Rhyno Hu
October 23, 2025
7 min
Rhyno Hu
October 23, 2025
7 min
AI videos are transforming fast. Yet, one problem has remained: how do you make AI-generated characters feel human? Vidu Q2, by Shengshu Technology, may finally have the answer with its new Reference Generation feature.
This latest update moves AI filmmaking from visual spectacle to emotional storytelling. Let’s explore how it works, what makes it unique, and how it performs in real-world tests.、
Vidu Q2 is an advanced AI video creation tool that brings emotional performance into digital storytelling. Instead of just animating characters, it teaches them to act.
Built by Shengshu Technology, Vidu Q2 builds upon the Q1 model, adding deeper scene awareness and better camera logic. It supports:
Image-to-video generation
Custom start and end frames
Flexible video duration
Improved camera motion
Compared to other models like Sora 2 and Wan2.5, Vidu Q2’s strength lies in realism through emotion, not cinematic flair.
👉 Related post: 9 Best LTX Studio Alternatives in 2025 for Video Maker
The new Reference Generation feature is the key innovation of Vidu Q2. It allows users to guide AI performance using reference images or videos.
Upload a reference image or clip.
Enter a text prompt describing the scene.
The AI analyzes expressions, gestures, and emotions.
Vidu Q2 generates a video where characters mimic these traits naturally.
Traditional AIs like Sora 2 focus on camera direction and effects. Vidu Q2, however, focuses on how characters perform within the frame.
This change moves AI closer to acting — it’s not just visual generation, but emotional interpretation.
Sign in / create an account
Go to Vidu’s site and sign in or register. (If you’re using a partner site that exposes Vidu Q2, sign in there.) Vidu
Open the Create page and select the model
Navigate to the Create/Tutorial area and select Vidu Q2 (sometimes called “Q2 / Vidu Q2 Turbo / Pro” depending on the host).
Choose a generation mode
Text → Video: type the scene/action you want.
Image → Video: upload a single image to animate.
Reference → Video (Reference Generation): upload one or multiple reference images (character, prop, background) so the model keeps appearance consistent across frames. This is the new/important Q2 workflow for reliable character consistency. Vidu+1
Set basic options
Length: Q2 typically targets short clips (about 2–8 seconds). Choose the clip duration offered by the UI.
Mode / Preset: pick Turbo/Lightning (fast, motion-focused) or Pro/Cinematic (slower, higher fidelity).
Provide your prompt & controls
If using text input, write a concise yet descriptive prompt (examples below).
If using an image or reference set, upload images and — when available — use the UI sliders for first/last frame control, camera push/pull, or facial emphasis controls. Q2 supports first/last-frame control for cleaner loops and transitions.
Advanced settings (if available)
Entity consistency / multi-entity controls: ensure the model retains character appearance.
Seed / randomness: use a seed for reproducible results.
Resolution / fps: set to 1080p if you need high quality (Q2 supports 1080p output).
Generate & review
Click Generate. Wait for the render, then preview the clip. Most UIs show a low-res draft and let you re-roll or refine prompts.
Refine
Tweak prompts, try different modes, adjust first/last frames or upload additional reference images to improve consistency and expression.
Export / download
When satisfied, export the final 1080p clip and download. You can then post, edit further in an NLE, or use in ads/socials.
When tested against other popular AI models — Sora 2, Kling 2.5, and Veo 3 — Vidu Q2 performed surprisingly well.
It earned the label “AI Actor” because it doesn’t just create scenes — it performs them.
In controlled comparisons, Vidu Q2 showed consistent improvements in:
Emotional accuracy
Facial realism
Smooth movement transitions
The AI video race has long focused on “cinematic quality”: resolution, lighting, and visual polish. But storytelling is more than that.
Vidu Q2’s Reference Generation brings focus back to the essence of cinema — acting.
