Kling AI motion control

Bring static images to life by controlling exactly how elements move

About

Motion control from Kling AI lets you turn static images into animated videos by painting motion paths directly onto your images. Instead of relying on text prompts alone, you can draw exactly where and how you want things to move, making it easy to animate characters, objects, and scenes with precision.

The model analyzes your image, follows the motion paths you draw, and generates smooth, natural-looking video that brings your still images to life. You can animate up to six different elements in a single image, each with its own motion path.

How it works

Motion control uses a brush-based interface to define movement. You upload an image, select elements you want to animate by brushing over them, then draw the path you want each element to follow. The model understands the motion you’ve defined and generates video that follows your directions.

The system also includes a static brush that lets you mark areas that should stay completely still. This is helpful for keeping backgrounds stable or preventing unwanted camera movement.

Use cases

Animate photos and artwork: Turn a photo of someone sitting into a video of them waving, or make a painted character come alive with natural movement.

Social media content: Create eye-catching animated posts from still images. Make product photos more engaging by adding subtle movement.

Marketing and advertising: Add motion to product shots or brand mascots without filming new footage.

Character animation: Bring illustrated characters to life by defining how they move, gesture, or interact with their environment.

Creative projects: Experiment with surreal animations by making unexpected elements move in unusual ways.

Tips

Start your motion path inside the area you want to move, not outside it. The model follows paths more accurately when they begin within the element.

Keep motion paths clear and deliberate. The element will move exactly along the path you draw, so take time to plan the trajectory.

Work on one element at a time for cleaner results. If you need multiple things moving, build up the animation gradually rather than trying to animate everything at once.

Use the static brush on backgrounds or ground planes to prevent unwanted camera shifts. This keeps the focus on the elements you actually want to animate.

Match your text prompt to the motion you’ve defined. If you’re animating a dog running, describe that action in your prompt to help the model understand context.

For complex movements like dance or martial arts, reference videos between three and 30 seconds work well. The model can capture and transfer detailed full-body motion.

Limitations

The model works best with clear, well-lit images. Motion accuracy decreases with poor image quality or unclear subjects.

Very fast or extremely complex movements can be challenging. Start with simpler motions and build up to more ambitious animations.

Hand movements and fine details can sometimes appear blurry or imprecise, though recent improvements have made this less common.

You can try this model on the Replicate playground at replicate.com/playground