Snow Way! The First Ever Recorded Snowball Fight Captured on Film (And It’s Going Viral Again Thanks to AI)

Ah, the timeless tradition of the snowball fight – a beloved pastime of children (and adults) everywhere. But did you know that the very first recorded snowball fight took place all the way back in 1897?

The original

Thanks to the Lumière brothers, pioneers of cinema and inventors of the Autochrome Lumière, which introduced color photography, we have a glimpse into this historic moment. The short film, titled “Bataille de neige” (or “Snow Fight” in English), shows a group of people, both young and old, engaged in a lively snowball fight.

New look & feel with AI

The film was recently retouched using the open-source AI tool “DeOldify” by history and tech hobbyist Joaquim Campa, and has since gone viral on social media.

The AI technology was used to add color and improve the overall quality of the footage, bringing this historic snowball fight to life in a way that was previously not possible.

But don’t let the vintage nature of the footage fool you – the participants in this snowball fight are just as fierce and determined as any modern-day snowball warrior. They dodge and weave, launch snowballs with impressive accuracy, and even use makeshift shields to protect themselves from the onslaught.

At one point, a young girl even pulls out a sneaky snowball hidden behind her back, much to the surprise of her opponent. It’s a testament to the timeless appeal of a good old-fashioned snowball fight.

What’s next?

It’s just one example of how AI is helping us to preserve and enjoy moments from the past in new and exciting ways. And with the viral success of the newly restored “Bataille de neige” video, it’s clear that there is a growing interest in using AI to uncover hidden treasures from the past. Who knows what other fascinating footage from history we may uncover in the future?