Monday, December 21, 2015

Anomalisa stop-motion puppets and sets on display...

If you're a fan of stop-motion animation, then you'll love this fabulous exhibit currently on display at ArcLight Hollywood for the unique new comedy drama, Anomalisa.

Anomalisa stop-motion animation exhibit at ArcLight Hollywood
Anomalisa stop-motion animation movie exhibit
Anomalisa stop-motion animation set exhibit
Anomalisa stop-motion animation set exhibit
Anomalisa stop-motion animation set exhibit
Anomalisa stop-motion animation puppets sets exhibit
This cool collection of puppets and sets from the animated movie directed by Charlie Kaufman and Duke Johnson were photographed in the cinema's foyer on December 18, 2015.

The Fregoli hotel reception set from Anomalisa
Fregoli hotel reception set Anomalisa
Fregoli stop-motion hotel reception set Anomalisa
Fregoli stop-motion reception set Anomalisa
This animated movie is based on the play written by Charlie Kaufman under the pseudonym Francis Fregoli, which is probably why this hotel reception set is 'The Fregoli'.

Hotel bar set and stop-motion puppets from Anomalisa
Anomalisa stop-motion animation hotel bar set
Anomalisa stop-motion animation puppets hotel bar set
Anomalisa stop-motion animation puppets
Anomalisa stop-motion hotel bar set
Anomalisa stop-motion piano player puppet
Hotel bar set Anomalisa stop-motion exhibit
David Thewlis voices the main character of 'Michael Stone', an expert author of customer service books who struggles with the inability to connect to people, until one night on a business trip he meets a stranger (voiced by Jennifer Jason Leigh) who changes his negative, desensitised outlook on life.

Stop-motion animation house set from Anomalisa
Anomalisa stop-motion set exhibit
Anomalisa stop-motion puppets
Anomalisa stop-motion puppets
Anomalisa stop-motion house set
Apparently the film was primarily funded via Kickstarter and the puppets were created with 3D printers.

It's always amazing to see stop-motion animation puppets and sets up close, all the details like the wood flooring, their miniature tailored clothes, the little martini glass and the bottles on the shelves of the hotel bar, so cool.

If you're a fan of stop-motion animation, be sure to also check out these Fantastic Mr. Fox puppets and set, these ParaNorman puppets and sets, these Coraline stop-motion animation exhibits, these puppets and sets for The Boxtrolls, these Frankenweenie production maquettes and figures and these  claymation figures from Pirates! Band of Misfits.

Anomalisa movie poster
Anomalisa movie poster

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Star Wars: The Force Awakens Captain Phasma and First Order Stormtrooper costumes...

After last night's World Premiere in Hollywood, the excitement is at fever pitch for the box office release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. I have my tickets for Friday (and Sunday), but seeing these cool 'Captain Phasma' and First Order Stormtrooper costumes on display at ArcLight Hollywood today makes me want to see the movie now.

Original Stormtrooper costumes from Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Star Wars Force Awakens Stormtrooper costume exhibit
Captain Phasma costume Star Wars Force Awakens
Star Wars Force Awakens First Order Stormtrooper costume
Star Wars Force Awakens Stormtrooper movie costumes
I've previously seen these costumes on display at this year's Disney D23 Expo out of their reflective display cases, but they were on raised platforms, so seeing them this close is a real treat and under this natural lighting you can also see the detail of the armour more.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens movie billboard
Star Wars Force Awakens movie billboard
Michael Kaplan was charged with revamping the iconic look of Star Wars Stormtroopers and who'd have thought giving Gwendoline Christie's Captain Phasma armour a reflective chrome sheen and cape would make it the classic design look so exciting and menacing.

