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AI Motion Transfer

Transfer movements from a reference video to any character image

Transfer Motion

Give characters lifelike motion

Replicate dance routines, choreography, performances, and gestures — without missing a step

Upload.

Transfer.

Edit.

Kapwing’s AI Motion Transfer tool applies movement from a reference video to a still character image.

Upload an image of any character, then add a video containing the dance, gesture, expression, or performance you want to recreate. No prompt needed.

Recreate viral dances, reenact iconic movements from films, and make AI characters move naturally.

Edit the final clip in Kapwing’s online editor to add audio and subtitles, combine it with other scenes, resize, and export.

Transfer Motion

AI Motion Transfer in 3 steps

Free to start. Fully online.

Upload

Add a still character image and a reference video up to 10 seconds long to Kapwing AI

Select

Choose Kling Motion Control from the AI video model menu

Transfer

Click 'Generate' to apply the movement to your character

Copy precise movements

Endless performances. Any character.

Male_dancer_performs_a_contemporary_dance_move_in_a_studio_setting_V1.jpg

Dance & Choreography

Transfer a dance routine from a reference performer to a new character without describing every step in a prompt

Character reproducing a recorded facial reaction

Acting & Reactions

Replicate facial expressions, pauses, and body language — like your favorite movie scene

Athlete movement transferred to a new subject

Fitness & Sports

Recreate exercise demonstrations, sports drills, and movement patterns

Illustrated character animated from a recorded performance

Character Animation

Animate illustrated, stylized, or photorealistic characters using a real person’s recorded movement

Male_dancer_performs_a_contemporary_dance_move_in_a_studio_setting_V3.jpgAI presenter copying recorded hand gestures

Presenter Gestures

Reuse natural hand movements, posture, and delivery from a recorded presenter for a different on-screen subject

Generate with AI.

Edit on the timeline.

Transfer motion, then refine every detail in your browser

Give your character defined movement

A prompt can describe a dance or movement, but it can't replicate exact details of a recorded performance.

AI Motion Transfer uses your reference video to guide the sequence, timing, and shape of your character’s movements.

You don't even need a prompt.

Upload Reference Video

Using Kai to generate a video with reference media

Edit your character video in one workflow

Open the generated clip in Kapwing’s timeline editor and build it into a larger video project.

Combine it with clips from more than 19 AI models to create multi-scene videos that last minutes rather than seconds.

Add subtitles, overlay logos and watermarks, merge AI scenes with your own footage, and export an HD MP4 — all from your browser.

No switching tools. No juggling subscriptions.

Start Edting

Editing an AI video with Kai beside the timeline

●Step by Step

How to Transfer Motion with AI

Step 1
Upload
Open Kapwing's AI assistant, Kai, and upload one image clearly showing the subject you want to animate. A full-body image helps.
Step 2
Add motion video
Upload one video containing the motion you want to copy. Keep the performer visible and avoid unnecessary cuts or obstructions.
Step 3
Generate and Edit
Click 'Generate' to transfer the performance. Open the result in Kapwing to edit, and export in 1080p or 4k when ready.

●Thoughtfully Unique

What's different about Kapwing?

Six reasons creators stay in flow: faster edits, smarter tools, and collaboration that actually keeps projects moving.

Easy

Start creating immediately with thousands of templates and copyright free videos, images, music, and GIFs. Repurpose content from the internet by pasting a link.

Free

Kapwing is completely free to start. Just upload a video and start editing. Supercharge your editing workflow with our powerful online tools.

Collaborative

Quickly review and share feedback with your team using real-time comments in shared workspaces. Save assets to your Brand Kit for easy access.

Online

Kapwing is cloud based, which means your videos are wherever you are. Use it on any device and access your content anywhere in the world.

No spam or ads

We don't serve ads: we're committed to building a quality, trustworthy website. And we will never spam you nor sell your information to anyone.

AI-Powered

Kapwing uses the latest advanced AI models to power generative AI and one-click editing tools.

●Just the FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

We have answers to the most common questions that our users ask.

What is AI motion transfer?

AI motion transfer applies movement from a reference video to a different character or subject. In Kapwing, Kling Motion Control uses one character image and one motion video to generate the transferred performance.

How do I transfer motion from a video to an AI character?

Open Kai, select Kling Motion Control, upload one image of the character and one video containing the movement, then generate. The motion video — not a written movement prompt — guides the performance.

Is AI motion transfer free?

AI Motion Transfer is free to try in Kapwing. Generations use AI credits, and free accounts include a limited credit allowance. Paid plans provide additional credits and higher export limits.

What makes a good motion reference video?

Choose clear footage with one performer, steady framing, good lighting, and minimal obstruction. Avoid frequent cuts or moments when important body parts leave the frame.

Can AI motion transfer animate a still image?

Yes. The character input is a still image, while the uploaded video supplies the movement, timing, gestures, and expressions the generated character should follow.

Does Kling Motion Control use a text prompt?

No. Kapwing’s current Kling Motion Control integration uses the character image and motion video as its inputs and ignores a text prompt. Choose Kling Omni when you want to generate a scene from written instructions instead.

How is motion transfer different from image-to-video generation?

Image-to-video models usually invent movement from an opening image and prompt. Motion transfer uses a reference video to reproduce a specific recorded action with a new character.

Is AI motion transfer the same as motion capture?

No. Motion capture records tracking data for a digital rig or 3D character. AI motion transfer generates a new video directly from a character image and performance video, without requiring a rig.

Does AI motion transfer generate audio?

Kling Motion Control does not generate audio in Kapwing. After generation, add or replace dialogue, music, ambience, and sound effects in Kapwing’s editor.

Can I edit and export an AI motion transfer video?

Yes. Trim, crop, resize, add subtitles or audio, and combine the result with other clips in Kapwing. The model does not add a separate Kling watermark; Kapwing watermark rules depend on your plan.

How long can a reference video be?

Each AI Motion Transfer clip can be up to 10 seconds long. To create a longer video, generate multiple clips and combine them in Kapwing’s timeline editor.

Can I use a dance video as the reference?

Yes. Dance routines and choreography are ideal for motion transfer.

What video formats are supported?

Kapwing supports MP4, MOV, WebM, OGG, AVI, 3GP, MPEG, WMV, FLV, and MKV files. MP4 is recommended for the most reliable uploading and processing

What files do I need for AI motion transfer?

You need one still image that defines the character and one reference video containing the movement to copy. Use an image that clearly shows the relevant part of the body and a video with one visible performer.

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