• MOTION
  • VARIATION
  • CONTROL
  • REFINEMENT

How to animate still images with your AI

Connect Runway ML to your AI client to turn any photo into a moving sequence. You just provide the source and the direction.

Ask AI about this page

Short answer

How can I make my photos move using AI?

You give your AI a still image and a text prompt to describe the motion you want. The AI then generates a video clip that brings that specific image to life. You'll see the results as rendered video files.

The results

What you get from the AI

The process moves from a single frame to a finished video clip.

MOTION

Animated video clips

The AI processes your image and creates a video file with movement. You get a clip that follows your specific motion instructions.

VARIATION

Text-driven motion

You can change how things move by adjusting your text prompts. This lets you try different camera angles or subject actions.

CONTROL

Human direction

You decide exactly what moves and how much. The AI follows your text cues to keep the motion grounded in your original photo.

REFINEMENT

Manual selection

The AI handles the heavy lifting of rendering the frames. You stay in control of the final selection and creative direction.

The workflow

What your AI does when the request arrives.

The AI acts as the bridge between your static files and the video generation engine.

  1. Analyze the source

    Your AI looks at the image you provided to understand the subjects, lighting, and composition.

    image_to_video

  2. Interpret motion cues

    The AI reads your text instructions to figure out if you want a camera pan, a zoom, or a specific object to move.

    image_text_to_video

  3. Generate video

    The AI uses the image and the text to render a sequence of frames that create fluid motion.

    image_to_videoimage_text_to_video

  4. Finalize the clip

    The AI completes the video generation and prepares the file for you to view.

    image_to_video

Try it

Copy these to start.

Use these prompts to kick off your first animation.

Starting points

These are basic ideas. Swap out the bracketed descriptions with your own specific details.

Runway ML API Connector

You're all set. Choose your MCP client and follow the setup instructions.

Connector linkhttps://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_fxPMozx8tTYwy0f2CIAyhsmnGRvf4U3doJGXFGQX/mcp

Claude Desktop

Follow the steps below to connect in seconds.

  1. 1In Claude Desktop, open Settings → Connectors.
  2. 2Click “Add custom connector” and paste the connector link above as the remote MCP server URL.
  3. 3Click Add and start a new chat — Runway ML API capabilities are ready to use.
Configuration · claude_desktop_config.jsonCopy
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "runway-ml-mcp": {
      "url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_fxPMozx8tTYwy0f2CIAyhsmnGRvf4U3doJGXFGQX/mcp"
    }
  }
}
Copy into chat04

  • Animate this photo of a mountain range with a slow zoom in.

  • Use this image of a cat and make it blink and twitch its ears.

  • Take this portrait and add a subtle wind effect to the hair.

  • Turn this landscape into a video where the clouds move slowly across the sky.

  • Claude
  • ChatGPT
  • Cursor
  • VS Code
  • Windsurf
  • Claude Code
  • JetBrains
  • Cline

Start here

Connect Runway ML once, then ask.

Just link your account once. Your login stays encrypted and secure on our end. You can find the full list of what this MCP can do on its main page.

Connect Runway ML to your AI

FAQ

How the animation process works

  • 01

    Can the AI change the person in my photo?

    No. The AI animates the existing content of the image rather than replacing the subjects.

  • 02

    Can I turn a text prompt into a video without an image?

    No. These specific tools require an initial image to use as the visual foundation.

  • 03

    Does the AI edit my original photo file?

    No. The AI generates a new video file based on your photo; your original image remains untouched.

  • 04

    Can I control the length of the video?

    The video length is determined by the generation process of the tools used.

  • 05

    Will the AI add music to my video?

    No. The tools focus on visual motion and do not generate audio or soundtracks.

  • More questions about Runway ML? The Connector page answers them. See everything the Runway ML Connector can do

Connect Runway ML API to Claude, Cursor, ChatGPT & more