TLDR;
- Manus, the Tencent-backed AI agent, has launched a new feature that generates videos from text prompts in minutes.
- The tool automates scene planning, visualization, and animation, requiring no technical setup.
- Initially available to select users, Manus’s tool is free with plans for low-cost subscriptions post-launch.
- The launch comes amid growing competition in AI video, including Microsoft’s release of Sora via the Bing app.
Chinese AI agent platform Manus has rolled out a new text-to-video feature aimed at transforming creative prompts into cinematic experiences.
Initially available to Basic, Plus, and Pro users, the tool allows individuals to generate fully animated videos from simple text entries, compressing what used to be an arduous production process into just minutes.
From Text to Video in Minutes
According to a Tuesday post by Manus, the new tool “turns your prompts into full-fledged stories, structured, coherent, and ready to watch.” The process involves breaking down user input into scenes, visualizing each element, and animating them without requiring any manual configuration. With this feature, even users with no filmmaking background can instantly see their ideas unfold in visual form.
Introducing Manus video generation.
Manus transforms your prompts into complete stories—structured, sequenced, and ready to watch. With a single prompt, Manus plans each scene, crafts the visuals, and animates your vision. From storyboard creation to concept visualization—your… pic.twitter.com/2bOxSkyRv5
— ManusAI (@ManusAI_HQ) June 3, 2025
What sets Manus apart in a crowded field of generative AI video tools is its integration with a broader suite of AI agent capabilities. Built by Tencent-backed Butterfly Effect, Manus is known for its ability to autonomously perform tasks that span a wide spectrum, from comparing insurance policies to booking flights and conducting real-time internet research. Unlike traditional AI services, Manus operates independently without needing APIs or technical setup, making it especially attractive to non-technical users.
Rising Star in the AI Race
Manus has rapidly grown from a domestic curiosity into a global contender in the AI landscape. Its reputation was cemented earlier this year when access to its beta version became so coveted that invitation codes were reportedly sold for millions of yuan on Chinese resale platform Xianyu. The core appeal lies in the platform’s versatility, billed as a “general-purpose AI agent” with near-autonomous capability.
Its video generator only enhances this appeal. With Microsoft’s move to integrate Sora this week, OpenAI’s video model into the Bing app, Manus’s launch feels less like a technological experiment and more like a strategic answer to industry momentum. Where Microsoft’s offering focuses on clip creation within a narrow time limit, Manus opens the door to complete story-driven sequences. And it does so without cost, at least for now. While OpenAI charges $200 for advanced access, Manus remains free, although a modest subscription fee is planned post-launch.
Creative Tool or Competitive Threat?
This release also blurs the line between consumer creativity tools and enterprise-grade AI solutions. For content creators, educators, and marketers, Manus’s new feature provides a compelling way to visualize narratives without professional studios or software. For AI developers and big tech players, it represents a new benchmark in the growing AI arms race.
Notably, Manus is not merely offering a creative toy. The platform “plans each scene, creates visuals, and animates your vision,” according to the company, a level of detail that could challenge existing players across entertainment, advertising, and education.
