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Starship Troopers (1997): Arachnid Warrior Bug, animatronics testing by Amalgamated Dynamics

An effective use of the full range of tools available at the time: animatronics, practical models, CGI, stop-motion... The DID (Dinosaur Input Device) armature by @tippettstudio.bsky.social enabled stop-motion animators to produce computer animation without learning animation software programs.

How it works? Like Harryhausen, but with 1997 tech. Btw that Nolan's Odyssey actually makes me want to track down all the Harryhausen movies, so I can watch all those extraordinary classics again. 🗡️🦴

This infamous "Bug Test" by @tippettstudio.bsky.social was used to pitch the effects to producers. It was shot by cinematographer John Hora (Gremlins) on July 21 1994 in Vasquez Rocks, California, and allowed to determine the overall size of the warrior bug. Not final effects ☝️

Then there was a dream creative team. Brain Bug, art by Steve Burg ↖️

King Phil Tippett (on the right).

Another interesting effects aspect is how convincing the bugs are. Both the physical props, puppets, etc and the cgi swarms. Very well executed stuff. And in the service to an impressively satirical story.