AI works best if you only have a single photo and want the video made for you. A green screen is the right choice if you want to film your own custom dance movements from scratch.
The missed train dance meme features a specific sequence: a person stands on a subway platform, watches the train doors close in front of them, and then immediately breaks into a fast, energetic dance. Creating this video puts you in the center of the joke. When deciding how to make it, you have two main paths: filming a video using a green screen, or using an AI tool to animate a still photo. Each method requires different materials, skills, and time commitments.
How do you make the dance with a green screen?
Making the missed train dance with a green screen means you will perform the dance yourself. This method relies on traditional video production techniques. First, you need a physical green screen backdrop. This can be a painted wall, a pull-down fabric screen, or a collapsible pop-up screen. You must light the green screen evenly. If the lighting is uneven, the green color will have different shades, making it difficult for your editing software to remove the background cleanly. You typically need two lights pointed directly at the screen to eliminate shadows.
Next, you need to light yourself. You should stand several feet away from the green screen to prevent the green light from bouncing back onto your skin and clothes, a problem known as green spill. You then set up a camera on a tripod. You press record, stand in the frame, pretend to watch the subway doors close, and then perform the dance.
After filming, you transfer the video file to a computer with non-linear editing software. You import your footage and the background video of the subway station. You place the subway video on the bottom track of your timeline and your green screen footage on the track above it. You apply a chroma key or Ultra Key effect to your footage. You use the eyedropper tool to select the green color in your background, which makes that color transparent.
You will likely need to adjust the matte generation settings. You tweak the transparency, pedestal, and tolerance sliders until the green is completely gone but your body remains solid. If you have green spill on your edges, you apply a spill suppression effect. Finally, you use the scale and position tools to make sure your feet align with the floor of the subway platform. You export the final video as an MP4 file. People sometimes look for pre-made green screen templates on sites like tenor.com, but you still need editing software to combine the template with the subway background.
How do you make it using AI tools?
Using an AI tool removes the need for cameras, lights, and video editing software. Instead of filming yourself dancing, you provide a single still photograph. The AI software analyzes the photo, separates the person from the background, and applies a pre-recorded motion capture sequence to the image. This forces the person in the photo to perform the exact movements of the missed train dance.
To use this method, you start by selecting a photo. The photo needs to show the person facing the camera. Their arms and legs should be visible and not blocked by objects or other people. Photos with plain backgrounds often process faster, but the AI can usually separate the subject from complex backgrounds as well.
You upload this photo to the AI service. The software maps the joints of the person in the photo to the joints of the 3D skeleton performing the dance. It then renders the video, placing the newly animated figure into the subway station environment. The timing is handled automatically, so the dance begins exactly when the train doors shut.
People looking to generate videos from photos sometimes check platforms like clipremake.com, media.io, mimiczip.com, supermaker.ai, or viggle.ai. When using an AI tool, your only active task is choosing the right input photo and waiting for the server to process the video.
What are the trade-offs between green screen and AI?
The choice between a green screen and AI comes down to how much control you want versus how much effort you want to spend.
| Feature | Green Screen Method | AI Photo Method |
|---|---|---|
| Input required | Video footage of you performing | One still photo of a person |
| Equipment needed | Camera, lights, backdrop, computer | Web browser |
| Software needed | Video editor with chroma key | None |
| Time to complete | 1 to 3 hours | 5 to 10 minutes |
| Output control | Complete control over every movement | Fixed to the standard dance |
| Physical effort | High (requires dancing and setup) | Low (requires uploading a file) |
The green screen method gives you complete control. If you want to wear a specific costume, hold a prop, or change the dance moves slightly, you can. You are the one dancing, so the video captures your exact facial expressions and physical timing. However, you must know how to light a scene and use video editing software.
The AI method offers convenience. You do not need to know how to dance. You do not need to buy equipment. You can also make videos of other people by using their photos, which is impossible with a green screen unless they come to your studio. The trade-off is that you cannot change the choreography. The AI applies the exact same dance sequence to every photo.
Which method takes more time to finish?
Time is a major factor when choosing how to make your video. The green screen method takes hours. Setting up the physical screen and positioning the lights takes at least twenty minutes. Filming takes another ten to fifteen minutes, assuming you get the dance right on the first try. Transferring the files, applying the chroma key, adjusting the edges, color correcting your footage to match the subway station, and rendering the final video can take an hour or more, depending on your computer's speed and your editing experience.
The AI method takes minutes. Finding a suitable photo on your phone or computer takes a few moments. Uploading the photo to a web tool takes seconds. The processing time depends on the specific tool's servers, but it typically finishes in under ten minutes. If you want to make five different videos featuring five different friends, the green screen method would take all day. The AI method would take less than an hour.
How do you prepare a photo for AI animation?
If you choose the AI route, the quality of your final video depends entirely on the photo you upload. You should avoid photos where the person is sitting down or turned sideways. The AI needs to see the front of the torso and all four limbs to map the dance movements accurately.
Lighting also matters. Photos taken in bright, even light work better than photos taken in dark rooms with heavy shadows. If half of the person's face is in deep shadow, the AI might struggle to recreate their features as the head moves during the dance. Clothing is another factor. Tight or fitted clothing allows the AI to see the shape of the body clearly. Extremely baggy clothes or long, flowing dresses can confuse the joint mapping process, leading to glitches in the final animation.
How does Missed Train Dance work?
If you decide to use AI, you can make yours directly on our site. We built a tool specifically for this meme. You do not need to download any software to use it.
To start, you sign in to the site using either Google or your email address. Once signed in, you upload your chosen photo. The site takes that one photo and turns it into the complete missed train dance video, placing your subject on the platform right as the doors close.
We offer a simple payment structure for the tool. The cost is $5.00 one-time for one Missed Train Dance Video. When you make this payment, you receive 60 credits in your account. These credits are valid for 365 days from the date of purchase. All payments on the site are processed securely through FloatPass.
Our site is available in two languages: English (en) and Chinese (zh). If you want to read more about how the process works, you can read our guide on Missed train dance AI: how to star in the train guy dance from one photo. You can also learn about our Train Guy Dance AI tool, read more articles on our Blog, or view the details on our pricing page. If you have any issues or need to ask a question about your credits, you can reach us directly at contact@missedtraindance.com.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to make a missed train dance video on the site?
One Missed Train Dance Video costs a $5.00 one-time payment. This purchase gives you 60 credits to use for your video.
How long do my credits last after I buy them?
Your 60 credits are valid for 365 days from the date you purchase them.
What payment methods does the site accept?
All payments for the missed train dance videos are processed through FloatPass.
How do I create an account to make the video?
You can sign in to the site using your Google account or your email address.
What languages is the Missed Train Dance website available in?
The website is available in English (en) and Chinese (zh).