Just by throwing in text and reference images, a single video that used to take hours can now be finished in minutes.
Creating a short video is actually a big deal.
You have to prepare a camera, gather performers, shoot, cut, add captions, and add sound. Before you know it, one video takes several hours. Outsourcing is expensive, and the turnaround is slow.
Now, it has become as simple as inputting text and photos.
In early April, ByteDance's latest video generation AI, "Seedance 2.0," became available in Japan.
Moreover, this model is currently considered to significantly outperform the top-class video AIs available in terms of quality.
By reading this article, the production of short videos, which used to take hours of filming and editing, will turn into a task of simply inputting text and reference images and waiting. A 15-second video that looks like a movie will be ready in minutes. The effort of filming and editing becomes almost zero.
Those who think "AI video is still distorted and useless" will likely have their perceptions overturned.
The Era of No Filming, No Performers, and No Editing Skills Has Arrived
Previous AI videos often had distorted human movements, extra fingers, and were immediately recognizable as "Oh, this is AI."
Seedance 2.0 is different.
Videos with large crowds. Fast-moving videos where people move at high speeds. Dynamic videos that look like movies. Comedy-style videos with a storyline. High-quality animations.
Expressions and movements that couldn't be created with previous video AIs can now be produced without breaking.
In short, it means this:
Until now, you had to film, cast performers, and edit to finally get one video. Now, just by entering text and reference images, a movie-grade short video comes out in minutes.
The "before" was "one video in several hours," and the "after" is "one video in a few minutes." This gap is the true value of Seedance 2.0.
What is Seedance 2.0 and Why is it the Strongest Now?
Let's look a bit deeper into the content. Knowing this will help you understand why you can use it with confidence.
Seedance 2.0 is a video generation AI created by "ByteDance Seed," the AI research team of ByteDance, which operates TikTok. It was pre-released in China in early February.
Simply put, what it can do is:
- Create videos from text
- Input up to 9 reference images to create a video with that atmosphere
- Input up to 3 reference videos to create a new video based on them
It is said to have excellent movement stability and physical expression, allowing for the correct representation of complex movements. Adherence to text instructions and consistency have also improved across the board, making video extension and editing smoother than ever.
Its selling point is that even general users can easily control the entire production process like a movie director.
Furthermore, you can add sound and effects to the video, or make characters speak Japanese using lip-sync.
Two models are being deployed: the main "Seedance 2.0 (Dreamina Seedance 2.0)" and the high-speed, low-cost "Seedance S2." They are used according to the purpose.
Now, regarding its actual performance.
In benchmarks released by ByteDance Seed, Seedance 2.0 is said to far exceed the performance of OpenAI's Sora 2 Pro and major models like Kling.
Since that's their own claim, here's another: it has taken 1st or 2nd place in the world on both "Arena" and "Artificial Analysis," famous AI benchmarks built by user voting.
At this point, you can no longer say "AI video is still too early."
By the way, APIs are also provided and can be used on various sites, but some sites are suspicious about whether they actually contain Seedance 2.0. It's safest to use official platforms or tools with no history of trouble, such as "FAL" or "Runway."
Copyright Issues and the Path to Global Expansion
It's also good to know why it wasn't available in Japan until April. This also explains the reason for the restriction "real human faces cannot be used," which will come up later.
When it was pre-released in China in early February, videos made by Chinese users spread on social media.
Among them were videos using characters from popular Japanese anime and tokusatsu movies. This became a major issue.
In mid-February, Walt Disney sent a notice to ByteDance requesting the cessation of use, citing unauthorized use of characters. In Japan, the Minister for AI Strategy also indicated that the government would investigate concerns about copyright infringement for videos resembling anime characters.
It became a situation that moved giant media companies and governments.
Consequently, ByteDance announced it would pause the global expansion planned for February to seek ways to address legal and copyright issues.
Subsequently, they resumed deployment on their own AI platform from late March. They gradually expanded countries and accounts, and around April 10, it was deployed worldwide, including the US and Japan.
Because of this history, the function to use real human faces is currently stopped in most tools. Conversely, as long as you understand that constraint, you can use it with peace of mind.
Usage Method 1: Creating with DreaminaAI
Here are the specific usage methods. First, from "DreaminaAI," which supports Japanese.
This is a ByteDance-affiliated platform released in 2024, and it became available in Japan in late March.
The procedure is as follows:
- Log in from the login button at the top right of the official site using a Google account or similar. At this time, permission to register for a "CapCut" account is required.
- After logging in, I was able to try the high-speed model "Dreamina Seedance 2.0 FAST" for free once. However, paid registration is generally required. The number of credits granted can change suddenly, so check before registering.
- Select "AI Video" at the bottom of the form on the right side of the screen and choose the model.
- Set the first and last frames and enter the image text. Alternatively, input up to 2 reference images that do not contain real human faces and supplementary text to generate.
By setting "Omnipresence," you can also load and feature materials like animals from the @ section.
You can set the aspect ratio and the duration up to 15 seconds at the bottom of the form. From the create button on the left side of the screen, you can download, upscale, or increase the frame rate to smooth the movement.
With a Japanese interface, you can do all this. It's perfect for your first video.
Usage Method 2: Creating with FAL and Higgsfield
For those who want to create more professionally, "FAL" is the option.
