MiniMax H3: The Essentials

Last updated: July 31, 2026

Provider: MiniMax  |  Modality: Text / Image / Video to Video  |  Model ID: model_minimax-h3

MiniMax H3 generates short video clips with native stereo audio from a text prompt, first and last frames, or multimodal references. Clips run 5 to 15 seconds at up to 2K and 24 fps. Use it for brand films, product spots, story beats with dialogue, motion design, and game UI trailers.

How MiniMax H3 Works

Start with a Prompt that describes the scene, camera, and audio. Then choose one input mode:

  • Text only. Generate from the Prompt alone. Good for open creative exploration.

  • First Frame / Last Frame. Lock the opening shot, and optionally the closing shot. Aspect Ratio follows the first frame. Do not mix frames with Reference Images, Videos, or Audio.

  • Reference Images. Pass up to 9 images to guide subjects and style. First 5 are free; additional images are billed. Cannot combine with first or last frame.

  • Reference Videos. Pass up to 3 clips (2 to 15 seconds each, 2 to 15 seconds total) to guide motion.

  • Reference Audio. Optional, and only with at least one reference image or video.

Native audio (dialogue, SFX, ambience) is generated in the same pass. Put spoken lines in the Prompt when you need clear lip-synced dialogue.

Examples

All clips below were generated with MiniMax H3 (model_minimax-h3) in Public Data.

Reference Images: desert fashion campaign

Four stills (car, portrait, handbag, brand mark) passed as Reference Images for a premium editorial brand film.

Desert Fashion Campaign · Reference Images · Open on Scenario

Text to video: kitchen creature

Prompt-only smoke test: lived-in kitchen at dusk with soft hand-drawn luminous creatures and quiet room-tone audio.

Hand-Drawn Kitchen Creature · Text to Video · Open on Scenario

Reference Images: game equipment UI

Character key art plus HUD panels as references for an interactive game inventory reveal.

Interactive Game Equipment UI · Reference Images · Open on Scenario

Dialogue: vertical family confrontation

9:16 short drama with explicit spoken English lines in the Prompt and Reference Images for the two-shot and close-up.

Vertical Family Confrontation · Dialogue · Open on Scenario

Dialogue: cafe reunion

9:16 reunion scene with clear synced dialogue under rainy cafe light.

Cafe Reunion · Dialogue (9:16) · Open on Scenario

Parameters

These are the dials you will touch most often on MiniMax H3.

prompt

Required. Describe the video: subject, action, camera, lighting, and audio. For dialogue, write the spoken lines in English inside the Prompt so lip sync has a clear target. Max length 7000 characters.

firstFrameImage

Optional image used as the opening frame. The video shape follows this image. Required if Last Frame is set. Cannot combine with Reference Images, Videos, or Audio.

lastFrameImage

Optional closing frame. Only works when First Frame is also set. Cannot combine with reference media.

referenceImages

Optional. Up to 9 images (max 30 MB each) to guide subjects or style. First 5 are free; additional images are billed. Cannot combine with First Frame or Last Frame.

referenceVideos

Optional. Up to 3 videos to guide motion (each 2 to 15 seconds, 2 to 15 seconds total, max 50 MB each). Billed per second of uploaded duration. Cannot combine with First Frame or Last Frame.

referenceAudio

Optional. Up to 3 audio clips (each 2 to 15 seconds, 2 to 15 seconds total, max 15 MB each). Requires at least one reference image or video.

duration

Clip length in seconds, from 5 to 15. Default 5. Longer clips cost more.

aspectRatio

Output shape: 21:9, 16:9, 4:3, 1:1, 3:4, 9:16, or Adaptive (default). Ignored when First Frame is set, because the shape follows that image.

Use Cases

  • Brand and fashion films: Multi-still Reference Images for campaign continuity across mood, talent, product, and end card.

  • Product and ecommerce: Orbit and hero reveals for chairs, eyewear, sneakers, and pack shots with native ambience.

  • Story and dialogue shorts: Vertical 9:16 beats with explicit spoken lines for social and drama concepts.

  • Game and UI trailers: Character plus HUD references for inventory reveals and concept trailers.

  • Motion design and stylized spots: Text-only or image-guided clips for neon, anime, and editorial looks.

  • Film and teaser language: Space opera and mystery teasers with orchestral or drone beds generated in-pass.

Tips for Better Results

  • Prefer Reference Images for showcase work. Generate clean stills first (one scene per still), then pass those asset IDs into Reference Images.

  • Write dialogue as quoted lines in the Prompt. Keep lines short and assign speakers so lip sync stays readable.

  • Do not mix modes. First/Last Frame and Reference Images/Videos/Audio are mutually exclusive.

  • Match Aspect Ratio to the story. Use 9:16 for vertical dialogue; 16:9 for brand and product films. Adaptive is fine when you are exploring.

  • Describe audio explicitly. Name room tone, music bed, SFX, and whether dialogue should lead the mix.

  • Avoid packing multiple unrelated scenes into one Prompt without references. Split concepts across stills or separate runs.

Known Limitations

  • Duration is capped at 15 seconds. There is no schema-supported extend-to-30s path on this model.

  • Reference Audio requires at least one reference image or video.

  • First Frame / Last Frame cannot be combined with Reference Images, Videos, or Audio.

  • Aspect Ratio is ignored when First Frame is set.

  • Provider jobs can occasionally fail with a temporary internal error; retry the same payload.

  • On-screen readable logos and brand text can drift; keep brand marks abstract or out of frame when fidelity matters.