How to make an AI video of your dog (or you) dancing

An AI dance video starts from one photo. A photo-to-video model such as Google's Veo uses your photo as the first frame of the clip and moves the person or pet in it the way your prompt says, so two things decide how it turns out: the photo you start from and the words you give the model.

1. Pick the photo

• The whole body in the frame. The photo becomes the clip's first frame, so whatever is cut off at the edges can't dance. Leave room above the head and around the arms, or the paws and tail.
• Upright, 9:16, at least 720p. TikTok and Shorts play upright video, and Google recommends a 16:9 or 9:16 picture of at least 720p (1280 × 720) for Veo; other shapes may be scaled or cropped. Crop to 9:16 yourself, so you choose what stays in.
• Sharp and bright, one subject. A clear photo in good light of one person or one pet is the simplest start.
• Your own photo, or one of someone who said yes.

2. Copy a prompt

Google's prompt guide for Veo splits a prompt into parts: who is in it, what they do, the camera, the light and mood, and the sound in a sentence of its own. In a dance, what they do carries the clip, so name the moves rather than writing only "dancing".

For you or a friend:

The person in the photo dances in place to an upbeat beat: they bounce on every beat, step side to side, swing their arms and finish with a quick spin and a smile. The camera is at eye level and stays still, with their whole body in the frame. The light is bright and even, and the mood is joyful. Keep their face, hair and clothes as in the photo. Audio: an upbeat instrumental beat.

For your dog:

The dog in the photo dances to an upbeat beat: it bounces on the beat, sways side to side and paws at the air. The camera is at eye level and stays still, with the whole dog in the frame. The light is bright and even, and the mood is playful. Keep its fur, markings and collar as in the photo. Audio: an upbeat instrumental beat.

For a cat, write "cat" where it says "dog". If the moves come out wrong, change one part at a time. If your app has a box for what to leave out, name those things plainly, such as "extra legs, blurry face", the way Google's guide advises, rather than writing "no" or "don't".

3. Pick the length and post it

• Length. Google's Veo 3 models make clips of 4, 6 or 8 seconds. Six seconds fits a short dance that loops.
• Shape. Pick portrait, 9:16, so it fills the screen on TikTok, Shorts and Reels.
• Sound. Add the song in TikTok or Shorts when you post, from the app's own sounds.