Guide to Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: A Q&A with FX Expert Mike Seymour
Summary
In this Q&A session with Wired, Mike Seymour from fxguide.com discusses the visual effects work on the film “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” specifically focusing on the character of the Eurumpid and its intricate mating ritual. Seymour explains the process of bringing the creature to life through the use of a giant 18-foot puppet, animation studies, and the collaboration between animators and puppeteers.
Table of Contents
- New World of “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them”
- Bringing the Eurumpid to Life
- Collaborating with Animators and Puppeteers
- The Importance of Puppeteers on Set
Introduction
“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” takes viewers on a journey to the magical world of Newt Scamander, a British magizoologist who arrives in 1926 New York with a case full of magical creatures. In this Q&A session, we speak with visual effects expert Mike Seymour about the process of bringing these creatures to life on the big screen, specifically focusing on the character of the Eurumpid and its unique mating ritual.
Q&A
New World of “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them”
Q: Can you tell us a bit about the world of “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them”?
A: “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” takes place in 1926 New York and follows the adventures of Newt Scamander, a British magizoologist who has been expelled from Hogwarts. He arrives in New York with a case full of magical creatures and trouble ensues as some of these creatures escape and wreak havoc on the city.
Q: Who is Newt and what is his role in the story?
A: Newt Scamander is a magizoologist who has a deep love and understanding of magical creatures. He is a bit of an outsider and doesn’t always fit in with society, but he has a big heart and is passionate about protecting these creatures.
Bringing the Eurumpid to Life
Q: Can you tell us about the Eurumpid and its unique mating ritual?
A: The Eurumpid is a magical creature that Newt Scamander must deal with in the film. It is a kind of a magical, horny rhino beast on heat known for its unique mating ritual. One of the highlights of the film comes from just five words in J.K. Rowling’s original script which elegantly state, “Newt does a mating dance.” The path from this to the screen involved an 18-foot fiberglass puppet, choreographer, animators, and the lead star Eddie Redmayne actually acting out complex video selfies and then sending them to director David Yates.
Q: What was Eddie Redmayne’s involvement in bringing the creature to life?
A: Eddie Redmayne was completely committed to working with the character team as early as possible. He actually filmed himself with some help from his choreographer from “The Danish Girl” for his side of the mating ritual and then sent that to director David Yates. The Eurumpid’s animation approach was actually typical of a different way they worked with characters in this film.
Q: Can you explain the process of bringing the puppet to life on set?
A: The Eurumpid puppet was built before principal photography and was used on set to allow Eddie Redmayne to rehearse with the giant puppet and work out his interactions with the creature. Once the framing and timing was right, the team was then able to remove the puppet and film a clean plate with just Eddie and then add in the character in post-production with a superb interaction with Newt.
Collaborating with Animators and Puppeteers
Q: Can you talk about the collaboration between animators and puppeteers in bringing the creatures to life?
A: In “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” the animators worked closely with puppeteers on set to produce believable performances and interactions between the actors and creatures. The Eurumpid was not the only creature to use this approach of using puppeteers on set. All of the cast of creatures in the film, from the Bowtruckle to the Young Marmit, were brought to life through the collaboration of animators and puppeteers.
Q: How did Framestore’s previous work on the Harry Potter films influence their work on “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them”?
A: Framestore’s work on creating characters like Dobby in the original Harry Potter films helped them to create outstanding character work in “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.” This legacy of creating magical characters was evident in the way they brought the Eurumpid to life through a combination of puppetry and animation.
The Importance of Puppeteers on Set
Q: Can you talk about the importance of puppeteers on set and their role in creating believable performances?
A: Puppeteers play a crucial role on set in creating believable interactions and performances. Led in this case by Robin Guyve, the puppeteers for the creatures in “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” were able to produce terrific interaction for the actors that allowed for believable performances to be captured. This approach not only benefits the visual effects of the film but also helps the actors to have something tangible to interact with on set.
Conclusion
“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” showcases the amazing collaboration between animators and puppeteers to bring magical creatures to life on the big screen. Through the use of an 18-foot puppet and animation studies, the Eurumpid was able to be brought to life in a unique and memorable way. This film is a testament to the power of collaboration in visual effects and the importance of puppeteers on set.
