There are two ways to get a video out of your bot. Fast videos happen in chat — they're quick and use what your bot already has. Imagine videos are full builds with new images and new motion. Both are useful; this article shows when each is the right tool.
On the web? Web is in beta — some video features may be delayed or behave differently than on mobile.
New to the words? Fast video, Imagine, base video, prompt, and bot are all defined in the Cantina Glossary.
Quick comparison
| Fast video | Imagine video | |
|---|---|---|
| Where you make it | In chat with your bot | The Imagine tool |
| Speed | Seconds | Longer — think minutes, not seconds |
| What's freshly generated | Just the audio (and lip movement) | Everything — new images, new motion |
| Visual variety | Bound to your bot's base videos | Wide — whatever your prompt describes |
| Best for | Quick replies, casual back-and-forth | Specific scenes, share-worthy moments |
Fast videos — quick replies in chat
A fast video is a short clip your bot sends back in chat. It feels almost instant, because the app isn't generating fresh visuals every time. Behind the scenes, your bot has a small set of base videos generated when you first created it. A fast video lip-syncs new audio onto one of those base videos, so the response returns in seconds.
Good for:
- Conversational replies in chat
- Reactions and quick takes
-
Anything where pace matters more than fidelity
Tips:
- Short prompts work fine. You're not asking for a new scene, just a new line.
- Variety comes from your bot. If fast videos start to feel repetitive, that's a signal your bot's base videos could use refreshing (when that's possible).
Imagine videos — full builds for specific scenes
An Imagine video is a full project. You hand Imagine a prompt, and it generates new images and stitches them into a fresh video. Because everything is generated from scratch, the result is far more flexible — but it takes longer.
Good for:
- A specific scene you have in your head
- Anything you want to share externally
- Trying out a new look or vibe for your bot
- Story-driven moments that wouldn't work as a quick reply
Tips:
- Descriptive prompts pay off here. The more detail, the closer the result.
- Plan for render time. Imagine isn't instant. If you want something quick, fast videos in chat are the better fit.
Pick by intent
A quick decision tree:
- Replying in a conversation? Fast video.
- Want a specific scene with new visuals? Imagine.
- Sharing externally? Imagine.
- Trying a new vibe for your bot? Imagine.
- Casual back-and-forth? Fast video.
A note on speed vs. fidelity
Fast videos are bound to your bot's base videos — that's what makes them fast. Imagine videos generate everything fresh — that's what makes them flexible. Neither is "better"; they're tuned for different jobs.
Keep going
- Prompting 101 — write better prompts for richer, more in-character video output.
- Using Imagine to Create Videos — step-by-step walkthrough for creating an Imagine video.
- Captions on your video — change the font, size, or color of captions on your Imagine videos, or turn them off.
- How to Create a Bot — make your own bot to star in fast videos or Imagine videos.
- Cantina Glossary — quick reference for product terms like bot, base video, prompt, and more.
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