Animate Image

Turn one still into a short clip. The image is the first frame. The prompt says what moves, how the camera moves, and what you hear.

Inputs to collect

• Image: a public https URL or a TokenLab result URL. Crop it to the target aspect ratio first. Many models follow the input image shape and ignore aspect_ratio for this operation.
• Motion: what moves, and how much ("hair moves in a light wind", "she turns her head and smiles").
• Camera: static, or one move (slow push-in, pan left, orbit).
• Length and size: seconds and resolution. Start short for a first test.
• Sound: with or without audio. Some models always add audio; some can be silent.

Models

<!-- tokenlab:models:start --> <!-- Generated from the live catalog by scripts/sync_models.py. Do not edit; change preferredModels in catalog.json. -->

Operation	Model	Pick	Use
image-to-video	veo3.1-fast	default	General image-to-video with sound
image-to-video	kling-v3.0	alternative	Alternative; sound on or off (not live-tested)
image-to-video	hailuo-h3	alternative	Alternative with native audio (not live-tested)
image-to-video	seedance-2.0	alternative	Alternative; long clips and high resolution (not live-tested)
image-to-video	pixverse-v6	alternative	Silent loop or background plate
image-to-video	grok-imagine-video	alternative	Low-cost draft

This list refreshes daily from the live catalog. Preferred models come first; otherwise models are ranked by their 24-hour success rate. Before a call, confirm the model with GET /v1/models/{model} and read its price from GET /v1/models/{model}/pricing.

<!-- tokenlab:models:end -->

How to choose

Exact fields and values come from each model's contract.

• Veo 3.1 Fast: the general choice with sound. 4, 6, or 8 s at 720p or 1080p. Audio is always on.
• Kling 3.0: an alternative with sound on or off. 3-15 s.
• Hailuo H3: an alternative with native audio. 6 or 10 s at 768p. Takes negative_prompt.
• Seedance 2.0: long clips (4-15 s) and high resolution (up to 4k).
• PixVerse: silent loops and background plates. Lists output_audio, 1-15 s, 360p-1080p.
• Grok Imagine video: a low-cost draft. 1-15 s at 480p or 720p. The output follows the input image shape.

All of these use POST /v1/videos/generations with operation: "image-to-video". Most take the image in image_url; some (for example Vidu Q3) list image and start_image instead. Send output_audio only when the operation lists it.

Workflow

Run each call with tokenlab-run (contract → estimate → call → poll → result). Commands below use its helper, ../tokenlab-run/scripts/tokenlab_run.py, a path relative to this skill's folder. If you installed this skill without tokenlab-run, send the same requests with curl. --wait stops after 100 s; a longer task keeps running, so continue with the resume command it prints.

1. Read the contract: python ../tokenlab-run/scripts/tokenlab_run.py contract MODEL --operation image-to-video. Note supported_parameters, allowed_durations, allowed_resolutions, and delivery. Use only listed fields and values.

2. Estimate the cost: python ../tokenlab-run/scripts/tokenlab_run.py price MODEL. Most video models price per second, so multiply the per-second price for your resolution (and audio setting, if the price depends on it) by duration. Use the Official price as the upper bound. Tell the user the estimate before you start the job.

3. Write the prompt (see Technique) and build the body:

   {"model": "MODEL_ID", "operation": "image-to-video", "image_url": "https://...", "prompt": "She smiles, raises her right hand, and waves at the camera twice. Static camera, soft studio light.", "duration": 2, "resolution": "480p"}
   

   Take MODEL_ID from the Models list above for image-to-video. Set duration and resolution to values its contract lists.

4. Call and wait: python ../tokenlab-run/scripts/tokenlab_run.py run /v1/videos/generations --json @body.json --wait. Save the task ID before you poll. The helper polls every 5 s; keep the interval at 5-10 s.

5. If your wait times out, resume with python ../tokenlab-run/scripts/tokenlab_run.py poll TASK_ID. Never create a second task for the same request.

6. On failed, read error_details.code and param, fix the body, and ask the user before a paid retry.

7. Return the video URL (video_url, video.url, or videos[]), the model, the task ID, and the estimate.

Technique

• Describe the change, not the picture. The model already sees the image. Spend the prompt on action, camera, and sound. "The waves roll in and foam over the rocks; slow pan right" beats a full description of the beach.
• Prompt parts: subject + action, then camera position or move, then composition, lens or focus, and ambiance. These are the parts Google lists for Veo prompts, and they work as a checklist for any model.
• One main action per clip. Short clips have room for one gesture or one camera move. Make a second clip for the next beat, or extend the clip with tokenlab-extend-video.
• Keep identity. Say what must not change: "keep her face, hair, and jacket exactly as in the image."
• Sound on Veo. Veo 3.1 always makes audio. Describe the sounds you want ("soft wind, distant gulls"). Put spoken words in quotes. If you say nothing, you still get audio.
• Silent output. Pick a model whose contract lists output_audio and send false. Do not send output_audio to a model that does not list it.
• Aspect ratio. Crop the image before you call. Image-to-video output on Grok Imagine video follows the input image shape.
• Prompt is required on some models. Hailuo H3 Max needs a non-empty prompt for every operation.

Quality bar

• The first frame matches the input image. Face, product, and text do not change shape or color.
• Motion is smooth and physically plausible. No melting hands, no jump cuts.
• Camera behavior matches the request (a static request stays static).
• Duration, resolution, and aspect ratio match what the user asked for.
• The user saw the cost estimate before the job, and the answer names the model and task ID.

Related skills

• tokenlab-run: the call, poll, and result mechanics.
• tokenlab-keyframe-transition: set both the first and the last frame.
• tokenlab-extend-video: continue the clip past its last frame.
• tokenlab-product-ad-video: product shots and ad clips.
• tokenlab-cinematic-video: shots built from camera language.
• tokenlab-prompting: prompt craft per model family.