Excellent! I wonder if the asymmetry was to give alternate takes or variants. Lucas could look at the left or right side and, if he likes the side with 2 eyes, then the final creature would have two on both sides. Is that something that was done?
They don't work using earth evoluted cold weather biological logic the final chosen filmed one LOOKS like an artic bison or moose the other ones more lizard less warmblooded especially extended eyesockets. Flip a coin for 2-4 leggedness not making a difference.
I wonder if the asymmetry was a clever way of modeling two different faces onto the same maquette head without having to make twice as many. "Do you like this side?" (rotates 180) "Or this side?" Whichever side was preferred would just be copied symmetrically onto the final product.
What is so nice about his work is you can look at those busts, you can see he also had an understanding of anatomy, and took that understanding and thought about the environment, that really shows his genius.
Thank you so much, Adam and Tested for not just sharing what we do, but joining us in celebrating the geniuses behind the scenes in the making of our favorite films!
The Tauntaun creature, the final one, is so great. It's very much like a real animal -- one that would live on Earth -- and at the same time also very alien. I simply love it.
You were so excited about the asymmetrical look of the maquettes , I didn’t want to comment…I know from my Luddite days that I would sculpt maquettes for approval by offering two versions in one piece…unlike today where I can mirror or flip or distort digitally. I could be mistaken but I think giving a client two choices/ directions to go forward on was a standard back in the day! Much love!
Is it possible that the asymmetrical aspects are options that could be made to the general forms? Could they be used in discussion by just turning the head from one side to the other? The finished product was symmetrical but most of the maquettes were not.
Phil Tippett, Joe Johnston, Michael Lantieri, Dennis Muren, and Stan Winston (R.I.P) are the people who I would carve into the Mount Rushmore of Special Effects. The late 70s, 80s, 90s, and early 2000s were when special effects, both practical and computer generated, underwent a dramatic evolution of technology that can still be seen today.
As someone who has done some limited concept design work of characters and creatures for someone to pick from, I'm going to suggest that the "asymmetry" you commented on was a way for Phil to offer more than one variation of features on the same head design with an option on each side of the head, instead of having to sculpt multiples of what would be essentially the same head with minimal differences like an extra set of eyes or a different shape or position of a horn, etc. So, when he presented them he could say - 'Here's this head with one set of eyes, and, with two or three sets of eyes. Whichever you like prefer'. I would even go so far as to say that the ones with the different options on one sculpt were likely his least favorite of the designs he had come up with for whatever creature he had in mind.
6:21 I think Phil was thinking how would it look with both one eye and two eyed versions, but decided to just try each on both sides, saving himself the need to sculpt it twice .
I absolutely love this. There are a few sculptures/designers who worked on Star Wars and Tippett was one of them. I'm curious though, would you ever consider interviewing Michael Murnane? I think his contribution in helping create the Start Wars universe was absolutely amazing. He is a wonderful gentleman and friend and I would love to see him on your show.
Hey Adam, random question. I have often wondered about your eyeglasses. Since you do so much fine detail work in addition to daily tasks, I was wondering what insights (pun intended) on general design parameters you can share with those of us similarly afflicted.
Every time I hear Phil Tippet’s name I can’t help but think of his “dinosaur wrangler/PEOPLE DIED PHIL” meme from years ago. No but, for real, Tippet is one of the best in the business, up there with Del Toro for creature design.
To be fair, the people at ILM were some of, if not, the BEST in their industry. There is a reason why PHIL was there. There is a reason why ALL OF HOLLYWOOD went to ILM. Phil proved himself time and time again til he lived long enough to see himself become obsolete.
Absolutely AMAZING piece!! I so wish I could get one of those!!!Stunning looking and as close to a screen used Taun Taun as you can get I guess. I am in love with it ! Great video! Totally agree about the beginning of Empire. Epic opening to a film.
I just watched a documentary on Phil Tippet. The man is a genius and all of his colleagues attested to that. Even George Lucas and Spielberg acknowledged it.
6:25 Adam makes a point of showing the asymmetry of busts specifically the eyes. I'm guessing that was to demo two versions of the same creature in one bust. i.e. Look at the left side for a version with 1 eye and it pops out. Look at the right side for 2 eyes and they are sunk in.
