Use your own reference video
Animaker animates a photo using a reference video you upload yourself — up to 60 seconds and 50 MB in MP4 or MOV — instead of a fixed template library, so the motion in the output is the motion in your clip.
The specifics
- Reference video length
- Between 1 and 60 seconds.
- Reference video size
- Up to 50 MB.
- Accepted video formats
- MP4 and MOV.
- Photo
- One still image, up to 20 MB.
- Template library
- None. There is no catalogue of dances to choose from — the motion always comes from your clip.
What a reference clip changes about the result
Template tools ship the movement. You pick from a catalogue, so the result is limited to motions somebody else recorded, and everyone using the tool gets the same set of options. That is fast when a trending dance is exactly what you want, and a dead end when it is not.
A reference clip inverts that: the motion is whatever is in your footage. A specific gesture, the way someone waves, a movement you filmed yourself, choreography from a clip you have the rights to — none of that needs to exist in anyone’s catalogue. The practical limit becomes 60 seconds and 50 MB rather than what the vendor chose to record.
The trade-off is honest and worth stating: you have to bring a clip. If you do not have one and just want whatever is trending, a template tool reaches a first result faster. What a reference clip buys is control over the exact motion, which is the only way to reproduce a movement you already have in mind.
FAQ
Can I upload my own video instead of picking a template?
Yes — Animaker works only that way. You upload a reference video of up to 60 seconds and 50 MB, in MP4 or MOV, and the motion from it is applied to your photo.
How long can the reference video be?
Between 1 and 60 seconds.
What file formats and size are accepted for the reference video?
MP4 or MOV, up to 50 MB. The photo can be up to 20 MB.
Is there a library of dances to choose from?
No. Animaker has no template library — the motion always comes from the clip you supply. If you want to pick a trending dance from a catalogue, a template-first tool is the better fit.
What makes a good reference clip?
One person in frame, a stable camera, and no fast cuts. A single continuous shot of the movement you want is far more reliable than a montage.
Are my uploads public?
No. Uploaded photos and clips go to private storage and are used only to generate your video.