Minimax Hailuo has emerged as the wild card in AI video generation, delivering fluid motion and dynamic range that makes competitors look stiff by comparison. If you've been searching for "Hailuo 2.3" - let me clarify something important right away: while this version number circulates widely (likely due to confusion with beta branches), the current public model is officially called video-01. Don't worry - this guide covers the architecture powering the latest version and will remain relevant for future iterations.
What makes Hailuo fundamentally different from Midjourney or Stable Diffusion is how it processes prompts. You need to think in terms of time and narrative, not just static visual elements. I've spent hundreds of hours testing this system, and I'm going to show you exactly how to craft prompts that unlock its full potential.
How Hailuo "Thinks"
Hailuo operates on a sophisticated Large Language Model (LLM) backbone, giving it a superior understanding of grammar, cause-and-effect relationships, and narrative flow. Unlike "tag-based" models that simply accumulate visual elements, Hailuo comprehends the relationships between actions and subjects.
When crafting the perfect prompt, follow this hierarchy:
This hierarchy isn't arbitrary - it mirrors how Hailuo's architecture processes information, prioritizing the narrative core before layering in visual details.
Text-to-Video (T2V) Strategy
The "Narrative" Rule
The biggest mistake I see creators make is using the same comma-separated style they've learned from image generators. Compare these approaches:
Bad: Cyberpunk city, rain, neon, 4k, running.
Good: "A cyberpunk samurai sprints desperately through a rainy Neo-Tokyo market, knocking over stalls as neon lights reflect off the wet pavement."
The difference is dramatic. The first prompt produces a generic scene with minimal movement. The second creates a dynamic sequence with purpose and direction.
Defining the Timeline
Hailuo excels when you sequence events clearly. Use transitional words to guide the temporal flow:
"The camera starts focused on a single raindrop, then gradually pulls back to reveal a stormy cityscape. Meanwhile, pedestrians below hurry for shelter."
These temporal markers help Hailuo understand the progression of your scene, resulting in more coherent videos.
Motion Adjectives (The Secret Sauce)
The verbs and adverbs you choose dramatically impact motion quality. These high-impact terms produce exceptional results:
For example: "The sports car aggressively accelerates, careening around the corner" produces much more dynamic motion than "The sports car drives fast around the corner."
Cinematic Vocabulary
Hailuo understands professional filmmaking terminology. These terms help define camera movement and framing:
Try: "A tracking shot follows the runner through the forest, rack focusing from the leaves to her determined expression."
Image-to-Video (I2V) Strategy
The Golden Rule: Don't Describe the Image
When using image-to-video mode, remember that Hailuo already "sees" your input image. Describing static elements wastes tokens and confuses the motion generator.
: "A blue car on a road with mountains in the background"
Focus on "The Delta"
Only prompt for what changes - the motion and transformation elements:
If your image shows a person standing on a cliff:
"Her hair and clothes blow dramatically in the strong wind as she gazes out at the sunset. The clouds move rapidly across the sky."
Context Anchoring
To maintain subject consistency, use brief subject references followed by specific actions:
"The red-haired woman [brief subject reference] turns her head slowly to face the camera [specific action]."
This technique prevents Hailuo from swapping your subject for a generic one - a common problem with less specific prompts.
Consistency vs. Hallucination
A critical warning: don't prompt for a wide shot if your input is a close-up. This forces Hailuo to invent (hallucinate) the rest of the scene, often resulting in anatomical errors or inconsistencies.
If your input is a close-up of a face, stick with: "She blinks slowly, a tear rolls down her cheek" rather than "She stands up and walks away" (which would require inventing a body).
Advanced Mechanics & Unique Features
"Smart" Gap Filling
One of Hailuo's most impressive capabilities is inferring intermediate steps. If you prompt "A man enters a car," Hailuo automatically includes him opening the door and ducking inside - unlike other models that might clip him through the door.
This intelligence extends to physical interactions. When I prompt "She picks up the coffee cup and drinks," Hailuo correctly animates the hand grasping, lifting, and tilting the cup - all without explicit instructions.
Handling Complexity
For multi-stage actions, use clear sequencing:
"She reads the letter with growing concern, tears well up in her eyes, then she crumples the paper angrily and throws it away."
Hailuo handles this complexity remarkably well, maintaining emotional continuity throughout the sequence.
