> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.protoface.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Animate an image

> Use a still as the opening frame of a generated clip.

A video model can begin from a still image you supply. The image goes in
whichever field that model uses for an opening frame, given as a public
URL, a data URI, or an `asset_...` ID. In the example below, MiniMax H3
calls that field `first_frame`.

```bash theme={null}
curl -X POST https://api.protoface.com/v1/run/minimax/minimax-h3 \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $PROTOFACE_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "prompt": "The sailboat holds course as morning light fills the bay.",
    "duration_seconds": 8,
    "quality": "768p",
    "aspect_ratio": "16:9",
    "first_frame": "https://example.com/sailboat.png"
  }'
```

The clip lands on `video.url` when the run completes.

A still from [Generate an image](/guides/generate-image) already has an
`asset_id` on that run's `outputs`. Pass it straight into the next run
instead of downloading the file.

Models constrain which inputs combine. On MiniMax H3, `last_frame`
requires `first_frame`, and sending it alone returns
`error.code: "run.input_role_dependency"`. Neither frame combines with
`reference`, `reference_video`, or `audio`, and sending them together
returns `error.code: "run.input_role_conflict"`.

Many models expose animation as a separate operation, `video.animate`,
which takes the still on `image` and requires `operation`. Check the
[catalog entry](/guides/models#operations) for the model you call.