These are so awesome! Empire is one of my favourite movies of all time, it has it all in terms of film making. I'm a sucker for all thinks ESB related and must have these, they're cute!
Beautiful! I started school to learn industrial design about 30 years ago but my life path went a different direction. I would have loved to have worked at ILM! =)
the asymmetry feels like trying out different things so that there's less time taken on each maquette. "This guy could look like this or that" and you've got 8 characters in the space of 4
The heads were purposefully designed asymmetrically so that the sculptor could showcase twice as many looks without having to sculpt the entire piece twice.
I believe that Phil had created 8 different creatures here. Each side of the face represented one creature. In other words he saved clay and time by doing only one half of a symmetrical concept.
The other designs are interesting, but I think the design they chose for the movie was clearly the best choice. It still looks alien, but it kinda has a more friendly vibe that's I would imagine would be more compatible with humans and it looks much cuter than the others so the kids watching the movie would like it better as well.
Those four bust don’t look like they’d be on a creature that Han or Luke could ride. They look like something that would try to eat Han and Luke.😊it’s good that George went with the final design. It really looks like a creature that could be domesticated.
Adam have you seen the Luke and Han on Tauntaun? 3rd party kit Aztec Dummy did a series of videos building the Han model it was very interesting to watch
Beautiful collection for sure, would look great all together on a Hoth Diorama and or Hoth themed book nook. Quick question, have you ever considered reconstructing a fully functioning Puppet Yoda from Empire to complete say collection you already possess?
Hey Adam big fan I live in Australia on our property I love watching your videos whenever I can my absolute favourite was the Hellboy gun keep up making awesome videos mate
Regal Robot has some truly fantastic and one of a kind stuff! However, I’ve always found there prices to be a bit too much. I’d like to collect some of there things, they are wonderful pieces of history. True artistry (that’s why they’re so expensive). But I’d be putting myself in a bad place monetarily if I bought one 😂
Was I the only person who finished Adam's "1...2...3..." when he was pulling the tauntaun busts out with "3. It takes 3 cuts to get the warm center of a tauntaun."
I'd love to hear the creators thought process of the anatomy of the creatures. Why fur not wool, why horns not tusks or antlers, why 4 eyes or 4 nostrils and so on.
It seems I'm not the only one with Covid, and stuck in my apt .. Can you make a life size SOMETHING ? We'd all love you for it ... Lifesize Tauntaun would be fab but I'd settle for a Jaba the Hutt :)
I wonder if the purpose of the asymmetry was to show two concepts in one without when viewed from a different side - while avoiding redundancy, rather than to create a truly asymmetrical creature.
My completely uneducated guess for the asymmetry of some of the heads is, that the artist wanted to show different proposals, variations, of the same base design.
I bet they are asymmetrical so that they can present two versions of the same animal on the same head. It's not one animal with two different sides of its head. It's two animals presented on one piece.
Can you imagine how more awesome the whole Hoth scene with Luke and Han on Tauntaun`s would be today if the creatures were done using CGI instead of stop frame animation, more fluid and realistic, that`s not to take anything away from the original scenes by any means, but it`s amazing to me, now 53 to look back to 1980 when Phil Tippet`s work was state of the art back then, George and Phil and the whole ILM guys were geniuses who brought inanimate objects and creatures to life, their work stands the test of time 42 years later and i dare say in a 100 years time their work and the whole Star Wars original trilogy will still be entertaining to new audiences as it was to me as a kid of 8 who saw Star Wars for the first time back in December of 1977 here in the UK, it`s heart breaking to see how Disney, Kathleen Kennedy and Bob Iger have all but destroyed the franchise for a hell of a lot of loyal fans, these 3 films were truly the golden age of cinema and of the Star Wars saga.
Tauntaun Busts Concept Maquette Replicas - Phil Tippett Signature Edition: regalrobot.com/shop/star-wars/starwars-busts-statues-collectibles/tauntaun-busts-concept-maquette-replicas/
Excellent! I wonder if the asymmetry was to give alternate takes or variants. Lucas could look at the left or right side and, if he likes the side with 2 eyes, then the final creature would have two on both sides. Is that something that was done?
