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Tools compared

NEON Dance AI Tools Compared: Carat, media.io and Cicadas

The A2O LITE NEON dance challenge tools from their own pages on October 26, 2026: two-person Carat template, media.io's photo plus reference route, and Cicadas motion control; photos, length, price, song.

Oct 26, 2026By Kevin Fan

Video examples here were generated on Cicadas and keep their model, settings and date. Cicadas earns money when you generate with these models. How we test

NEON Dance AI Tools Compared: Carat, media.io and Cicadas

Short answer: the NEON challenge (A2O LITE's debut single, October 2026) has one template tool that builds the two-person opening from two photos, Carat AI, and two reference-based routes, media.io and Cicadas. Carat is the fast way if you want the duo and its stage; Cicadas is one dancer, your own reference clip and a silent MP4 charged per delivered second on the NEON dance AI page.

We make Cicadas, so it is in the table. Everything about Carat and media.io is quoted from their pages as we read them on October 26, 2026; we did not sign up or generate there.

NEON dance AI tools compared

NEON dance AI tools, from their own pages on October 26, 2026
Cicadas (ours)Inputs1 photo + your 3–30 s reference clip; one dancerOutputup to the reference length, silent MP4, shape follows the photoPricequote is the maximum for the clip length, charged per delivered second (5 s reference quoted 159 credits, 85 charged for 2.7 s in a 2026-09-28 test)Songnot includedFreeno motion-control trial; new accounts get one 5 s generator clip
Carat AI (A2O LITE NEON template)Inputs2 photos (Person 1 and 2); up to 5 backup dancers from photos; optional background image, otherwise the NEON stageOutput30 s, 1280×720, 16:9Priceincluded with a subscription: Starter $16 a month billed annually or $20 monthly, 10,000 credits a month; credits per video not statedSongnot statedFreenot stated
media.ioInputs1 photo of a person or character; a dance reference clip when supported; two-person versions need one photo per performerOutputlength and resolution depend on the model; some exports are silentPricenot statedSongnot statedFreenot stated

Pages we read: Cicadas, Carat AI and media.io.

Which to use

  • The duo opening with the stage, from two photos, in landscape: Carat's template is the only one of the three that states it.
  • Your own version of the moves, vertical, from a clip you filmed, with nothing from the original stored: the Cicadas NEON page; film 5–10 seconds straight on, full body, and follow the video. The AI dance video generator makes an original K-pop style move from a prompt if you have no clip.

Rights

Carat's page says to use only photos of yourself or people who agreed. The same applies on Cicadas, which also stores no footage of the trend.