Media.io
You can now transform your photos into stunning and cinematic visuals on TikTok. Yes, you heard it right! On May 13, 2025, the company announced a new image-to-video feature called TikTok AI Alive, exclusive to the Story Mode. Within a few days of its launch, it has become one of the most talked-about and used features amongst creators. They can now easily animate their photos to narrate rich and visually engaging stories to the community. The best part is that they don’t require editing skills or complicated tools.
This comprehensive guide details everything about the new feature, including how to use it and obtain the best results. It also lists alternative tools you can try!
In this article
Part 1. What Is TikTok AI Alive?
AI Alive is TikTok’s new image-to-video feature that uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to transform your static image into a lively and dynamic video clip. Drop your favorite sunset click or a team selfie and input a prompt like “Make the sky slowly shift colors” or “Add subtle gestures to the faces.” The algorithm then animates the scene and adds movements, effects, and sound ambiance to generate a realistic video.
The best part is that it’s embedded into the platform’s Story Camera, so you don’t need external software, and your mini-clip is ready within seconds.
Part 2. How to Use TikTok AI Alive
Using TikTok AI Alive is relatively simple and doesn’t require any technical skills, so here are the steps:
Step 1: Access the “Profile or Inbox” section on your TikTok and tap “+” on your profile picture to open the Story Camera.
Step 2: Find and tap the “Your Story” option at the bottom, then toggle the switch for Alive.
Step 3: Navigate through your gallery, select the picture to animate, and tap the “AI Alive” icon on the right side toolbar of the photo edit page.
Step 4: On the new page, enter a prompt to create your video in the desired manner. You can use the auto-generated prompt or a custom one.
Step 5: The transformation kicks off when you tap the arrow to submit the prompt. A timer displays your video's runtime.
Step 6: On the right side, you’ll find other icons to change the audio, add effects, stickers, or text. As you’re happy with the output, tap “Your Story” to publish it on your TikTok story.
Part 3: Creative Use Case for TikTok AI Alive
AI Alive can create a TikTok viral video, provided you use it right. It opens up many creative opportunities for creators and storytellers to create eye-catching content without requiring video editing skills. Here’s what you can use it for:
Product Concepts: Turn your product designs into short promotional animations. For example, you can turn a shoe design image into a video that deconstructs the shoe to show its layers.
Promotional Music Video Clips: Musicians and artists can turn their album covers into eye-catching promotional content that typically requires video editing skills.
Advertisements: Small and medium companies don’t have the budget to shoot and edit a product marketing video. They can animate their product photos and post them on their stories for people to see.
Part 4: What to do if TikTok Alive AI is Unavailable?
TikTok is banned in many countries worldwide, with Australia, the UK, the Netherlands, Norway, Belgium, and India being the major ones. If you’re from any mentioned countries, you cannot access TikTok, let alone TikTok’s viral AI Alive feature. If you still can’t live without scrolling through viral dance, funny, or trending videos on TikTok, use a VPN.
Opt for high-rated and reliable apps like NordVPN, ExpressVPN, or similar that change your IP address to appear as if it’s from a country that isn’t banned. Your AI Alive feature should be back working. If you still can’t access the TikTok AI Alive feature, check your internet connection, update the app, or clear the cache.
Part 5: Best AI Tools for Image-to-Video Animation
TikTok’s AI Alive feature does a decent job of transforming your static images to video, but it’s exclusive to the Story Mode. You cannot download the video and use it on other platforms. However, you don’t need to worry, as many alternatives are available, and these are the best:
Media.io – Full Control, No TikTok Lock-In
Media.io is a versatile online platform catering to various multimedia processing needs. It allows you to generate professional-grade videos, upscale images, edit, or convert videos directly from your web browser. The tool supports multiple file types, and its user-friendly interface lets you create professional videos with a few clicks.
You will also find video editing tools to trim, crop, compress videos, and reduce noise, so you always generate high-quality and professional outputs. In short, you have complete control over how your video looks, which is somewhat limited in TikTok’s AI Alive feature.
Key Features
- Image-to-Video: It converts static images into stunning videos with dynamic camera movements and smooth transitions.
- Video Generator: With just a prompt, the tool generates a high-quality video that you can further edit with the available tools.
- Image Upscaler: Media.io is an online image enhancer that can upscale your old photos to 2K or 4K.
- Video Editing: It offers a range of professionally designed video templates and tools, allowing you to create a captivating video without professional editing skills.
Here’s how you can use Media.io to transform your images into videos
Step 1
On the home dashboard, tap “Image to Video” from features like text to image and music.