It captures tiny emotional cues that make characters believable:
A nervous blink
A hesitant smile
A subtle frown
Compared to Sora 2, which acts like a director, Vidu Q2 feels more like an acting coach, refining performance rather than controlling camera motion.
Vidu Q2 captured natural transitions between emotions better than Sora 2 or Wan2.5. The facial shifts appeared organic, mimicking human micro-timing.
Prompt:
Generate a close-up cinematic shot of a character experiencing a subtle emotional transition — from calm realization to quiet sadness. Focus on realistic micro-expressions: the soft movement of the eyes, a slight tremble in the lips, the faint shift of eyebrows, and breathing that reflects inner emotion. Use natural lighting and shallow depth of field to highlight the face. Ensure transitions feel organic and human-like, with precise micro-timing between each emotional phase.
Result: Vidu Q2 wins for realistic emotion delivery
Vidu Q2 effectively rebuilt iconic film shots with emotional nuance, though it occasionally introduced small narrative variations.
Prompt:
Recreate the iconic scene from Titanic where Jack and Rose stand at the bow of the ship with arms outstretched, feeling the wind and ocean spray. Focus on cinematic lighting at sunset, soft golden tones, and emotional connection between the characters. Capture the sense of freedom and romance with natural motion, gentle camera movement, and film-quality texture. Allow subtle narrative reinterpretations — for example, different clothing styles or a futuristic ship design — while preserving the emotional essence of the moment.
Result: Reliable, expressive, and artistically flexible.
Technical Review — Strengths and Limitations
✅ Natural emotional transitions
✅ Stable frame generation
✅ Realistic acting through Reference Generation
✅ Budget-friendly pricing
⚠️ Conservative camera motion
⚠️ No audio-visual sync
⚠️ Slight unpredictability in prompt adherence
Bottom line: Vidu Q2 prioritizes emotional storytelling over cinematic movement — a welcome shift for content creators seeking authenticity.
Choose Vidu Q2 if your project needs believable emotional performance. Ideal scenarios include:
Marketing videos with expressive storytelling
Short films or ads focused on characters
Training and education content with natural delivery
Social media reels with emotional hooks
If your project depends on synchronized audio or advanced camera choreography, Sora 2 may be a better fit.
The Reference Generation feature hints at the next step for AI filmmaking — emotion-driven storytelling.
As AI learns to portray subtle feelings, industries could see new creative possibilities:
Entertainment: Digital actors in indie films
Education: Emotionally engaging AI tutors
Marketing: Personalized brand storytelling
Vidu Q2 is paving the way for emotionally intelligent AI video production.
After multiple comparisons, Vidu Q2 consistently achieved slightly higher realism scores than its rivals.
Its control over subtle expressions makes it perfect for emotional scenes. While its camera system remains basic, this simplicity often prevents common AI video flaws.
In short, Vidu Q2 doesn’t just generate scenes — it performs them.
Q1. What makes Vidu Q2 unique? Its Reference Generation feature lets AI imitate human acting through expression and movement analysis.
Q2. Can I use it commercially? Yes. Vidu Q2 supports business and content creation use.
Q3. Does it handle long videos? It currently focuses on short to medium clips, with longer support planned.
Vidu Q2 changes the AI filmmaking conversation from “How good does it look?” to “How real does it feel?”
By teaching AI how to act through Reference Generation, Shengshu Technology has opened the door to a new creative age — one where AI doesn’t just direct scenes but performs in them.
As emotion becomes the new metric of realism, Vidu Q2 stands out as the AI that gives digital stories a heartbeat.
Ready to put Vidu Q2 into action? Head over to VeeSpark — the all-in-one AI Creative Studio built for creators and professionals.
VeeSpark unites all major AI models under one credit system, giving you the fastest way to create AI images, AI videos, and full storyboards in one streamlined workspace.
Experiment with Vidu Q2, combine it with Sora 2 or Veo 3.1, and turn your creative ideas into polished, cinematic results — all within a single platform.
.png){kind=icon}
