Want to bring an old photo to life or create a video from a regular picture? With AI, it's now simple and accessible—you can easily revive memories or imagine yourself as a Hogwarts student, where photos on the walls moved!
This article gathers the best tools to turn static images into living portraits. We’ll break down how it works, which apps to choose, and how to animate a photo in just minutes.
How It Works in AI models: A Simple Explanation of the Technology
Photo animation is the process where a neural network applies movements to an image: head turns, eye blinks, facial expressions, smiles. As a result, a regular photo starts to "move"—it looks as if the person in the picture has come to life.
This works even for old, black-and-white images. When you upload a picture, the neural network analyzes facial features: eyes, mouth, head shape, even lighting. Here’s what happens next:
- The algorithm identifies possible movements (e.g., blinking, head turn, smile).
- A short video with animation is generated—typically 3 to 15 seconds long.
- You can download the file or add music, effects, or text elements.
Some services offer ready-made templates: just upload a picture, click a button—and within seconds, you get an animation. It's like creating a "living postcard."
With AI, you can:
- Create a living portrait from an old family photo.
- Turn a picture into a video longer than 5 seconds.
- Save the final file and share it with friends.
Many services allow you to download the result or generate a video in MP4 format, often for free.
Using neural networks requires no technical knowledge. Even a child can animate a photo—easily and quickly.
Why Animate Photos: Three Main Scenarios
Neural networks can do more than just "animate photos"—they open up a whole spectrum of possibilities for users. Here are the most common reasons people use image animation services:
Preserve Memories of Loved Ones
One of the most touching scenarios is animating an old photo of a loved one. Turning a photo into a video helps bring back moments from the past into digital life. Thanks to AI, you can animate a portrait, create a gentle smile or laughter on a loved one’s face—all looking incredibly realistic.
Creating Content for Social Media and Messengers
Now you can use animated images for stories, reels, or even memes. Users on Telegram, TikTok, and Instagram actively add such videos to their content. It’s an easy way to grab your audience’s attention.
Entertainment and Creativity
Many neural networks allow you to swap faces, create clips, add artistic filters, or turn a photo into a character that sings, moves, or talks. AI apps have become tools for creativity and fun.
For example, one service lets you upload a photo, and the AI generates a video where your portrait sings a song or tells a joke. Fun and creative😅
What to Look for When Choosing a Photo Animation Service
With so many services and apps available, choosing the right one isn’t always easy. Here are key parameters to consider:
- Free Version Availability. Almost all neural networks offer a free trial, but most have limitations: watermarks, video duration limits, generation caps.
- Animation Quality. Good services use complex algorithms that move faces realistically without distorting the image. Poor ones may produce results with "swimming" eyes and jerky backgrounds.
- Upload and Save Formats. Convenient when you can upload an image and download a video without registration. Some platforms support MP4, 720p and above.
- Mobile App Availability. Android and iOS versions let you do everything right from your phone.
Some services offer unlimited generations for a fee—handy if you use them frequently.
TOP 10 Neural Networks to Bring Your Photos to Life
You can animate photos using various services. Some simply generate videos from templates, others offer more customization. Below are the best tools available online or as apps.
Pika
Pika is a powerful AI service that creates videos from photos in seconds. Ideal for realistic facial animation: blinking, eye movements, smiling.
- Capabilities: Animates portraits, adds head movements, creates short clips.
- Interface: English, but intuitive.
- Formats: Download in MP4, quality up to 720p.
- Terms: Free version available after registration; subscription removes watermark.
Cutout.pro
Cutout not only animates faces in photos but also enhances image quality, removes backgrounds, and adds effects.
- Capabilities: Animates faces, eye movements, adds realistic facial expressions.
- Access: Works online, no app installation needed.
- Highlight: Can even animate old photographs.
- Downsides: Free version allows 1-2 generations; subscription needed thereafter.
Nero AI
Nero AI offers a set of tools for generating animations and creating videos from photos.
- Offers: Multiple animation modes—auto and custom.
- Differentiator: Choose animation style and video duration.
- Platform: Web service, works in a browser.
- Support: English language.
PixVerse
PixVerse is an AI-based video generator that turns pictures into moving scenes. Perfect for creative projects.
- Capabilities: Generates animated videos with artistic effects.
- Supports: Adding music, text, various filters.
- Format: Videos up to 10 seconds; downloadable results.
- Access: Free, with a premium tier.
Remini
Remini is known as a photo enhancement app, but it has a "photo to motion" mode to animate faces in portraits.
- Features: Upscales old photos, adds facial expressions.
- Access: Mobile app for iOS and Android.
- Terms: Basic functions free; subscription removes ads.
DreamFace (by Deepswap)
DreamFace turns your portraits into living videos where the face can sing, talk, or move.
- Features: Face swap, clip generation, videos with expressions.
- Format: MP4 support; can add music.
- Downsides: Watermark on videos in the free version.
