Animate a vintage photo
The prompt “Animate this vintage black-and-white photograph with natural subtle motion, preserving the grain and tonality”
Tests whether the model adds motion without modernising the image. Usually it colourises or sharpens uninvited.
- Models tested
- 16
- Top score
- 5.00 13 models tied
- Average
- 4.91
- Lowest
- 4.15 Runway Gen-4.5
Source image
Every model below was given this exact same image, so the comparison is fair.
Every model, same prompt
The clips on screen play together from the first frame, muted. Open one for sound, controls and our notes.
Kling 4.0
KuaishouStays sepia with the original grain and adds only subtle motion to the family and the trees. Compared with the reference image.
Vivix W1
VivixStays black and white with the original grain and tonality, adding only subtle motion. Compared with the reference image.
FLUX 3
Black Forest LabsStays black and white with the original grain and tonality, adding only subtle motion and a slight push-in. Compared with the reference image.
PixVerse v5.5
PixVerse
Kling 3.0 Turbo
Kuaishou
MiniMax H3
MiniMaxPreserves vintage tonality and grain, no colorization or sharpening.
MiniMax Hailuo 02
MiniMaxStays black-and-white and grainy, no colorization or sharpening.
Google Veo 3.1
GoogleStays black-and-white and grainy, no unwanted colorization or sharpening.
Seedance 2.5
ByteDanceMotion added without colourising or sharpening; vintage tonality preserved.
Seedance 2.0
ByteDanceMotion added without colourising or sharpening; vintage tonality preserved.
Grok Video
xAIGrain/tone preserved, no colourisation, correct 16:9.
Kling 3.0
KuaishouGrain/tone preserved, no colourisation. NOTE: output rendered at 1656x1248 (~4:3), inheriting the source image aspect ratio instead of the requested 16:9, see model notes.
OpenAI Sora 2
OpenAIGrain/tone preserved, no unwanted colourisation or modern sharpening.
Google Gemini Omni
Google
Wan 3.0
AlibabaStays sepia with the original grain, but adds a marked push-in toward the family instead of only subtle motion. Compared first and last frames.
Runway Gen-4.5
RunwaySome claimed anatomical warping during family interaction; verified via frames -- not strongly visible in stills, light discount only rather than the severe reading the judge gave.
Ranked by our blind vision-model judge; models with the same score share a position. Read how we test.