How to do the zombie trend with your mom or dad
The parent version of the AI zombie trend: which photos to use, who turns, memories to cut to, and why you ask them before you post.
3 min read · Updated
A sample: Kitchen Radio, made from two photos.
Make your ownWhy the parent version lands
In the original, the one who turns is a partner. With a parent, a lifetime of roles flips: the one who always held on is now the one being held. The memory at the end is ordinary on purpose, a song on the kitchen radio or a summer in the backyard, and that is why people send it to their mom or dad.
See it in Owen and Helen, where a son finds his mother on an empty metro platform, and in Grace and Jin, a daughter and her father.
The photos
- One clear photo of you and one of your parent, each person alone, face to the camera.
- Recent photos of you both as adults. No one in the video can be under 18, so childhood photos are out.
- Daylight and no sunglasses. A slightly older photo of your parent is fine if the face is sharp.
- Skip group shots and screenshots of video calls; the face comes out too small.
Who turns
Most people have the parent turn and the grown-up child hold on, as in the samples. Swap the photos and the parent becomes the one who holds on, which works well made as a gift for them. Open the parent and child template, add the two photos and pick the scene.
Memories to cut to
In AI Zombie the memory comes with the scene you pick, chosen for a parent and child: the samples end on a kitchen dance and a backyard summer. Writing your own prompts? Some that fit:
- Dancing in the kitchen to the radio.
- A backyard in summer, running across the lawn.
- Singing in the car on a long drive.
- Cooking a family recipe together.
- Walking the dog down the same street as always.
Ask them first
Show your mom or dad the video before anyone else sees it, and ask before you post it. Some parents love it; some find it too much. Turn on the AI label when you upload, and tag them only if they said yes. The posting guide shows where the label is in each app.
Questions
Can I do the zombie trend with my mom?
Yes. Pick Parent in the generator, add a photo of you and one of your mom, and choose who turns. The video ends on a memory of the two of you, such as a kitchen dance or a summer afternoon in the backyard.
Can I use a photo of me as a child?
No. Everyone in the video has to be 18 or older, so use a recent photo of you as an adult. The memory at the end shows the two of you as you are now.
Does it work with my dad too?
Yes. It works the same for a mom or a dad, and for a stepparent or a grandparent. Only the detail that gives the turned one away changes, such as an old wristwatch or a favourite jacket.
