Leonardo vs Runway: Image Control vs Video Control, and the Line Is Blurring

Leonardo and Runway started in different lanes, stills versus video, and keep drifting toward each other. Leonardo added motion; Runway added image generation. The overlap is real but the center of gravity isn't.

For a controlled still, Leonardo is still my pick. Character consistency, presets, the kind of granular control you want when a brand needs ten matching assets. Runway can make an image but treats it as a frame, not a deliverable.

For anything that moves, Runway. Its motion, inpainting, and camera control are a director's toolkit. Leonardo's motion mode is a neat extra, not its identity, and it shows in the results.

If your work is mostly images with the occasional clip, Leonardo. If it's mostly video with the occasional still, Runway. The crossover features are nice; the core strength is what you'll actually lean on when a deadline hits.