Imagine snapping a photo of a dancer mid-spin and watching it transform into a smooth, 10-second video where every twirl feels alive. Or typing a quick idea like “a ninja leaping across rooftops” and getting a clip that looks straight out of an action flick. That’s the thrill of Hailuo 02, MiniMax’s shiny new AI video model, which hit the scene on June 17, 2025. Built to tackle tricky physics and human movement, this tool is stealing the spotlight from rivals like Google’s Veo 3 and Kling 2.1. Whether you’re a TikTok creator, a budding filmmaker, or just love messing around with tech, Hailuo 02 lets you turn ideas into cinematic snippets without a Hollywood budget. Let’s unpack why this is such a big deal and how you can start playing with it.
Physics That Pop: What Makes Hailuo 02 Special
Hailuo 02 isn’t your average AI video generator. It’s like a stunt coordinator, choreographer, and director rolled into one. Where other models stumble over fast action or complex moves, Hailuo 02 nails it, creating clips of gymnasts flipping, skaters grinding rails, or even animals sprinting with uncanny realism. Testers are buzzing about its knack for “extreme physics”—the kind of motion that makes you double-check if it’s CGI or real footage.
Behind the scenes, MiniMax’s engineers have cranked up the AI’s ability to understand prompts and simulate real-world physics. You can start with a text description or a single photo, and Hailuo 02 spins it into a 1080p video that’s crisp and vibrant. Want a subtle breeze rustling through a forest? It’s got you. Craving a high-octane car chase? No problem. And at just 44 cents a pop on platforms like Novita AI, it’s cheaper than a coffee, making it a steal compared to pricier competitors.
The catch? It’s not instant—videos can take up to 20 minutes to generate. And there’s no audio yet, so you’ll need to add your own soundtrack. But when you see a clip of a breakdancer spinning on one hand, every move perfectly timed, you’ll forget about the wait.
Why Creators Are Hyped
This isn’t just tech for tech’s sake—it’s a playground for storytellers. With Hailuo 02, you can animate a sketch for a game design, whip up a quick ad for your small business, or make a viral Instagram Reel that stops thumbs mid-scroll. It supports two modes: text-to-video, where you describe a scene from scratch, and image-to-video, where you breathe life into a still image. The results feel like magic, with a polished look that rivals professional edits.
Social media’s already lighting up with early experiments. One creator shared a clip of a futuristic city pulsing with flying cars, calling it “mind-blowingly smooth.” Another turned a photo of their dog into a playful video of it chasing its tail, joking it was “better than my home movies.” MiniMax says Hailuo 02’s edge comes from its top-notch instruction-following and cost efficiency, and the numbers back it up: it’s ranked second on the Artificial Analysis Image to Video Leaderboard, just behind ByteDance’s Seedance 1.0.
Sure, it’s not flawless. If you’re in a rush, the generation time might test your patience. And complex edits still need external software. But for a tool that’s barely a day old, it’s turning heads and sparking ideas.
How to Make Your Own Videos: A Quick Guide
Ready to dive in? Hailuo 02 is super easy to use, even if you’ve never touched video editing before. Here’s how to get started:
- Join a Platform: Head to Photo AI or Novita AI and sign up. Novita AI gives you $10 in free credits to play with, enough for a few test videos. Photo AI has Hailuo 02 baked into its “Make Video” button.
- Pick Your Starting Point: For text-to-video, type something vivid like “a knight battling a dragon in a stormy castle.” For image-to-video, upload a clear photo—like a portrait or a cityscape.
- Set the Mood: Choose low dynamics for gentle motion (think swaying trees) or high dynamics for action (like a snowboarder mid-jump). Add details like “fast camera pan” to spice things up.
- Create Your Clip: Hit “Make Video” and wait a few minutes. You’ll get a 5-to-10-second 1080p video you can download as an MP4.
- Add Flair: Use free tools like Audacity for sound or CapCut for transitions. Then share your masterpiece on social media or save it for later.
- Keep Costs Low: Videos run about 28 to 44 cents each. Use free credits first, then buy more if you’re hooked.
Tip: Be descriptive with your prompts. One user swore by adding specifics like “golden hour lighting” for extra wow factor. Experiment and have fun.
MiniMax’s Big Dreams
Hailuo 02 is just one piece of MiniMax’s puzzle. The Shanghai startup, valued at $3 billion, is on a tear, with a language model (MiniMax-M1) that’s crushing it in reasoning tasks and a quirky AI companion app called Talkie. They’re even eyeing a Hong Kong IPO. But competition’s fierce—OpenAI’s Sora and Runway Gen-3 are hot on their heels, and debates about AI’s impact on jobs and copyright are heating up. MiniMax’s bet is on making powerful tools affordable, putting creativity in everyone’s hands.
What’s Coming Next
MiniMax isn’t slowing down. They’re already hinting at faster processing and new tricks, like audio support or longer videos. For now, Hailuo 02 is a blast to use, turning fleeting ideas into clips that feel alive. Whether you’re animating a doodle or dreaming up a sci-fi short, it’s an invitation to create something unforgettable.