So Allen Pan owns the Mythbusters licence 🤔
They don't work using earth evoluted cold weather biological logic the final chosen filmed one LOOKS like an artic bison or moose the other ones more lizard less warmblooded especially extended eyesockets. Flip a coin for 2-4 leggedness not making a difference.
I wonder if the asymmetry was a clever way of modeling two different faces onto the same maquette head without having to make twice as many.
"Do you like this side?" (rotates 180) "Or this side?"
Whichever side was preferred would just be copied symmetrically onto the final product.
Yep. It was a time saving way of not having to do two complete sculpts when it was just for concept purposes.
I should have read this before I commented…. 👍🏻
That was my impression as well.
Those were my thoughts as well!!
Well that saves me a comment because i thought exactly the same.
What is so nice about his work is you can look at those busts, you can see he also had an understanding of anatomy, and took that understanding and thought about the environment, that really shows his genius.
Disney need to make a show where David Attenborough narrates the real lives of wild Star Wars creatures. The spin-off we really want.
Thank you so much, Adam and Tested for not just sharing what we do, but joining us in celebrating the geniuses behind the scenes in the making of our favorite films!
Tauntaun is my absolute favourite critter ever! What a treat to end a tough work week with!
I really appreciate the idea that we are merely stewards to the things we own or create or even to each other. Its a very nice sentiment.
Phil Tippet is a treasure. I'm so glad his fingerprints have shaped so many of the things I grew up loving.
Same!
The Tauntaun creature, the final one, is so great. It's very much like a real animal -- one that would live on Earth -- and at the same time also very alien. I simply love it.
You were so excited about the asymmetrical look of the maquettes , I didn’t want to comment…I know from my Luddite days that I would sculpt maquettes for approval by offering two versions in one piece…unlike today where I can mirror or flip or distort digitally. I could be mistaken but I think giving a client two choices/ directions to go forward on was a standard back in the day! Much love!
The whole hoth segment is my favorite. The battle is the best, but the lead up is awesome too!
You can see how the design were used later to create other characters.
One of those busts must've inspired Sebulba from phantom menace
IMHO, out of those 5 options they definitely selected the best. Runner up to me would be the lighter tan one. Altogether brilliant work all around.
Is it possible that the asymmetrical aspects are options that could be made to the general forms? Could they be used in discussion by just turning the head from one side to the other? The finished product was symmetrical but most of the maquettes were not.
Phil Tippett, Joe Johnston, Michael Lantieri, Dennis Muren, and Stan Winston (R.I.P) are the people who I would carve into the Mount Rushmore of Special Effects. The late 70s, 80s, 90s, and early 2000s were when special effects, both practical and computer generated, underwent a dramatic evolution of technology that can still be seen today.
As someone who has done some limited concept design work of characters and creatures for someone to pick from, I'm going to suggest that the "asymmetry" you commented on was a way for Phil to offer more than one variation of features on the same head design with an option on each side of the head, instead of having to sculpt multiples of what would be essentially the same head with minimal differences like an extra set of eyes or a different shape or position of a horn, etc. So, when he presented them he could say - 'Here's this head with one set of eyes, and, with two or three sets of eyes. Whichever you like prefer'.
I would even go so far as to say that the ones with the different options on one sculpt were likely his least favorite of the designs he had come up with for whatever creature he had in mind.
Fantastic and inspiring artwork, next level for sure!
Loved the George impression.
6:21 I think Phil was thinking how would it look with both one eye and two eyed versions, but decided to just try each on both sides, saving himself the need to sculpt it twice .
That George impression was pretty spot on.
I absolutely love this. There are a few sculptures/designers who worked on Star Wars and Tippett was one of them. I'm curious though, would you ever consider interviewing Michael Murnane? I think his contribution in helping create the Start Wars universe was absolutely amazing. He is a wonderful gentleman and friend and I would love to see him on your show.
Hey Adam, random question. I have often wondered about your eyeglasses. Since you do so much fine detail work in addition to daily tasks, I was wondering what insights (pun intended) on general design parameters you can share with those of us similarly afflicted.
To a young girl in 80s Phil Tippett was the coolest guy ever.
