Glossary1 min read
What Is Text-to-Video? (Definition)
Text-to-video is AI that generates a moving video clip directly from a written prompt. A clear definition with examples and how it differs from image-to-video.
By Cinemagiq · June 2, 2026
Text-to-video is AI that generates a moving video clip directly from a written prompt. A clear definition with examples and how it differs from image-to-video.
Text-to-video is a type of generative AI that produces a moving video clip directly from a written description (a prompt). You describe the subject, action, camera, and style in words, and the model renders a short clip - without needing any input footage or image.
You type "a slow push-in on a lighthouse at dawn, waves crashing, cinematic" and get a few seconds of video matching that description.
Idea exploration, B-roll, and shots where exact framing doesn't matter. For narrative work, filmmakers often compose a still first and animate it instead.
Leading text-to-video models in 2026 include Kling, Veo, Seedance, and Hailuo.
→ Learn more in our full guide: Text-to-Video AI: How It Works.
No. Text-to-video generates a clip from words alone; image-to-video animates a still image you provide, giving you control over composition.
Script, storyboard, generate, and assemble in one AI-native workspace.