Vidu is an AI video generation platform built by Shengshu Technology, a Beijing-based startup founded by Tsinghua University researchers and backed by Baidu, Ant Group, and other major Chinese investors. Using it feels similar to other prompt-to-video tools — type a description or upload reference images, and Vidu generates a clip in roughly 10 seconds at up to 1080p — but its standout feature is multi-reference consistency: feed it multiple reference images of a character, object, or style, and it keeps that subject visually consistent across separate generations, which is harder to pull off on many rival platforms. The tool has built a particular reputation for strong anime-style output and fast iteration, and with 10+ million users across 200+ countries, it has carved out a niche between premium Western tools (Runway, Sora) and cheaper budget generators. Day to day, the workflow is quick and low-friction: describe or reference what you want, generate, and either accept the clip or spend more credits regenerating. Off-peak mode offers unlimited generation at slower processing speed, which is a genuinely useful way to test prompts and quality before spending credits on faster, priority-queue generation. The tradeoff is that Vidu's per-clip duration is short by design — typically 4-8 seconds per generation — so producing a longer continuous scene means stitching multiple clips together in separate editing software rather than generating one long take natively. Pricing is built around a free plan (800 credits/month, up to ~200 videos, unlimited off-peak generation, no card required) plus three paid tiers: Standard (~$8/month annual, ~$10 monthly — 800 credits), Premium/Pro (~$28/month annual, ~$35 monthly — 2,000-4,000 credits, unlocks Cinema-quality output and longer generation up to 32 seconds), and Ultimate (~$79/month annual, ~$99 monthly — 8,000 credits, up to 200 videos/day, priority processing). Custom Enterprise plans run up to roughly $1,399/month with API access and negotiated credit pools for agencies and production houses. Independent cost breakdowns put Vidu at 3-7x cheaper per second of finished video than Western competitors like Sora and Runway at comparable quality, making it one of the most budget-friendly ways to get into AI video generation.