If you searched for Haliuo, the video tool is usually spelled Hailuo AI. The official app is hailuoai.video. Choose your model there before copying settings from a tutorial: a brand name can cover several generations of video technology.
Hailuo is the app and MiniMax H3 is a model
The current Hailuo homepage promotes H3. MiniMax's H3 announcement describes multimodal inputs and native stereo sound. Its API documentation lists H3 at 768P or 2K for 4–15 seconds, while H3 Max has different resolution and duration options. Those are documented API specifications; the app may expose a different selection.
| Term | What it identifies | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Hailuo AI | The creation app | Selected model mode and quoted credit charge |
| MiniMax H3 | A current multimodal video model | Input roles duration and output resolution |
| MiniMax H3 Max | A separate model option | Its own supported output settings |
| Older Hailuo model tutorial | A workflow for an earlier version | Whether its controls still match your selection |
A first-frame image defines where the shot begins. A reference image can describe appearance without being the literal opening composition. Decide which role you intend before uploading an asset. Our first and last frame guide explains how to plan endpoints without assuming the movement between them will be correct.
Build a small scene with readable motion
Use an original miniature sailboat on a turquoise stream. Place the hull and orange sail clearly in the opening image. Leave enough room ahead for movement. Avoid starting with a hidden boat, a tangled mast or a frame cropped so tightly that the action cannot happen.
The cover is an original concept illustration. It is not evidence of a Hailuo generation. You can use the scene idea to construct your own reference and compare your actual result with the following brief.
A miniature wooden sailboat with an orange sail moves slowly downstream. The camera holds at water level while the boat passes from left to right. Small ripples spread behind the hull. Warm sunlight filters through the mossy forest. Keep one uninterrupted shot.
The action is the downstream passage. The low viewpoint supplies the camera decision; ripples supply the supporting motion. Add a second action only after this one works. Asking for a voyage, a storm, a rescue and a wide aerial reveal in one short clip leaves little room for any event to read clearly.
Separate a scene failure from an input failure
| Visible problem | First adjustment to try |
|---|---|
| Hull changes shape | Use a clearer boat reference and simplify the motion |
| Boat never crosses the frame | State a visible destination and leave space for it |
| Water becomes a moving solid | Reduce competing actions and review the reference texture |
| Camera hides the boat | Keep the camera instruction fixed for one attempt |
| Ending feels cut off | Plan the final position before selecting duration |
These are troubleshooting proposals, not a guaranteed fix for every model. Keep the input constant while you change one instruction. Otherwise a better export does not tell you whether the improvement came from the new reference, a different mode or chance.
Download the Hailuo shot planning worksheet
Budget on the surface you are using
App credits, MiniMax API billing and a third-party studio's allowance are separate systems. Read the quote beside your exact operation. For API work, use MiniMax's pay-as-you-go pricing. An API price is not proof of a Hailuo subscription's included generations.
Save accepted exports, input references and prompt versions together. For a longer episode, build short approved shots and assemble them with audio in a timeline. The long video workflow covers that finishing stage.
