Remember when Midjourney was just that cool Discord bot that made trippy AI art? Well, buckle up, because they’ve officially entered the video game – and they’re making some serious waves with their new unlimited video generation feature in relaxed mode.
What’s All the Buzz About?
On June 18, 2025, Midjourney launched their first AI video generation model, V1, and honestly, it’s pretty impressive for a first attempt. The platform can now transform your static images into short animated clips, bringing your AI-generated art to life in ways we could only dream about a year ago.
Here’s the kicker: if you’re on their Pro plan ($60/month) or higher, you get unlimited video generation in relaxed mode. Yeah, you read that right – unlimited. No more counting credits or worrying about hitting your monthly limit when you’re in the creative zone.
How Does Relaxed Mode Actually Work?
Think of relaxed mode as the “slow and steady wins the race” approach to AI video generation. While you’ll wait up to 10 minutes per video (compared to faster processing in regular mode), you can generate as many videos as your heart desires without burning through GPU credits.
The technical specs are pretty solid for a V1 release:
- 5-second base clips that can extend up to 20 seconds in 4-second increments
- 720p resolution at 24 fps (not groundbreaking, but decent)
- Two animation modes: Automatic (AI suggests motion) or Manual (you control the action)
- Camera style options: Low-motion for subtle movements or high-motion for dynamic scenes
The catch? No audio yet, and you’re capped at 20 seconds max. But hey, Rome wasn’t built in a day.
The Price Tag Reality Check
Let’s talk money because that’s what everyone’s really wondering about. Midjourney’s pricing structure is actually pretty competitive:
- Basic Plan: $10/month (limited video generation)
- Standard Plan: $30/month (15 hours fast GPU + unlimited relaxed mode)
- Pro Plan: $60/month (30 hours fast GPU + unlimited relaxed mode)
- Mega Plan: $120/month (60 hours fast GPU + unlimited relaxed mode)
Here’s the thing that makes this interesting: video generation costs about 8x more GPU time than still images. But since you’re getting unlimited generation in relaxed mode with Pro and above, you’re essentially getting infinite video creation for a flat monthly fee. That’s pretty wild when you think about it.
How Does It Stack Up Against the Competition?
The AI video space is getting crowded fast, and Midjourney’s jumping into a pool with some serious swimmers:
Runway Gen-2 starts at $15/month for their Standard plan (625 credits ≈ 125 seconds of video), with their Unlimited plan hitting $95/month. Pika Labs runs $8-120/month on a credit system, while OpenAI’s Sora starts at $20/month.
What’s interesting is that most competitors offer features Midjourney doesn’t have yet – like audio, higher resolutions, and longer video lengths. But Midjourney’s betting on their signature ease-of-use and that unlimited relaxed mode sweetspot.
The Real Talk: Is It Worth It?
If you’re already deep in the Midjourney ecosystem and love their aesthetic, the video feature feels like a natural evolution. The unlimited aspect in relaxed mode is genuinely appealing for creators who want to experiment without constantly checking their credit balance.
However, if you need professional-grade videos with sound, higher resolution, or longer durations, you might want to stick with Runway or Pika Labs for now. Midjourney’s V1 feels more like a solid foundation than a finished product.
What’s Next?
Midjourney isn’t stopping here. They’re talking about building a unified system that combines static images, motion, 3D rendering, and real-time world simulation – basically aiming to create explorable, interactive environments. Think of it as their long-term vision for a complete “world model.”
The unlimited relaxed mode for video generation is clearly just the first step in this bigger picture. And honestly? Given how quickly they’ve evolved their image generation capabilities, I wouldn’t bet against them figuring out the audio and resolution limitations pretty quickly.
Bottom Line
Midjourney’s unlimited AI video generation in relaxed mode isn’t perfect, but it’s a solid entry into the video space that plays to their strengths: simplicity, accessibility, and that distinctive AI art aesthetic we’ve all come to love. For $60/month, getting unlimited video generation (even with the wait times) is a pretty compelling offer for creators who are already in the Midjourney universe.
Is it going to replace your professional video tools tomorrow? Probably not. But for rapid prototyping, creative experimentation, and bringing your AI art to life, it’s definitely worth keeping on your radar.
The AI video revolution is just getting started, and Midjourney just threw their hat in the ring. Game on.
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