FAL is a platform where you can use various AI models with individual billing.
- Log in from the top right of the official page using GitHub or a Google account.
- Charge credits in the Settings section.
- Enter "Seedance 2.0" in the form at the top of the screen and select the model.
- This time, select the "Reference Model," which allows you to upload up to 9 images, 3 videos, and 3 audio files.
The price is listed at the bottom right of each model page. It's quite complex, as adding reference videos increases the price, so check in advance.
Once the materials are set, select the prompt, resolution, time, and aspect ratio to generate. If you input reference images and audio, you can make it speak Japanese with lip-sync. However, it's quite expensive, costing about $2.5 for an 8-second video.
Another one I thought was good is "Higgsfield."
You can use Seedance 2.0 here too, and it's all-in-one. You can also compare credits with the original Dreamina.
I actually tried it, and generating a video from the first frame and a prompt resulted in quality without any breakage.
When I sent a 6-shot prompt for "a high school girl and a large monster performing action in a forest," it was completed in about 11 minutes and 30 seconds. With Dreamina, it takes about 7 to 8 minutes. There was no distortion or breakage, and it was completely Seedance 2.0 quality.
What's interesting is comparing it with other models using the same prompt.
- Veo ... Broke down midway
- Kling ... Looking in the wrong direction, and the monster looks cheap
- Grok ... The footage is good, but they aren't fighting, and it feels like a composite
In all cases, Seedance 2.0 was the overwhelming winner.
By the way, the high-speed version "Seedance 2.0 FAST" costs 53 credits and is slightly lighter than the main one. But the quality is not a problem, and the credits are about half. For scenes that aren't critical or have little movement, this is sufficient.
Tool Selection and Cost Performance: Where is it Profitable to Create?
So, where is it ultimately profitable to create? This is about money, so I'll go through it calmly based on the provided numbers.
First, the original Dreamina. Seedance 2.0 costs 360 credits (120 credits for 5 seconds), and for 5,200 yen per month, you get about 5,775 credits. Looking at it individually, the cost performance is cheap.
In contrast, Higgsfield's strength is being all-in-one. You can use not only Seedance but also Kling, image generation, NanoBanana, video and audio generation, and even a Cinema Studio specialized for drama production.
Higgsfield even has an original drama called "Zephyr," a Netflix-style work where the characters are not real people but all AI. It's made with Cinema Cast and Cinema Studio.
There are three plans: Starter, Plus, and Ultra. Annual payment is 70% off. However, the lowest Starter plan can only use FAST, so Plus or higher is safer.
And on April 13, 2026, Higgsfield announced a price revision, claiming the industry's lowest price.
At $52, you can generate 150 videos, which is about $0.347 per video. In Japanese yen, that's about 55 yen. This is based on a 5-second generation/20-credit calculation, and for 15 seconds, it has been reduced from 90 credits to 60 credits.
The annual Ultra plan is $52 per month for 3,000 credits.
Comparing this with Dreamina's 1-year plan (49,800 yen per year, about 4,000 yen per month, 5,775 credits per month) at 160 yen to the dollar, after the revision, Higgsfield is about 55 yen per video, and Dreamina is about 86 yen per video. Looking at the annual plan, Higgsfield turned out to be cheaper.
Note that Seedance 2.0 can also be used on OpenArt, Freepik, Artlist, ElevenLabs, etc. However, credit consumption varies by tool, so you need to check that.
One caution: there are major campaigns like 85% off at the end of the year, but since AI progresses rapidly, a 1-year contract also carries risks. It's safer to try it for a short period first.
Videos You Can Create and Restrictions: What Happens Next?
Let's organize what you can create with Seedance 2.0 again.
- Videos with large crowds
- Smoothly moving anime videos
- Dynamic videos like movies
- Videos speaking natural Japanese
You can create the highest peak of AI video at this moment. There's no doubt about that.
However, there are also drawbacks.
One is that you cannot use real human face images. Due to the history of receiving notices to stop using copyrighted characters, most tools, including Dreamina and FAL, do not support videos using real human faces.
By the way, the AI avatar generation tool "HeyGen" has announced that it can create videos reflecting real human faces. If you want to use faces, that's the one.
Another is that the price is quite high. It's not yet at a level where you can use it casually.
But here's the important part.
Alibaba's new AI team is said to release an API for a model comparable to Seedance 2.0 on April 30. Google's next version is also likely to come out soon.
As rivals appear, prices will settle down.
In other words, if you touch it and get used to it now, you can enter mass-production mode the moment it becomes cheaper. It's worth getting your hands moving ahead of time.
Summary: The Common Sense of Video Production Has Changed
After reading this far, this is the most important thing I want you to take home.
The competitiveness of video production has shifted.
Until now, "filming and editing techniques" were the weapons. From now on, the director's judgment—"planning, material selection, and prompts"—will be the weapon.
Filming, performing, editing. This entire process has been replaced by the task of inputting text and reference materials.
So, what to do from tomorrow is simple. Hand over the work itself to AI and focus on the design of "what to make" and the final approval. That alone will drastically reduce both cost and time.
I think this is a way of thinking that works for various jobs, not just video.
The first step can be very light.
Try making just one video with Dreamina's free trial or the high-speed FAST model. See for yourself what comes out with zero filming.
You'll probably be quite surprised.