Every time I hear Phil Tippet’s name I can’t help but think of his “dinosaur wrangler/PEOPLE DIED PHIL” meme from years ago.
No but, for real, Tippet is one of the best in the business, up there with Del Toro for creature design.
To be fair, the people at ILM were some of, if not, the BEST in their industry. There is a reason why PHIL was there. There is a reason why ALL OF HOLLYWOOD went to ILM. Phil proved himself time and time again til he lived long enough to see himself become obsolete.
Absolutely AMAZING piece!! I so wish I could get one of those!!!Stunning looking and as close to a screen used Taun Taun as you can get I guess. I am in love with it ! Great video! Totally agree about the beginning of Empire.
Epic opening to a film.
I just watched a documentary on Phil Tippet. The man is a genius and all of his colleagues attested to that. Even George Lucas and Spielberg acknowledged it.
Thanks for watching it!
6:25 Adam makes a point of showing the asymmetry of busts specifically the eyes. I'm guessing that was to demo two versions of the same creature in one bust. i.e. Look at the left side for a version with 1 eye and it pops out. Look at the right side for 2 eyes and they are sunk in.
These are so awesome!
Empire is one of my favourite movies of all time, it has it all in terms of film making.
I'm a sucker for all thinks ESB related and must have these, they're cute!
Beautiful! I started school to learn industrial design about 30 years ago but my life path went a different direction. I would have loved to have worked at ILM! =)
the asymmetry feels like trying out different things so that there's less time taken on each maquette. "This guy could look like this or that" and you've got 8 characters in the space of 4
The heads were purposefully designed asymmetrically so that the sculptor could showcase twice as many looks without having to sculpt the entire piece twice.
2:47 - "Thrrrrrreeeeee!" also me, every time I count 😂
like a king my man!! and love star wars! love from iceland! and the one made for moie is better then the models xD
I believe that Phil had created 8 different creatures here. Each side of the face represented one creature. In other words he saved clay and time by doing only one half of a symmetrical concept.
Hi Adam, 3 years ago you when you receive the full Tauntaun you said that you would like to paint it, I hope it's still in your plan 😊
Sounds like it is... 8:17
I do the tootsie pop owl threeee a lot too haha. Great stuff in this video. Make great content, get money!
The "Three-hee" (@ 2:47) telling me Adam and I both grew up watching Tootsie Roll Pops commercials.
The other designs are interesting, but I think the design they chose for the movie was clearly the best choice. It still looks alien, but it kinda has a more friendly vibe that's I would imagine would be more compatible with humans and it looks much cuter than the others so the kids watching the movie would like it better as well.
Anyone else instantly think of Bill Hader’s tauntaun impression?
I like 3 best, the lightest one, had it been up to me, that’d be our Taun Taun.
Those four bust don’t look like they’d be on a creature that Han or Luke could ride. They look like something that would try to eat Han and Luke.😊it’s good that George went with the final design. It really looks like a creature that could be domesticated.
“And I thought they smelled bad… on the OUTSIDE “ ….. Tauntaun is still my favorite Star Wars animal… besides Wookiee’s…
They're All Very Very Nice for Alien Animal Life Forms!
Adam have you seen the Luke and Han on Tauntaun? 3rd party kit Aztec Dummy did a series of videos building the Han model it was very interesting to watch
#2 looks awesome!
With enough maquettes you could play one fun game of chess.
Beautiful collection for sure, would look great all together on a Hoth Diorama and or Hoth themed book nook.
Quick question, have you ever considered reconstructing a fully functioning Puppet Yoda from Empire to complete say collection you already possess?
Empire is my number 1!
Happy Thanksgiving, Adam! 😺
The final design is still the best one.
Know that is Awesome !
Now that is STAR WARS
Hey Adam big fan I live in Australia on our property I love watching your videos whenever I can my absolute favourite was the Hellboy gun keep up making awesome videos mate
The reason for the asymmetry is it would allow the artist to demonstrate two variations in one sculpt.
Brilliant, love this type of content, is the 4th one very similar to the Dug called Sebulba….?
