Seedance is an AI model that generates video from text and images. ByteDance released Seedance 2.0 in February 2026 and Seedance 2.5 in July 2026. It is available in ByteDance's own apps, including Jimeng AI and Doubao, and to developers through an API. In August 2026 ByteDance's homework app Gauth (formerly Gauthmath) began using Seedance to produce animated lessons.
Seedance is developed by ByteDance Seed, the AI research team of ByteDance. ByteDance Ltd. is a privately held company registered in the Cayman Islands; its co-founder Zhang Yiming is reported to control it through a dual-class share structure.
Hollywood copyright complaints (2026). In February 2026, days after Seedance 2.0 was released, Disney sent ByteDance a cease-and-desist letter alleging that the model reproduced characters such as Spider-Man and Darth Vader without permission. Paramount Skydance and the Motion Picture Association sent similar letters. ByteDance said it was strengthening safeguards to prevent unauthorised use of intellectual property and likeness by users.
Seedance is classified as Chinese-owned because it is developed and run by ByteDance, the privately held technology group behind TikTok and Douyin.
Brands with no verified Chinese ownership or control.