- Upsides: Great for entertainment content.
Hailuo
Hailuo is one of the newer services that allows free photo animation and saves videos without a watermark (during the test period).
- Capabilities: Generates realistic movements; works with various faces.
- Upsides: Just upload a photo; AI does the rest.
- Formats: 720p, MP4.
Avatarify
Avatarify creates lively facial animations by replacing expressions, mimics, and gaze direction.
- Best for: Video calls, social media, creating animated clips.
- Highlight: Can use your own video as a template.
- Access: Free, but with time limitations.
Immersity AI
Immersity AI is a platform for generating videos from images with high-quality animation.
- Features: Can animate regular portraits, add styles and effects.
- Upsides: High detail, realistic movements.
- Downsides: Requires registration and email confirmation.
Motionleap
Motionleap is a mobile app that turns photos into moving pictures. Ideal for creating backgrounds, animating water, skies.
- Features: Animates parts of an image; customizable motion paths.
- Format: Short videos or GIFs.
- Interface: iOS and Android.
- Terms: Free; subscription unlocks all features.
Comparison Table: Best Services for Photo Animation
| Service | Free | Downloadable | Animation Quality | Works with Old Photos |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pika | Yes | Yes | High | Yes |
| Cutout.pro | Partially | Yes | Medium | Yes |
| Nero AI | No | Yes | High | No |
| PixVerse | Yes | Yes | Creative | No |
| Remini | Yes | Yes | Very High | Yes |
| DreamFace | Yes | Yes | Medium | Yes |
| Hailuo | Yes | Yes | High | Yes |
| Avatarify | Yes | Yes | High | No |
| Immersity AI | Partially | Yes | Very High | Yes |
| Motionleap | Yes | Yes | Medium | No |
Some services work only via mobile apps, others in a browser. Check before use if registration is needed, or if you can simply upload a photo to the site.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Animate a Photo with AI
- Choose a service—for example, Pika or Remini.
- Upload an image (JPG, PNG, preferably high quality).
- Adjust parameters: Select a style, add music or effects (if desired).
- Click the generate button—usually labeled "Create" or "Generate."
- Save the result—download the video as MP4 or GIF.
- Share the animation on social media or messengers.
Tips for Getting High-Quality Animation
- Use high-resolution photos (at least 720p).
- The face should be centered, without distracting objects.
- Portraits with clearly visible eyes, smile, and facial features work best.
- Lighting should be even.
- Avoid uploading pictures with closed eyes or distorted angles—results will be poorer.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
🔻 Blurry photo → AI cannot accurately detect facial features. 🔻 Background blends with the face → neural network mistakes head movement. 🔻 Low resolution → video will look "soapy," especially when enlarged. 🔻 Watermarked video → use a paid version or a service without such limits. 🔻 Generation limits → many services have caps in their free tier.
Tip: Before animating an important photo, try a test image first. This helps you understand the service's capabilities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can old photos be animated? Yes. Many neural networks are trained to work with old photos and restore facial expressions.
Is it free? Almost all services can be used for free, but with limitations on duration, quality, or watermarks.
What video format is used? Typically MP4 or GIF. You can download the file after generation.
Do I need to install an app? Not necessarily. Most work through a browser. However, there are mobile versions for iOS and Android.
Capabilities at IMI: A Universal AI Assistant for Photos, Texts, and Content
The IMI service (imigo.ai) is a multifunctional platform where users can work with texts, images, and data using neural networks. While IMI does not offer a direct tool for animating photos (like Pika or DreamFace), it can be useful in comprehensive projects involving images and AI-generated content.
What you can do with IMI:
- Process text and descriptions for animated photos or videos.
- Generate ideas and scripts for animations, posts, and clips.
- Work with images using AI assistants: enhancement, cropping, backgrounds.
- Automate tasks and create templates for creative projects.
If you're creating videos from photos, making memes, promo clips, or animated visuals—IMI can help with texts, ideas, and related design. Thus, it complements the work of animation-focused neural networks.
Try IMI—to generate quality content, create video descriptions, articles, posts, and quickly share results.
Conclusion
Animating a photo with AI is simple, fast, and accessible to everyone. Even old snapshots can now be turned into animated images that move, smile, and blink. Modern services let you create videos in just minutes: upload a picture, choose an effect—and get a living result.
We've reviewed the best neural networks for animating photos: from Pika to Remini and Motionleap. Each has its own strengths, formats, and capabilities: you can choose a free option, customize duration, filters, music, and even download videos in MP4.
Whether you want to create content for social media, bring family archives to life, or just experiment—these tools will surely impress you. And if you need more than just animation and want to create projects with texts, images, and ideas—try IMI. With it, you can automate tasks, generate descriptions, create visuals turnkey.
Max Godymchyk
Entrepreneur, marketer, author of articles on artificial intelligence, art and design. Customizes businesses and makes people fall in love with modern technologies.