Regal Robot has some truly fantastic and one of a kind stuff! However, I’ve always found there prices to be a bit too much. I’d like to collect some of there things, they are wonderful pieces of history. True artistry (that’s why they’re so expensive). But I’d be putting myself in a bad place monetarily if I bought one 😂
That is so amazing!!!
A couple of them look like they might have been repurposed in the iterative process in creating the podrace pilots.
How did you solve the icing problem...?
I’m betting those two that seem to be asymmetrical are just each two slight variations of each to cut the concept work time in half
Wow. Being brave enough to be confident puttung a shaky stop mo puppet was part of the magic too
You felt you were tricked by some trickery by art.
Was I the only person who finished Adam's "1...2...3..." when he was pulling the tauntaun busts out with "3. It takes 3 cuts to get the warm center of a tauntaun."
But what is the book you are looking at during the start?
The final evolution of the Tauntaun is Bill Hader's impression of it!
gorgeous
YOU ARE GREAT BEING A PERSON WHO LOVES WHAT HE DOES, AND ALWAYS EXPLORES WHAT HE HAS SEEN IN HIS LIFETIME'
Nice Video Sir thanks .
What book are you looking at Adam?
I'd love to hear the creators thought process of the anatomy of the creatures. Why fur not wool, why horns not tusks or antlers, why 4 eyes or 4 nostrils and so on.
It seems I'm not the only one with Covid, and stuck in my apt ..
Can you make a life size SOMETHING ?
We'd all love you for it ...
Lifesize Tauntaun would be fab but I'd settle for a Jaba the Hutt :)
Thanks.
I wonder if the purpose of the asymmetry was to show two concepts in one without when viewed from a different side - while avoiding redundancy, rather than to create a truly asymmetrical creature.
Love this video!! ❤️
What’s the book called? I’d love to get a copy!
Damn it Adam! With all your engineering skills why is your watch so loose??
Epic concept pieces 🤘🏼🇺🇲
My completely uneducated guess for the asymmetry of some of the heads is, that the artist wanted to show different proposals, variations, of the same base design.
I’d like to see Joe Johnston back in Star Wars .. in a B I G way! I heard there’s a vacancy coming up!
The one closest to Adam's arm looks a little like Sebulba from Ep 1
I love it when you look like the mad scientist. ;o)
wow the Artist Proof
What is the book your looking at at the beginning of the video?
He says the name at 17mins
7 mins
Thats great video
I bet they are asymmetrical so that they can present two versions of the same animal on the same head. It's not one animal with two different sides of its head. It's two animals presented on one piece.
Fun Fact: Tuantauns have an internal body temperature that is Luke warm.
Q: What’s the internal temperature of a tauntaun?
A: Luke-warm.
It would be fun if they evolved from an asymmetrical animal like a flatfish and ancient bones show every older version is less symmetrical
Thank you Ray Harryhausen(?/sp).
Bilateral paint. Leave one side unfinished. Just a thought. 🤔
"and I thought they smelled bad.. on the outside!"
Nice
很喜欢你的视频
"Every bump, wrinkle, hair, and horn". The evolving elements of my aging face. Sigh
Spoiler: one is just Jar Jar lol
I prefer to call it the "Hamill Camel."
👍😎 Way cool
Unfortunately, someday the artistry that people like Phil and Adam posses will be lost unless we continue to inspire and fund our STEAM programs.
💚💙
You are still a kid! :)
Can you imagine how more awesome the whole Hoth scene with Luke and Han on Tauntaun`s would be today if the creatures were done using CGI instead of stop frame animation, more fluid and realistic, that`s not to take anything away from the original scenes by any means, but it`s amazing to me, now 53 to look back to 1980 when Phil Tippet`s work was state of the art back then, George and Phil and the whole ILM guys were geniuses who brought inanimate objects and creatures to life, their work stands the test of time 42 years later and i dare say in a 100 years time their work and the whole Star Wars original trilogy will still be entertaining to new audiences as it was to me as a kid of 8 who saw Star Wars for the first time back in December of 1977 here in the UK, it`s heart breaking to see how Disney, Kathleen Kennedy and Bob Iger have all but destroyed the franchise for a hell of a lot of loyal fans, these 3 films were truly the golden age of cinema and of the Star Wars saga.