Captain Phasma costume worn by Gwendoline Christie
in Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Star Wars Force Awakens Captain Phasma costume
Star Wars Force Awakens Captain Phasma costume
Star Wars Force Awakens Captain Phasma costume
Star Wars Force Awakens Captain Phasma chrome costume
Captain Phasma helmet Star Wars
Captain Phasma chrome Stormtrooper costume Star Wars
Captain Phasma blaster Star Wars
Captain Phasma Stormtrooper costume Star Wars
Captain Phasma costume Star Wars Force Awakens
Captain Phasma costume detail Star Wars
Captain Phasma costume Star Wars Force Awakens
In addition to seeing this costume at ground level and in different lighting, this exhibit also sports Phasma's blaster, which I'm sure fans will love seeing.

First Order Stormtrooper costume
from Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Star Wars Force Awakens First Order Stormtrooper costume
First Order Stormtrooper movie costume
Star Wars Force Awakens First Order Stormtrooper costume
First Order Stormtrooper costume Star Wars Force Awakens
Star Wars First Order Stormtrooper helmet
Star Wars First Order Stormtrooper helmet
Star Wars First Order Stormtrooper blaster
Star Wars Force Awakens Stormtrooper costume
Star Wars Force Awakens Stormtrooper costume blaster
Star Wars First Order Stormtrooper costume back
Star Wars First Order Stormtrooper costume detail
Star Wars Force Awakens Stormtrooper costume blaster
Meanwhile, there were probably hundreds of First Order Stormtrooper costumes manufactured for the new movie, but that doesn't make it any less cool to see up close and in person (and putting behind a display case makes it even more tantalising don't you think).

If you like these original film costumes, be sure to also check out Rey and Finn's hero costumes from Star Wars: The Force Awakens on display at D23 too.

Not long now. May the Force be with us all and please, no spoilers.

Monday, December 7, 2015

Doctor Who Last Christmas costumes and props on display...

With Jenna Coleman's 'Clara Oswald' getting a spectacular and distinctly Doctor Who send off this past weekend and Peter Capaldi soon to star opposite his wife 'River Song' in the 2015 Christmas Special, I thought it would be timely to look back at some fab costumes and props from 2014's festive episode, 'Last Christmas'.

Santa suit worn by Nick Frost and more costumes and props
from Doctor Who's Last Christmas
Doctor Who Last Christmas Santa costumes and props
Doctor Who Last Christmas Santa costumes and props
Nick Frost Santa suit Doctor Who Last Christmas
Santa suit elf costumes props Doctor Who Last Christmas
These original costumes and props, including Nick Frost's 'Santa Claus' suit and 'Ian' and 'Wolf' elf suits (worn by Dan Starkey and Nathan McMullen respectively), were photographed on display at the Doctor Who Experience exhibition in Cardiff Bay, Wales on April 20, 2015.

If you're a fan of Nick Frost, be sure to also check out his costume from the movie Paul.

Clara Oswald dressing gown costume worn by Jenna Coleman
in Doctor Who's Last Christmas
Clara Oswald dressing gown costume Doctor Who Last Christmas
Clara Oswald costume Doctor Who Last Christmas
In the Christmas Special 'Clara' and the 'Doctor' meet a dream manifestation of Santa and take on the alien Dream Crabs at an arctic base in the North Pole.

If you like Jenna Coleman's pyjamas and dressing gown outfit, be sure to take a look at more Clara Oswald costumes from her time as a Companion on Doctor Who.

Dream Crab mask prop from Doctor Who's Last Christmas
Dream Crab mask Doctor Who Last Christmas
Dream Crab victim prop Doctor Who Last Christmas
Dream Crab victim prop Doctor Who Last Christmas
Doctor Who Last Christmas costumes and props
These parasitic Dream Crabs, or Kantrofarri to give them their alien name, really owe a lot in their design to Alien's 'face huggers'.

If you're a Whovian, be sure to also check out more classic Doctor Who aliens, monsters and villains here on this blog.

I'm going to miss Clara and the Doctor's adventures, but am ready now for the next phase in the Time Lord's journeys through time and space.

Doctor Who Last Christmas TV poster