Animatronics By The John Nolan Studio.

Concept art and the finished puppet/suit/rig by Rick Baker for An American Werewolf in London (1981).

The first time I saw it I was about 10. That transformation scene: man. You could almost feel it happening to yourself. In later years though, whenever I would think of the film, the first images that popped up were of those misty moors at the beginning of the film. Tense.

Concept art by H.R. Giger and William Malone for the latter’s unmade movie, DEAD STAR (1992).

William Malone: “In 1992, I was asked to develop a Sci-Fi project for Imperial Entertainment. I came up with a script called Dead Star. The story revolves around the finding of the “Thanatron”, a device conceived on a planet in deep space called Daveros. The huge machine (designed by Giger and standing some thirty feet high) was designed as the ultimate machine in the domain of death. It was capable of reanimating the living and opening a gate to the world of the dead (specifically Hell). Over-eager astronauts set the corrosive (to the mind) machine into motion and unwittingly release Satan aboard the ship.”

Early designs and sketches of Wallace and Gromit by their creator, Nick Park.

On my blog I occasionally feature first/early versions of famous characters, as that somehow fascinates me. The first seed, the first spark. A few lucky lines on a piece of paper.

Concept art for WALLACE AND GROMIT by Nick Park.

Concept drawings by David Hall for (what became) Disney’s ALICE IN WONDERLAND (1951).

Concept art for Hanna-Barbera’s WACKY RACES (1968) (and a sheet with color models).

Italian artist, Lorenzo Mattotti—illustrations of THE SEVENTH SEAL, Dante’s DIVINE COMEDY, HARRY POTTER, and ALICE IN WONDERLAND.

A Marilyn Monroe robot, by Japanese inventor, Shunichi Mizuno. 1982.

No thank you.

(Images from the great site, Cybernetic Zoo.)

Behind the scenes of ALIEN (1979).

Concept art for the beings from John Carpenter’s IN THE MOUTH OF MADNESS (1994). Not sure about the specific artists, but the creature designs were done by the KNB EFX Group, founded by Robert Kurtzman, Greg Nicotero, and Howard Berger.