Make a photo dance with AI
Getting started: create your account (free, 40 credits, no credit card — enough to test photo-to-cartoon three times), pick a credit pack from €4.99 for the dance video (150 credits, no subscription), then upload a full-body photo and a dance video — the AI copies the choreography onto your photo, music included, in TikTok, Reels or YouTube format. No editing, no software to install.
40 free credits at sign-up, no credit card · dance videos from €4.99 (150 credits, no subscription)
The demo: a photo that really dances
On the left, a choreography applied to a photo in vertical format ready for TikTok; on the right, a community creation with a neon vibe.
How to make a photo dance in 3 steps
Motion transfer maps the moves from a real dance video onto your photo. No technical skills required: the AI handles pose, rhythm and music.
1. Upload a full-body photo
A picture of you, a friend, a cartoon avatar or even a statue, as JPG, PNG or WEBP (10 MB max). The body must be visible from head to toe so the AI can animate it.
2. Choose a dance video
Add the video to imitate, up to 30 seconds (MP4, MOV or WEBM): a trending TikTok, an iconic choreography or your own dance filmed on your phone. Its music will be kept.
3. Generate your video
Select the format (9:16, 16:9, 1:1 or native) and start the generation. After about 5 to 10 minutes, your MP4 video is waiting in your gallery, ready to post.
What you get
No surprises at the end: here is exactly what the ToonZap “Dance & Motion” tool produces.
An MP4 video as long as your dance video, up to 30 seconds.
The original music of the choreography, kept exactly as it is.
The format of your choice: 9:16 (720×1280), 16:9 (1280×720), 1:1 (720×720) or the native format of the reference video.
Per-second pricing: 11 credits per second, 55 credits minimum, refunded automatically if the generation fails.
A result in about 5 to 10 minutes, in your gallery, with an email as soon as the video is ready.
No watermark from the first paid plan; on the free plan, a small "ToonZap.com" in the bottom-right corner.
What you can create
The photo can be a real portrait or a character: many people start by turning their photo into a cartoon, then make the cartoon dance.
Viral TikTok dances
Recreate the trending choreographies of the moment with your own photo — or a friend's, your mascot, or a cartoon avatar made on ToonZap.
Moonwalk & iconic moves
Have a photo that was never meant to dance pull off a moonwalk, a robot dance or any legendary move. Guaranteed reactions in your stories.
Memes & celebrations
Birthdays, weddings, inside jokes: turn a treasured photo into a dancing meme to drop in the group chat or post on your socials.
Pick your output format
Your dance video is generated in the right format for the platform you're targeting — a centred full-frame crop, nothing to re-encode on your side. Auto mode keeps the native format of the reference video.
9:16 vertical
The TikTok, Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts format (720×1280): full screen on mobile, made for trends.
16:9 landscape
The classic YouTube and presentation format (1280×720): ideal for dropping your dance clip into a larger edit.
1:1 square
The Instagram feed and LinkedIn/Facebook post format (720×720): compact and readable everywhere. Automatic centred crop: pick a dance video where the person stays in the middle, with some room above the head and below the feet.
Frequently asked questions: making a photo dance with AI
Is making a photo dance with AI free?
Creating an account is free and comes with 40 credits, no credit card required. A dance video, however, costs 11 credits per second with a 55-credit minimum, so the welcome credits do not cover one — they are enough to test photo-to-cartoon three times (12 credits with the standard model). Dance videos need a credit pack, with no subscription: the Pack Mini costs €4.99 for 150 credits, enough for two 5-second dance videos with credits left over for cartoons. The free plan also tops your balance up to 30 credits each month, which is not enough for a dance video either.
Can I make a photo dance without signing up?
No: a free account is required. It takes about 30 seconds to create with an email address, and no credit card is asked. The account is what receives your welcome credits, keeps your videos in your gallery and lets us refund your credits automatically if a generation fails.
How many credits does a dance video cost?
The price depends on the length of the dance video you upload: 11 credits per second, with a 55-credit minimum (up to 5 seconds). For example: 5 s = 55 credits, 10 s = 110 credits, 30 s = 330 credits. The 40 welcome credits of a new account are not enough for one; the Pack Mini (€4.99, 150 credits, no subscription) covers two 5-second videos. If the generation fails, the credits are returned automatically.
What kind of photo works best?
A photo where the full body is visible from head to toe, ideally facing the camera, sharp and well lit (JPG, PNG or WEBP, 10 MB max). The clearer the silhouette, the more faithfully the AI copies the moves. A cartoon avatar, a mascot or even a statue works too.
How long does it take to generate a dance video?
Expect around 5 to 10 minutes, a little longer for a 30-second video. You can leave the page: the finished video appears in your ToonZap gallery and you receive an email as soon as it is ready (you can turn this off in your notification preferences).
Does the video keep the original music?
Yes. The soundtrack of the reference video is kept as is: your photo dances in rhythm, to the same music as the original choreography. The reference video can be up to 30 seconds long (MP4, MOV or WEBM, 60 MB max).
Which output formats are available (TikTok, Reels, YouTube)?
You pick the format before generating: 9:16 vertical for TikTok, Reels and Shorts (720×1280), 16:9 landscape for YouTube (1280×720), 1:1 square for the feed (720×720), or Auto to keep the native format of the dance video. The result is a downloadable MP4 file.
Is there a watermark, and who owns the video?
On the free plan, a small "ToonZap.com" watermark is embedded in the bottom-right corner of the video; paid plans generate without any watermark. Your creations belong to you: the Free and Essential plans are for personal use (social media, sharing with friends), and commercial rights are included from the Starter plan upwards.
Plan details, credit packs and usage rights: see pricing.
Make your first photo dance today
Create your free account (40 credits, no credit card — for the cartoon test), pick a credit pack from €4.99 (150 credits, no subscription) and generate your first AI dance video in minutes.
Go further
Animate a photo
Give a still image natural motion — wind, a smile, a camera move — without a choreography.
Make a photo talk
Lips synced to a script or your own voice: the other big classic of animated photos.
Create an AI talking avatar
A virtual presenter built from a portrait, for your face-to-camera videos and tutorials.
Guide: how to make a picture dance with AI
The step-by-step tutorial, from framing the photo to choosing the dance video, with our rendering tips.