Smaug Alert

By W. R. Miller on April 10, 2014

Dragons are born in New Zealand. It’s true! Thanks to the talented artisans at Weta Workshop, these amazing creatures come to digital life with astonishing detail.

Now, Weta has published a book that celebrates the creation of Smaug the Terrible, from Peter Jackson’s adaptation of Tolkien’s The Hobbit.

Here’s a page in which Weta Digital Senior Texture Artist Myriam Catrin talks about making the dragon look real:

Smaug1

Veteran Weta concept designers Gus Hunter and Paul Tobin provide commentary in this gorgeous spread:

Smaug2

Textures Supervisor and Creative Art Director Gino Acevedo talks about the brief from director Peter Jackson:

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On Saturday, April 19, come to the Weta Cave in Wellington, New Zealand, at 1:00 p.m. Three of Smaug’s creators will be signing copies of the book Smaug: Unleashing the Dragon.

Joe Letteri – Senior Visual Effects Supervisor, Weta Digital
Eric Reynolds – Animation Supervisor, Weta Digital
Myriam Catrin – Senior texture Artist, Weta Digital

Otherwise, copies of Smaug: Unleashing the Dragon can be ordered from here.

Bad, bad dragon, that Smaug.

Smaug4

Does anyone care that he’s an endangered species?

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Posted in Dragons, News | Tagged Eric Reynolds, Joe Letteri, Myriam Catrin, Paul Tobin, Peter Jackson, Richard Taylor, Smaug, Smaug: Unleashing the Dragon, The Hobbit, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, Weta Digital, Weta Workshop
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