Make videos with Claude Sonnet 5.5
Sonnet 5.5 is the speed pick. When you need ten hook variations for an ad test or a release video every week, it writes clean storyboards quickly and at half the API price of Opus.
- Model ID
- claude-sonnet-5-5
- Context
- 1M tokens
- Speed
- Fast
- Role
- Fast director for high volume
Can Claude Sonnet 5.5 make videos?
Claude Sonnet 5.5 writes text and code, not video files. Paired with Claude Video, it becomes a fast video director: Sonnet 5.5 writes the storyboard and copy, and the Kinetik engine renders the motion design into an MP4 in 16:9, 9:16 or 1:1.
How it works
From URL to film with Claude Sonnet 5.5.
- 01
Paste your URL or a brief
Claude Video captures your site, screenshots and brand colors, or works from a one-sentence description.
- 02
Claude Sonnet 5.5 writes the storyboard
Claude Sonnet 5.5 researches the product and writes a structured, editable storyboard: scenes, copy, timing, camera moves and transitions.
- 03
The Kinetik engine renders it
A deterministic motion engine animates every frame: 3D titles, product tours, particles, physics and music cut to the beat.
- 04
Edit and export
Change any word, color or scene by hand or by asking the AI, then export an MP4 in every format.
Why Sonnet 5.5
What Claude Sonnet 5.5 is good at in video.
- 01
Built for volume
Generate several versions of the same ad with different hooks, then keep the winner. Each variation takes seconds to set up.
- 02
Great at short form
15 to 30-second vertical cuts with big type, fast pacing and a clear CTA are where Sonnet shines.
- 03
Lower cost per video
At $2 / $10 per million tokens (API list price), Sonnet keeps the AI cost of each storyboard low for teams that ship a lot of video.
- 04
Works in Claude Code and Claude.ai
Drive Claude Video from Sonnet through MCP, in the app or from your terminal.
Prompts to try
Just ask.
- › Give me five 15-second TikTok hooks for acme.app, each as its own vertical video.
- › Make this week’s changelog video from these release notes, 30 seconds, 16:9.
- › Same video, but square for Instagram and with a stronger first two seconds.
Prefer to work inside Claude? Add our MCP server:
{
"mcpServers": {
"claude-video": {
"url": "https://claudevideo.io/api/mcp",
"headers": { "Authorization": "Bearer cv_live_…" }
}
}
}Compare models
Which Claude model should direct your video?
| Model | Role in Claude Video | Best for | Speed | Context | API price / 1M tok |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Claude Opus 5.5 claude-opus-5-5 | Default AI director | Launch films, product videos, multi-scene storyboards | Balanced | 1M tokens | $4 / $20 |
| Claude Sonnet 5.5 claude-sonnet-5-5 | Fast director for high volume | Social ads, hook variations, changelog videos at volume | Fast | 1M tokens | $2 / $10 |
| Claude Fable 5.1 claude-fable-5-1 | Premium director for hard briefs | Complex narratives, long explainers, custom React scenes | Deliberate | 1M tokens | $10 / $50 |
| Claude Haiku 4.5 claude-haiku-4-5 | Lightweight director for quick edits | Quick copy edits, captions, short teasers | Fastest | 200K tokens | $1 / $5 |
Anthropic API list prices (input / output) and context windows as of October 2026. Your Claude Video plan price does not change with the model.
Claude Sonnet 5.5 and video: FAQ
Sonnet 5.5 or Opus 5.5 for video?
Use Opus 5.5 for flagship pieces like launch films where story matters most. Use Sonnet 5.5 for volume: ad variations, social cuts and recurring release videos.
Can Sonnet 5.5 make vertical videos for TikTok and Reels?
Yes. Claude Video designs 9:16 layouts natively, so Sonnet only has to ask for a vertical format and the engine handles the layout.
Can I use Sonnet 5.5 in Claude Code to make videos?
Yes. Add the Claude Video MCP server to Claude Code and ask for a video from your terminal, for example as part of a release script.
Does Sonnet 5.5 add music?
Sonnet writes the storyboard. Claude Video composes an original soundtrack for each video and places cuts and hits on the beat.
Is Claude Video an official Anthropic tool?
No. Claude Video is an independent product built on the Claude API and is not affiliated with Anthropic.
Keep exploring
More ways to make videos with Claude.
Claude Video is an independent product and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Anthropic PBC. “Claude” is a trademark of Anthropic PBC. Model facts as of October 2026.
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Let Sonnet 5.5 direct your next film.
Paste your website. Get a studio-grade motion-design video in minutes. 3 free exports every month, no credit card.