Deviation Actions
Another new episode of "Jim Henson's Creature Shop Challenge", another new journal with my thoughts about it.
This new episode features the contestants creating and building a fantasy creature that has been slain and mounted on the wall of a wizard who is played by Donald Faison. So far the contestants have been working in teams but now for the first time this season each contestant must work on their own, which is an interesting new thing for now we can see how each contestant work on their own and see if they are better working alone or in a group.
In the Creature Shop there is a large wall with several animal head models which will be the model for their creature and each contestant chose one animal to serve as their model.
Of course as you know by my past reviews, I’m going to jump straight into the screen test and my thoughts on each creature.
SPOILERS BELOW!
Ben: Sherman Oaks Myer
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I liked this character. ^^
I liked how it is a mix of both plant and animal which was the reason it was slain and mounted on the wall. A grounds keeper mistook him for a stump and chopped his head off. The idea of an animal that can be a tree at the same time was really creative. Brian Henson pointed out Sherman’s right eye started blinking it blew away the sense of illusion which now re-watching it again seems to make sense. A cutoff part of a tree wouldn’t move or blink around like that.
Nevertheless, it was a good creature with a brilliant sculpt design and was the one who was praised highly by the judges making Ben the winning creature designer.
Ivonne: AAAGGH!
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No joke. His name was “AAAGGH!”
Really!
I liked the idea of Ivonne’s creature, but she had problems when building him such as the mechanisms not fitting properly so then she had to result in destroying the first sculpt completely. Eyes need to be seen in order to see emotion. You cannot see the eyes and like they said the eyes are the most expressive in the entire face. A huge problem if the creature was to be in a film. Also when Ivonne admitted she did not finish the ears…uh-oh. Word of advice, if they don’t notice it, don’t say anything. But then again that would be dishonest so never mind.
It had problems, but I still liked the idea she had.
Unfortunately these problems were the cause of her elimination. So Ivonne is out of the challenge.
Too bad.
Jake: Fenris
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I liked this character’s personality. I thought it was really funny how he awoke speaking about some incident which caused him to never eat marmalade again and then did a quick little “Hi!” XD
He seems like one of those dopey characters which can be really fun to watch in films. Though I do have to agree with Brian Henson about the horns and how horns cannot be bouncing around while it’s moving. Still how the face looks and how his personality was like would have made him a very funny character.
Russ: Minotaur
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Now this character…a huge bull with a high pitched voice. Never would have thought about that and it was funny! XD
I loved how Russ put in a bit of mythology with the Minotaur horn having the engravings, “Slave of Poseidon”. Now for those who do not know their myths, Poseidon was the one who sent a white bull to King Minos so he could sacrifice it to the sea god. However Minos kept the bull and sacrificied a less worthy bull. This pissed Poseidon off so he made Minos’s wife fall in love with the white bull and then you get the Minotaur. Clever shout out to the original myth!
After hearing the judge’s constructive criticism of how cutting off the head of a Minotaur will only give you a regular bull’s head I thought, “Mm, yeah that’s a good point.”
Maybe Russ could have given it another horn somewhere or something.
Robert: Jasper
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The Hippie creature out of all the creatures and the party planner. After hearing the constructive criticism from the judges, they do bring up good points. Since the character was supposed to be a stoner, it would have made more sense for him to have half-lidded eyelids instead of wide-eyes.
I was also surprised by how his voice sounded like. I thought it was going to be lower but I guess I was wrong. But I am impressed how Robert took a boar’s head and sculpted it to create a creature that doesn’t resemble a boar in the slightest.
Melissa: Oyson
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I liked this character’s personality. I liked how he mentions the Loch Ness monster and then complains about her popularity. XD
Also, “I need to yell at someone!”
That’s probably my favorite line. XD XD XD
I think it could look aquatic if Melissa had painted it better and given it shiny and glossy texture so that it would look like the slick wet texture of…I guess a whale’s skin or a dolphin’s skin probably. Eyes were blank and the mouth didn’t close properly. Good character idea and personality, but problems with the design. Maybe it would have been better if Melissa came up with the idea of a wolf character since Beth Hathaway mentioned it was more like a wolf shape.
Lex: Chupacadabra
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I did like this character’s backstory about how she became a head on the wall. A teleportation spell gone awry, though I did not notice the part about the eyes until the judges pointed out this information. Just like mentioned above, there aren’t many details in the eyes which will make it unrealistic and make the audiences realize “Oh it’s a puppet”.
Realism and believably is a big thing for these sorts of things.
END SPOILERS
So that's what happened.
Next episode will feature a creature brief which the contestants will have to create a huge animal character and make it come to life with lights. Can't wait to see how that turns out!
Aah! The bird-like creatures remind me of Skeksis!!!!
...OK, I'll stop now. 
Giveaway (Not Mine)
Update + Lion King thoughts
Updates and Second Account
Hiatus from TLK fandom
My favorite parts/moments of all were the "-And I never ate marmalade again...Hi." Of Fenris, the "deathly stare" of Ivonne while going to choose her head sculpt while saying "YOU took my bear!"... Sherman Oakmeyer's acting, and in general, the interpretation of the rest of the characters in the screen test.
This was a witty and funny episode, and I am really sorry that Ivonne had to leave. Yes, I found myself wishing she hadn't mentioned her "foam only ears"...If they don't ask, DON'T SAY ANYTHING...It may be dishonest, but not THAT much, and could give you time to figure out something and remain in the contest!... :
The references Russ made of the original minotaur myth were smart and beautiful to watch as well, even in what seemed in fact a big bull's head. The droopy horns and the greek inscription helped much I think!
Chupacadabra deserves a mention for his/her incredibly hilarious backstory!...That wronged teleportation moment which left it headless...poor thing!
Brilliant episode...
And a brilliant review from you, my friend!
I can't wait to see the next one!...
Hold on...did you just mention BIG BIRDLIKE CREATURES?...
Yeeeeah...I believe I'm thinking the same as you. I'll not be able to see anyhting like THAT as any other thing that a "skeksis"...
