Reference-to-video in AI video release notes
Generating a video from one or more reference images or clips that fix how a person, object or place looks, with a prompt for what happens. As of 2026-09-25.
It differs from image-to-video, where the image becomes the first frame. In reference-to-video the references say who or what appears, and the model decides the framing. Vidu's reference video generation in August 2025 took one to seven images; Wan 2.6's reference-to-video in December 2025 kept both look and voice.
Later notes widen what counts as a reference: HappyHorse 1.0 takes up to nine images, PixVerse V6 takes video references, and Grok Imagine 1.5's reference-to-video adds optional preset voices.
| Date | Line | Version | What changed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26 August 2025 | Vidu | Not named in the note | Reference video generation from one to seven images |
| 16 December 2025 | Wan | Wan 2.6 | Wan 2.6 reference-to-video keeps a person's look and voice, with several characters at once |
| 26 April 2026 | HappyHorse | HappyHorse 1.0 | HappyHorse 1.0 reference-to-video takes up to nine reference images |
| 26 July 2026 | PixVerse | PixVerse V6 | V6 reference-to-video takes video references in an omni mode |
| 31 July 2026 | Grok Imagine | Grok Imagine 1.5 | Grok Imagine video 1.5 adds reference-to-video with preset voices and native 1080p |
| 14 September 2026 | Vidu | Vidu Q3 | Vidu Q3 reference-to-video models for drama and for ads are listed on Model Studio |
Inclusion rule. Entries whose note uses or shows the term. Order. By date, oldest first; undated rows last.
1In the notes
Added reference video generation - Supports uploading 1–7 images
Vidu, API update notice
supports using a specified person or any object as a reference, precisely maintaining consistency of appearance and voice, and allows multi‑character reference for joint performances.
Alibaba Cloud Model Studio, newly released models
Capable of processing up to 9 reference images, it precisely preserves creative intent to deliver superior performance.
Alibaba Cloud Model Studio, newly released models
V6 Reference-to-Video now supports `reference_mode: "omni"` and `video_references`.
PixVerse, API changelogs
grok-imagine-video-1.5 now supports text-to-video, image-to-video, and reference-to-video (including optional preset voices), with native 1080p for T2V and I2V.
xAI, API release notes
A Vidu reference-to-video model designed for drama and AI comic series production.
Alibaba Cloud Model Studio, newly released models
- August 26Reference video generation from one to seven images2025
- wan2.6-r2vWan 2.6 reference-to-video keeps a person's look and voice, with several characters at once
- happyhorse-1.0-r2vHappyHorse 1.0 reference-to-video takes up to nine reference images
- 2026/07/26V6 reference-to-video takes video references in an omni mode
- July 31Grok Imagine video 1.5 adds reference-to-video with preset voices and native 1080p
- vidu/viduq3-drama_reference2videoVidu Q3 reference-to-video models for drama and for ads are listed on Model Studio
2Other terms
3Notes read
- Vidu, API update notice, read 2026-09-25
- Alibaba Cloud Model Studio, newly released models, read 2026-09-25
- PixVerse, API changelogs, read 2026-09-25
- xAI, API release notes, read 2026-09-25