Short answer: the fastest free way to learn AI video generation in 2026 is an interactive course that makes you write prompts and checks them, not a playlist of videos. The Nano Banana Academy is free with an account: 10 courses, 27 lessons, 58 exercises and about 3 hours of content, from "how video models think" to storytelling, social ads, sound, 3D and automation. Below is what a good free course should teach, and a study plan you can follow this week.
What a free AI video course should teach you
AI video looks like magic from the outside, but the people getting consistent results all rely on the same handful of skills:
- Prompt structure. Subject, action, setting, camera and light, in that order. A prompt that names the camera move gets you a shot; a prompt that does not gets you a random clip.
- Camera language. Close-up, wide, dolly in, tracking shot, low angle. The model understands film vocabulary, so learning it is the single biggest upgrade.
- Model choice. Different models are good at different things: realism, speed, motion, resolution. Picking the right one saves credits and retries.
- Image first, then motion. Designing a still and animating it gives you far more control over faces, products and composition.
- Continuity. Keeping the same character and place across several shots is what turns clips into a story.
- Finishing. Format (9:16, 16:9, 1:1), length, sound, upscaling to 1080p or 4K, and export.
Free AI video courses: what is out there
| Type | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| YouTube tutorials | Quick tricks for one tool | Out of date fast, no structure, no feedback |
| General generative AI MOOCs | Concepts and vocabulary | Rarely hands-on with video models |
| Tool vendor courses | Learning one product well | Some only cover the interface, not the craft |
| Nano Banana Academy | Structured, interactive, graded, multi-model | The certificate briefs need a paid plan |
Inside the free Academy
Every lesson mixes short reading blocks with exercises you must pass (80% to complete a lesson):
- Multiple choice and matching to lock in vocabulary (which camera move fits which emotion, which model for which job).
- Ordering to practise structure, like putting a shot list or a prompt in the right order.
- Numeric questions for the practical side: durations, credits, resolutions.
- Prompt labs graded by AI. You write a real prompt for a real brief; Claude reviews it against concrete criteria and tells you exactly what is missing. This is the closest thing to a teacher looking over your shoulder.
The 10 courses
- Core: AI Video Foundations, Video Studio Mastery, From Image to Motion, Transform Existing Footage.
- Electives: Storytelling and Shot Lists, Ads That Stop the Scroll, Sound, Music and Rhythm, 3D and Motion Graphics, Responsible AI Video, Automate with API and MCP.
A free 7-day study plan
| Day | Course | Practice |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Foundations, lessons 1 to 3 | Rewrite three of your old prompts with subject, action, setting, camera, light |
| 2 | Foundations, lessons 4 and 5 | Generate the same prompt with two models and compare |
| 3 | From Image to Motion | Design a still, then animate it |
| 4 | Video Studio Mastery | Build a three-shot sequence with the same character |
| 5 | Storytelling and Shot Lists | Write a six-shot list for a 20-second story |
| 6 | Ads That Stop the Scroll or Sound | Make a vertical ad with a hook in the first two seconds |
| 7 | Transform Existing Footage | Relight a clip you filmed, then review everything you made |
From free course to certificate
When you are ready, the same curriculum leads to the Certified AI Video Expert credential: complete the four core courses, deliver four practical briefs with real generations, and pass a 40-question exam with 85% or more. Read how the AI video certification works.
Start the free AI video course.
Frequently asked questions
Is there really a free AI video course with exercises?
Yes. Every course, lesson and exercise in the Nano Banana Academy is free with an account, including the AI-graded prompt labs.
Do I need to pay to generate videos while learning?
No for the lessons: they are self-contained. Yes if you want to generate your own clips or earn the certificate, because generations run on cloud GPUs. Plans start at €19.99/mo.
How long does the free course take?
About 3 hours of content in total, or 1 h 40 for the four core courses. Most people spread it over a week.
Is it suitable for complete beginners?
Yes. AI Video Foundations assumes no experience with video or AI.
Which AI video models does it cover?
Seedance 2.5, MiniMax H3 and FLUX 3 Max for generation, plus upscaling, Relight and Motion Transfer.
