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by HappyHorse

HappyHorse Reference-to-Video — AI Video Generator

HappyHorse Reference-to-Video is available on Artifio.ai as part of our unified AI workspace. Powered by HappyHorse. Starting at about $0.140 per second.

From $0.140 / secEstimated ~240s; not a measured benchmark

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HappyHorse Reference-to-Video pricing

These prices are calculated from the current model settings. Each row describes the configuration used for that price.

Current configuration prices for HappyHorse Reference-to-Video
SettingsPer generation
Resolution: 720p · 5 seconds$0.700
Resolution: 1080p · 5 seconds$1.200

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About HappyHorse Reference-to-Video

HappyHorse 1.0 is a video generation model developed by the innovation unit of Alibaba Token Hub (ATH), the AI business group Alibaba formed in March 2026. The project, led by Zhang Di after his November 2025 return to Alibaba, debuted anonymously on the Artificial Analysis video arena in early April 2026, topped both text-to-video and image-to-video blind rankings ahead of ByteDance's Seedance 2.0, and was claimed by Alibaba on April 10. A limited beta opened in late April via the HappyHorse website, the Qwen app, and an API on Alibaba Cloud Model Studio.

This is the reference-to-video variant, which Alibaba documents as subject-to-video (S2V): a reference image supplies a specific subject, and the model generates a new video containing that subject while preserving its appearance and identity. The prompt controls the scene, action, and camera. On Artifio it runs alongside 100+ other models in one workspace, paid per generation from a single wallet.

Features

  • Inserts a specific subject from a reference image into a newly generated video while preserving the subject's appearance and identity, per Alibaba's launch announcement.
  • Differs from plain image-to-video: the reference image supplies the subject only, while the text prompt defines the setting, action, and shot structure.
  • The HappyHorse 1.0 family generates up to 15 seconds of 1080p video with multiple shots and synchronized audio, including lip-synced dialogue and ambient sound.
  • Maintains stable character positioning across cut transitions in multi-shot output.
  • Available in limited beta through the HappyHorse website, Alibaba Cloud Model Studio, and the Qwen app since late April 2026.

What people use it for

  • Keeping a brand mascot or spokesperson visually consistent across a series of campaign clips.
  • Placing a specific product into generated scenes for e-commerce and advertising video.
  • Recurring characters in short-form drama episodes generated at different times.
  • Gaming and CG-style promotional clips built around an established character design.

Reported strengths

  • Identity preservation is the documented core of the mode: the subject keeps its appearance rather than being reinterpreted per generation.
  • Belongs to the model family that ranked first in both text-to-video and image-to-video on the Artificial Analysis arena at its April 2026 debut.
  • Native audio generation carries over from the family, so subject-driven clips arrive with dialogue and ambient sound in place.

Reported limitations

  • Alibaba documents subject-to-video as a mode description without published detail on multiple reference subjects or how far the scene can push the subject before identity drifts.
  • The Artificial Analysis rankings that made the model's name cover text-to-video and image-to-video; there is no equivalent public benchmark for the reference-driven mode.
  • Generations cap at 15 seconds, so longer campaigns require stitching separate clips.
  • Access is a limited beta as of mid-2026, and Alibaba has said the model is still under development.

Sources

  1. Alibaba Rolls Out HappyHorse 1.0 in Limited Beta (Alibaba Cloud)
  2. Alibaba's HappyHorse tops Seedance, offering glimpse into China's race for AI talent (South China Morning Post)
  3. Alibaba revealed as creator of AI video generation model 'HappyHorse-1.0' (CNBC)

HappyHorse Reference-to-Video FAQ

  • What is HappyHorse Reference-to-Video?

    HappyHorse Reference-to-Video is an AI model (image to video) available on Artifio.ai through HappyHorse. You can run it in our workspace from a single shared wallet and download your outputs.

  • How much does HappyHorse Reference-to-Video cost on Artifio?

    HappyHorse Reference-to-Video has a starting estimate of $0.140 per second on Artifio.ai. Review the estimate for your settings in the workspace before confirming. Usage-billed models reconcile the final charge after generation.

  • How do I use HappyHorse Reference-to-Video on Artifio?

    Click Generate Now to open the workspace at /create/happyhorse-reference-to-video. Fill in the form fields, review the live cost estimate, and run your generation.

  • What kind of outputs does HappyHorse Reference-to-Video produce?

    HappyHorse Reference-to-Video is configured for image to video workflows in the AI content category. See the technical parameters below for supported inputs and options.

  • Can I try HappyHorse Reference-to-Video for free?

    Sign up free, top up your wallet from $1, and you can run HappyHorse Reference-to-Video pay-as-you-go without a separate subscription for this model.

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