Alien Queen design was inspired by a Crustacean

Svanya
AdminPraetorianSeptember 07, 20123035 Views21 RepliesFound this the other day, really interesting. Apparently, a crustacean served as the inspiration for the Alien Queen design.
You can read the story here-->[url=http://arthropoda.southernfriedscience.com/?p=240]Did Phronima inspire the design of the Alien Queen?[/url]
[Center]Here are some pictures of the two side by side.[/Center]
[Center][IMG]http://i45.tinypic.com/64ii4k.jpg[/IMG][/Center]
[Center][IMG]http://i48.tinypic.com/rk7td0.jpg[/IMG][/Center]
Wat
September 07, 2012
Interesting article Svanya, and let's not forget that James Cameron is obsessed with seas and sea creatures, so it makes perfect sense that he might've drawn inspiration from sea creatures during his many expeditions out on (and beneath) the ocean. Most of them (if not all) funded by himself.
September 07, 2012
@Magellan9; Very true! Cameron is obsessed with the ocean, I never thought of that.
Wat
September 07, 2012
Here are some pics of his own submarine vessel;
[i]The deep sea challenger[/i]
Just add the *star trek enterprise theme*
[img]http://images.icnetwork.co.uk/upl/liverpoolecho/mar2012/2/1/james-cameron-deepsea-challenger-image-2-96726720.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/201203/r916177_9466580.jpg[/img]
[img]http://lh4.ggpht.com/-OYCpSXrzovg/T3Bgwo35C1I/AAAAAAAAB2w/Tjj4jE5CckQ/deepsea_challenger_sub_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg[/img]
September 07, 2012
Although there may be an element of truth to the idea that Jim Cameron was inspired by crustacean life, I don't actually recall any comments regarding as such. I do know that the Queen was inspired by termites as evidenced by one of Cameron's own concept art...
[img]http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/8/2010/02/500x_james_cameron_-_alien_queen_egg-sac__1_.jpg[/img]
...And the Queen was designed in concept through practicality means, as shown by this early "proof of concept" as per Jim's designs, using a crane, cardboard, styrofoam and two stuntmen...
[center][url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vtLK-DxdGc]Queen Alien Test[/url][/center]
September 07, 2012
@Snorkelbottom
That is correct, I just thought he might have (partly) taken inspiration considering his interest in sea creatures.
That picture is familiar, think I've seen it in the Alien Quadrilogy extras- photo gallery.
James designed the queen all by himself did he not?
As for the prototype practical queen, I also remember that from the ''making of aliens'' it's hilarious! The studio also built a small-scale queen for use in certain chase scenes.
September 07, 2012
Yes,
Jim designed the Alien Queen, Alien Warriors, Terminators, H-K Tank, Aerial H-K, H-K Bomber, H-K Trilobite, H-K Centurion, all by himself and contributed to the design of the Predator. Before pursuing a film career Jim, while driving trucks for a living got himself an engineering degree.
His interest in sea life may have been a contributing factor, but so too was affinity for engineering, and the best engineers are insects.
September 07, 2012
Wow did he design all of those things by himself? No wonder he's known as a demanding director considering his own determination, insight and knowledge about certain aspects (like engineering). He knows what he's talking about.
I did know that he used to be a truck driver prior to his film career.
September 07, 2012
@Magellan9. I heard somewhere that it was Stan Winston who designed the Queen?
Maybe he created it from Camerons designs?
http://blastr.com/2012/08/how-stan-winstons-alien-q.php
The poster was good though!
September 07, 2012
James Cameron def designed the the Alien Queen but it was Stan Winston and his team whom built it (including then employees at Stan Winston's studio Tom Woodruff Jr and Alec Gillis before they formed ADI). The relationship started on the production of the Terminator when Stan attempted to redesign the Terminator's endoskeleton before realising James Cameron's designs were not only functional but creatively effective. James Cameron and Stan Winston had a long standing personal and professional relationship.
It was also on a plane journey to/from Japan in 1986, after Stan Winston had been asked to redesign the Predator for the 1987 movie (at Schwarzenegger's request), that James Cameron said to Stan Winston "Ya know, I've always wanted to see something with mandibles".
September 07, 2012
@Snorkelbottom; Why can't you accept the Alien Queen is a delicious shrimp/lobster hybrid? WHY??
[IMG]http://i47.tinypic.com/o2t0l.jpg[/IMG]
Wat
September 08, 2012
ROCK LOBSTER! [url=http://youtu.be/oqcYH_A7feA]THE B52'S ROCK LOBSTER VIDEO REMIX[/url]
Wat
September 08, 2012
hehehehe! Nice one Snorky
[url=http://www.madmax4-movie.com/]Visit the Mad Max: Fury Road Forums today![/url]