High-Speed Motion
Hailuo excels at action sequences where other models falter. It maintains structural integrity during rapid movement, making it ideal for:
For example: "A martial artist performs a spinning kick in slow motion, then lands in a defensive stance as the camera circles around him."
Text Rendering
Hailuo's text rendering capabilities are moderate - not its strongest feature but usable for simple applications. For best results:
"A neon sign clearly displaying the word 'OPEN' flickers and buzzes in the night"
The key is to specify "clearly displaying" and keep text brief (1-3 words).
Competitor Comparison
FeatureMinimax HailuoRunway Gen-3Kling AIBest ForHigh-energy action, complex narratives, "wild" motionCommercial polish, text rendering, precise controlRealistic physics, fluid simulation, cloth dynamicsPrompt StyleLong, flowing sentences (Storyteller)Technical parameters & precise slidersPhysics-instruction basedWeaknessCan be too fast/chaotic; occasional morphingCan be conservative/slow with motionCharacter acting can feel rigid
I've found Hailuo particularly valuable for creative projects requiring dynamic movement, while Runway excels at controlled, commercial-quality output. Your choice should depend on the specific requirements of your project.
Technical Specifications & Parameters
Resolution & Duration
Standard Hailuo generations typically run for 6 seconds. The native resolution is 720p, though many users (myself included) upscale to 1080p or 4K using external tools like Topaz Video AI.
Aspect Ratios
The standard web UI offers three aspect ratio toggles:
I've found 16:9 produces the most consistent results, particularly for scenes with horizontal movement.
Negative Prompting
Unlike Stable Diffusion, which heavily relies on negative prompts, Hailuo performs better with positive descriptive prompting. The current UI does support negative prompts, but they should be used sparingly and primarily to avoid specific unwanted elements rather than as a primary control mechanism.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
The "Morphing" Problem
If your subject transforms unnaturally during the video (faces melting, objects changing shape), you're likely giving too many conflicting instructions or changing the subject mid-prompt.
Fix: Simplify your action description and ensure your subject is clearly anchored at the beginning of your prompt.
Before: "A woman with blonde hair walks through the forest and picks flowers while the sun sets and turns into a magical night scene with fireflies"
After: "A blonde woman walks slowly through a forest at sunset. Gentle wind moves through her hair and the surrounding leaves."
Static Video (No Motion)
If your generation lacks movement, you're probably using too many static descriptors or not enough action verbs.
Fix: Add camera movement or environmental elements that force motion.
Before: "A detailed painting of a mountain landscape"
After: "A cinematic shot of mountain peaks as clouds drift between them, the camera slowly panning from left to right"
The "Deepfry" Effect (Oversaturation)
Excessive saturation and contrast often result from overloading your prompt with intensity modifiers.
Fix: Remove quality boosters like "ultra-detailed, 8k, masterpiece" and focus on natural descriptive language.
Before: "Ultra-detailed, 8k, masterpiece portrait of a warrior, perfect lighting, award-winning photography"
After: "A weathered warrior gazes into the distance, warm sunset light illuminating the scars on his face"
Conclusion
Minimax Hailuo is fundamentally a "Director's AI" - it wants a script, not a checklist. Its LLM backbone thrives on narrative flow and temporal relationships that other models struggle to comprehend.
I encourage you to experiment with "wild" prompts that might seem too complex for other models. Try multi-stage actions, dynamic camera movements, and elaborate physical interactions - areas where Hailuo truly shines.
The future of AI video lies in this narrative-driven approach, and mastering Hailuo's prompt mechanics puts you at the forefront of this evolution in creative technology.
FAQ
Is Hailuo 2.3 different from video-01?
They refer to the same underlying technology. "2.3" is an informal version reference that gained popularity, while video-01 is the official model designation.
How long can Hailuo videos be?
Standard generations are approximately 6 seconds. Longer videos require stitching multiple generations together or using third-party extension tools.
Can Hailuo generate videos with specific characters or faces?
While the model can maintain consistency within a generation, it doesn't have persistent memory of specific characters across sessions. For consistent characters, image-to-video with a reference image works best.
How do I fix jerky or too-fast motion?
Use modifiers like "slowly," "gently," or "gradually" to calm the motion. Specifying "cinematic slow motion" can also help control speed.
Does Hailuo work better with certain types of scenes?
Yes, it excels with dynamic action, natural phenomena (water, fire, clouds), and camera movements. It struggles more with precise text rendering and ultra-specific object manipulations.
