carved a niche by appealing to artists and creatives who favor stylized over hyperrealistic visuals.
CEO David Holz emphasized that this launch is part of a broader roadmap. In a blog post, he called V1 a foundational step toward developing real-time, open-world simulation models. Midjourney also plans to expand into 3D renderings and real-time AI tools in future releases.
Features and Pricing
V1 videos are five seconds long by default, but users can extend them in four-second increments—up to four times—resulting in clips up to 21 seconds long.
The model also includes custom settings:
- Automatic mode, which applies random animation effects
- Manual mode, which lets users describe animations using text prompts
- Toggle options for “low motion” or “high motion” to adjust subject and camera movement
At launch, V1 is part of Midjourney’s $10/month Basic plan, though it comes at a higher usage cost—video generations consume eight times the credits of standard image generations. Users on Pro ($60/month) and Mega ($120/month) plans receive unlimited video generations under the slower “Relax” mode. The company plans to reassess pricing over the next month.
Legal Tensions with Hollywood
V1’s release follows legal controversy. Just a week ago, Disney and Universal filed a lawsuit against Midjourney, alleging that its AI-generated images included copyrighted characters such as Darth Vader and Homer Simpson. These accusations reflect ongoing concerns in the entertainment industry over how AI models are trained and whether they unfairly draw from copyrighted materials.
Midjourney, which has often distanced itself from commercial ambitions in favor of artistic exploration, now finds itself in the same legal crosshairs facing many other AI startups.
Despite the legal pressure, the debut of V1 has been met with enthusiastic early feedback. Social media reactions suggest that many users are impressed by the creative potential and visual uniqueness of the videos—even if they don’t yet match the realism of competitors like Sora or Veo.
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