The first book to examine characters and creatures in the movies from a design standpoint, showing how they are brought to life!

Behind the scenes on landmark movies such as King Kong; the Star Wars trilogy, Pirates of the Caribbean, X-Men, Predator, and Alien series; Hellboy; and The Chronicles of Narnia, are a host of visionary and often obsessive artists, designers, and technicians whose passion is the movies, and whose role is to create nothing less than cinematic icons.

This unique book interviews and reveals the character designers, painters, illustrators, sculptors, and animatronic engineers who transform a sketch or a few words from a script into convincing characters with a life and personality of their own.

Designing Movie Creatures and Characters reveals the inside story of how creatures of the imagination are brought to life onscreen - told by the makers themselves, and illustrated with exclusive, behind-the scenes shots from hundreds of movies.

Learn what inspires and motivates these skilled artists; how Weta Workshop began; how Walt Conti builds swimming robot sharks and whales; how Patrick Tatopoulos creates his stunning designs; how molds, creature suits, eye mechanisms, and masks are constructed - and how dedicated artists bring characters to life in front of the camera, using suits, makeup, animatronics, puppets, masks, and CGI.

Whether you are a designer, animator or an aspiring makeup artist, this book will entertain, challenge, inspire, and inform. 

Includes a history of creatures and special effects in the movies, featuring Ray Harryhausen and other screen legends who have inspired today's artists.

Features interviews with dozens of designers, illustrators, painters, sculptors, makeup artists, and special effects gurus, and explains how they work, how characters were brought to life, what inspires designers to create, and the skills and technologies they have pioneered.

Also includes hundreds of behind-the-scenes shots, concept illustrations, sketches, and designs; mini biographies and filmographies; a glossary of specialist terms; and features on key manufacturing techniques.

Read Online: Designing Movie Creatures and Characters

Paperback: 176 pages
Author: Richard Rickitt
Publisher: Focal Press
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0240808460
ISBN-13: 978-0240808468

Preview the Book: Designing Movie Creatures and Characters

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Richard Rickitt, Director of Clockwork Digital, which creates graphics, animation and special effects for film and TV. Author of 'Special Effects: The History and Technique.' Richard regularly gives talks and lectures on special effects and he also contributes occasional articles about filmmaking and special effects to various magazines.

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