"Video to video" promises to turn one clip into another. Most tools that claim it run a style filter over your footage frame by frame — which flickers, can't change the content, and falls apart the moment the camera moves. The approach that actually holds together in 2026 is different: reference-driven regeneration. You hand the model your clip (plus images and audio) as references, and it generates a brand-new video that follows them. This guide explains the difference and walks through how to do it.
What video-to-video means in 2026
Two very different things hide under the same phrase. The first is a filter: your original clip goes in, each frame is repainted in a new style, and the same footage comes back looking different. The second is regeneration: your clip is treated as a reference, and the model generates a new video that follows it — the look, the motion, the subject — without being locked to the original pixels. The second is what modern multimodal models do, and it is far more powerful.
Regeneration vs. frame-by-frame filters
- Coherence. A filter treats each frame independently, so detail flickers between frames. Regeneration produces one continuous clip, so motion stays smooth.
- What can change. A filter can only restyle what is already there. Regeneration can change the subject, the setting, or the action while keeping the reference's look or motion.
- Inputs. A filter takes one video. Regeneration takes a mix — images, video, and audio — so you can direct it from several angles at once.
What you can feed it
The model behind FlyAIgh's video-to-video is Seedance 2.0, in its multimodal reference mode. A single generation accepts:
- Up to 9 reference images — to fix a character, a product, or a visual style.
- Up to 3 reference videos — to carry a look, a camera move, or a specific motion.
- Up to 3 audio tracks — to drive or sync the soundtrack.
You point at each input by role in your prompt — this image is the hero, that clip is the style, this track is the music. The prompt directs; the references anchor.
A step-by-step workflow
- Gather references. Pick the assets that should guide the result. Fewer, cleaner references beat a pile of conflicting ones.
- Write the prompt and assign roles. Describe the new shot and say what each reference is for.
- Choose Pro or Fast. Pro for up to 1080p and the strongest fidelity; Fast for cheaper iteration while you dial in references.
- Generate, then refine. Swap a reference or adjust the prompt and regenerate. Treat the first result as a draft.
Five things it is good for
- Restyle a clip — turn live footage into anime, a daytime shot into noir.
- Reference a camera move — reuse a dolly-in or whip pan on a new subject.
- Keep a character or product consistent — anchor it with images across clips.
- Continue a shot — feed the tail of one clip and generate what comes next.
- Drive with audio — generate motion that moves to a reference track.
Pitfalls
- Expecting a filter. Regeneration changes content. If you need the exact original footage restyled untouched, this is the wrong tool.
- Conflicting references. Three videos with different looks pull the result in three directions. Keep your references aligned.
- Vague roles. If you don't say which reference is the style and which is the subject, the model guesses.
To try reference-driven video-to-video in one place, see FlyAIgh's video-to-video AI — upload images, video, and audio, describe the new shot, and Seedance 2.0 regenerates it, on the same account as every other model.
FAQ
What is video-to-video AI?
Video-to-video AI generates a new video guided by an existing one (and other reference assets) rather than from text alone. You supply a reference clip — often with reference images and audio — write a prompt, and a multimodal model produces a fresh video that follows them. It is used for restyling, motion reference, character consistency, continuation, and audio-driven generation.
Is video-to-video the same as a video filter?
No. A filter repaints each frame of your original clip, which usually flickers and cannot change the content. Reference-driven video-to-video is a genuine regeneration: the model reads your references and generates a new scene around them, so motion stays coherent and you can change the subject, setting, or action — not just the surface look.
What can I use as a reference, and how many?
On Seedance 2.0 (the model behind FlyAIgh’s video-to-video) you can supply up to nine reference images, three reference videos, and three audio tracks in a single generation. Images fix a subject, product, or style; a reference video carries a look or camera move; reference audio drives the soundtrack. You can combine all three.
Which model is best for video-to-video in 2026?
Models with a true multimodal reference mode are the ones that do reference-driven video-to-video well. Seedance 2.0 is the standout because it accepts image, video, and audio references together and regenerates rather than filters. On FlyAIgh both Seedance 2.0 Pro (up to 1080p) and Fast support it from one account.
Can I keep a character consistent across video-to-video clips?
Yes — supply reference images of the face, outfit, or product and the model carries them into each generation. For a persona you reuse often, build it once as a reusable Character and attach it instead of re-uploading references each time.
Build a consistent character on FlyAIgh
Identity refs + AI-derived persona + outfit variants, bound to a character ID that auto-injects into every model. Free to start, no card required.