Systems and methods for machine learning based controllable animation of still images is provided. In one embodiment, a still image including a fluid element is obtained. Using a flow refinement machine learning model, a refined dense optical flow is generated for the still image based on a selection mask that includes the fluid element and a dense optical flow generated from a motion hint that indicates a direction of animation. The refined dense optical flow indicates a pattern of apparent motion for the at least one fluid element. Thereafter, a plurality of video frames is generated by projecting a plurality of pixels of the still image using the refined dense optical flow.