Step 2
Tap the section under “Upload Images” to select the image from your local storage. The platform also supports drag-and-drop functionality for easy image uploads.
Step 3
Once the image upload is complete, write a prompt in the section under the uploaded image. For example, write “make the girl smile and move.” If nothing comes to mind, tap “Inspire me,” and the platform automatically crafts a prompt.
Step 4
Tap the “Generate” button to convert your image into a stunning video, which might take a few seconds. If you aren’t happy with the video's outcome, edit the prompt and regenerate the video.
Step 5
Next, tap the “Download” button to export the video to your local storage.
Pika Labs – Ideal for Sci-Fi, Fantasy Visuals
Pika Labs is another popular image-to-video generation tool that allows users to create high-quality outputs without downloading anything. Whether you’re a beginner or professional, the platform’s intuitive interface lets you start making videos in minutes. You can use its standout Pika Additions feature to add new characters or objects and bring your most creative and imaginative dreams alive.
Key Features
- Pikaaffects: It lets you add playful visual effects to your videos.
- Pika Swaps: Swap a video element while keeping everything else the same.
- Pika Twists: You can add playful twists to your videos with just a few clicks.
- Pika Additions: Add new objects or characters into a scene.
Pricing
Basic: Free
Standard: $8/month
Pro: $28/month
Fancy: $76/month
Limitations:
- Bit pricey for individuals and small businesses
- Server downtime and instability issues
- Lacks image and video upscaling capabilities
Kaiber – Artistic, Cinematic Animation Generator
Kaiber is another decent alternative to your TikTok AI Alive feature that lets you unlock creativity with a few clicks. The video generation takes seconds, and there are many styles to choose from, such as concept art, anime, and impressionism. The visuals are great, and it has a scale that lets you decide how simple or wild you want your video to be.
Key Features
- Customizable Animations: Tailor video elements like transitions and camera movements to achieve the desired visual effect.
- Audioreactivity: Synchronize visuals with audio to create a music video and screensaver.
- Video Upscaling: Generate high-quality videos with a resolution of up to 4K.
- Artistic Style Transfer: Apply several preset artistic styles to your videos to give them a unique and creative flair.
Pricing
Basic: Free
Monthly: $15/month
Annual: $120/year
Limitations:
- The tool has a steep learning curve
- The free plan has watermarks and restricted output quality
- AI animation takes time
LeiaPix – AI Depth + Motion from Still Images
LeiaPix is an AI-powered tool that transforms 2D stills into immersive 3D animations. The interface is simple, and generating animations is straightforward. Its depth map generation feature adds realistic dimensions, and customizable animations offer creative flexibility. However, generating high-quality outputs is limited only to premium subscribers, which can be an obstacle.
Key Features
- 2D to 3D Conversion: Transform static images into 3D animations using AI.
- Depth Map Generation: Create accurate depths to make the animations more realistic.
- AI-Assisted Editing: Advanced editing tools let you customize the image and the output video.
- High-Resolution Output: Lets you export the videos up to 4K resolution.
Pricing
Free Trial
Credit Plan One: $5 for 500 credits
Credit Plan Two: $9.99 for 1,000 credits
Part 6: Tips to Make the Most of TikTok AI Alive
TikTok AI Alive generates realistic outputs without the need for any editing skills. But to get the most out of it, you must use it right, so here are some tips to follow:
Adjust the lighting, add effects and objects, or adjust the framing of your stills.
Use a more detailed and creative prompt that guides your AI in developing a high-quality video.
Add sound effects, music, voiceovers, and text to craft a complete project.
Experiment with your text prompts, tweak your images, and explore variations of the same concept.
FAQs
Can I use TikTok AI Alive without uploading the photo publicly?
No, you don’t need to publicly upload a photo to use the TikTok AI Alive feature. You can select one directly from your gallery and transform it into a stunning visual within minutes.
Does TikTok AI Alive support landscape or portrait photos only?
No, TikTok AI Alive can transform any photo into stunning visuals. However, to take your content to the next level, you must be particularly accurate with the prompts.
Is Media.io free to use for photo animation?
No, you must purchase a few credits to animate your photos. However, Media.io is affordable for individuals and small businesses compared to similar tools.
Can I use music or voiceovers in Media.io-generated videos?
Yes, you can add music or voiceovers to Media.io-generated videos. To do so, access the online video editor, then tap “Upload Media” to import your video and background music files. Then, add the music to the video and download it to share on social media.
What’s the best tool for cinematic-style photo animation?
Media.io is one of the best tools for cinematic-style photo animation. It offers an intuitive interface and high-quality output. It also offers a set of editing tools and provides complete control over creating customized videos.