MiniMax Hailuo 02

Try MiniMax Hailuo 02 now on Freepik.

Introduction

MiniMax Hailuo 02 is a cinematic AI text-to-video model from the Chinese company MiniMax AI. Known for its ability to generate high-resolution, film-like sequences, Hailuo 02 builds on earlier MiniMax models by improving motion accuracy, frame consistency, and visual fidelity.

This guide explains what Hailuo 02 is, its standout features, ideal use cases, and how to use it inside Freepik.

What is MiniMax Hailuo 02?

MiniMax Hailuo 02 is a text-to-video AI model developed by MiniMax AI, one of China's leading AI startups. The model is designed to generate high-quality video clips directly from text prompts and images, with an emphasis on motion realism and cinematic storytelling.

It is the successor to MiniMax's earlier models, including MiniMax Live Illustrations and MiniMax Director, which introduced reference-based generation and basic camera control. Hailuo 02 offers more coherent motion, higher resolution (up to 1080p), and film-like aesthetics.

What makes Hailuo 02 special? Key features

MiniMax Hailuo 02 introduces several new capabilities that distinguish it from both its predecessors and competitors:

1. Cinematic quality visuals: Produces video sequences with natural lighting, depth of field, and film-like textures.
2. High resolution: Generates videos in 512p, 768p, and 1080p, making it suitable for creative and commercial projects.
3. Text-to-video generation: Converts descriptive text prompts into coherent multi-second clips with stable characters and environments.
4. Image-to-video support: Start from a reference image or initial frame to guide the scene's visual direction. You can also edit the start and end frames directly inside the video editor, thanks to integration with powerful image models like Nano Banana and Seedream within the Freepik AI Suite.
5. Strong consistency: Maintains subject appearance, motion flow, and background coherence across frames.
6. Camera control: Supports cinematic directions like panning, zooming, or tilting, helping shape the narrative tone.
7. Flexible styles: Capable of rendering realism, fantasy, anime, and stylized aesthetics.
8. Advanced motion fidelity: Handles complex movements and interactions with reduced distortion compared to previous models.
9. Visual prompting support: Allows you to interactively define key elements in the scene using visual cues. It is an exclusive feature of the Freepik AI Video Generator that improves control over specific areas of the composition.

Strengths and limitations

Like most advanced AI video models, Hailuo 02 balances performance, flexibility, and resource usage. The strengths make it ideal for creators seeking realism, fluid motion, and control over camera direction. However, there are technical limits to consider, especially around duration, abstract prompts, and credit usage at higher resolutions:

Who is MiniMax Hailuo 02 for? Ideal use cases

MiniMax Hailuo 02 is designed for creators, marketers, and filmmakers who need cinematic short-form videos. Common use cases include:

• Cinematic storytelling: Building short narrative clips, concept videos, or storyboard-style outputs.
• Product marketing: Creating promotional video snippets with a cinematic look for social ads or branding campaigns.
• Social media content: Generating short, eye-catching clips for platforms like TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube Shorts.
• Storyboarding & pre-visualization: Helping art directors and filmmakers visualize shots before production.
• Creative exploration: Experimenting with ideas in film, animation, or design workflows.

How to access MiniMax Hailuo 02?

Hailuo 02 is available directly inside the Freepik AI Video Generator. Once logged in, select MiniMax Hailuo 02 from the model dropdown to start generating videos. Users on Premium+ and Pro plans can create unlimited clips at 512p and 6-second duration with this model.

How to use MiniMax Hailuo 02 in Freepik

Prompting tips for MiniMax Hailuo 02

Here are some practical tips for effective prompting:

• Add cinematic cues: Use terms like “dramatic lighting,” “low angle,” or “film grain” to achieve a movie-like look.
• Keep it focused: One subject with a clear action works better than crowded or chaotic prompts.
• Experiment with style words: Try “anime-style,” “fantasy,” or “photorealistic” to change the output tone.

Example 1

Prompt: Extreme macro shot: A young blonde woman sits still in a sunlit green meadow, studying a ladybug as it crawls gently across her fingertips. The camera captures the scene from a close side profile angle, focusing on the delicate movements of the insect and the soft curiosity in her expression. The grass in the background is softly blurred, giving full attention to the small drama unfolding on her hand. Natural lighting casts a clean, serene mood. The ladybug pauses, then slowly opens its wings and takes off into the air, in slow motion. Ultra-realistic, nature documentary style with soft focus and shallow depth of field.

Example 2

Prompt: A blonde woman in a sheer white blouse with a large rounded collar bites into a bright red apple. Her gaze meets the camera with subtle curiosity as the sunlight shimmers off her hair. The background softly blurs with a vintage film aesthetic, while the apple crunch echoes visually through slight hand tremors. The shot holds for a moment after the bite, emphasizing texture and tension. Photorealistic, dreamy 35mm film style with shallow depth of field.

Feature comparison: Hailuo 02 vs. other AI video models

MiniMax Hailuo 02 competes directly with other cinematic text-to-video models, such as Kling 2.1, Google Veo 3, Seedance 1.0, and Runway Gen-4.

Conclusion

Visual storytelling gets a significant upgrade through MiniMax Hailuo 02. The model delivers up to 1080p cinematic clips, camera-aware motion, and strong style versatility. Marketers, filmmakers, and digital creators can now explore complex scenes using a prompt and visual references.

Are you ready to use it? Try Hailuo 02 now on Freepik.