For the role, the 8,500-pound animal wore a head mask constructed from chicken wire and foam, horns fashioned from flexible ventilation tubing, and a shaggy overcoat of palm fronds. The Tusken Raiders traveled by bantha in single file to hide their numbers, but in reality filmmakers had just one bantha at their disposal - played by a trained elephant named Mardji. Here’s a glimpse at some of the amazing stories and fascinating facts you’ll find between these pages when the book arrive May 25, 2018. The book includes a treasure trove of photos, fold out features to debunk some of your favorite special effects, and special sketch books that showcase the evolution of some very special characters, like Yoda and Jabba the Hutt, from concept to creation. It's a behind-the-scenes book for film fans all ages, for fans of monsters and aliens, and for fans of the saga.' “This is a book that I’ve always wanted to see. “I read those to death when I was a kid,” says Michael Siglain, creative director for Lucasfilm Publishing.

The latest book was inspired by the likes of The Art of The Empire Strikes Back and The Empire Strikes Back Notebook, and broader looks at film history and DIY effects like Dick Smith’s Monster Make-Up Handbook.

But more than simply a history of special effects throughout the saga, the book also provides insights for fans who love to study every behind-the-scenes feature. Told in chronological order from the cutting-edge practical effects in the beginning to the strides ahead in CGI for the prequels and beyond, by focusing on Star Wars creatures, the progression of filmmaking and special effects comes alive to showcase the way new achievements in moviemaking magic are shaped by all that came before. In his new book and first in a new series, The Moviemaking Magic of Star Wars: Creatures & Aliens, author Mark Salisbury takes readers on a 40-year journey, from the original trilogy to the newest film, Solo: A Star Wars Story. In the years since, Star Wars films have continued to rise to the challenge, combining CGI with practical effects, populating new worlds with puppets and costumes, and always delivering something new and unique that is unmistakably Star Wars.īut equally important to the magic onscreen are the behind-the-scenes tales that inspire new generations by unmasking the mystery and explaining the amazing techniques that make these creature creations come alive. To achieve these stunning visual effects, artists and creators working on A New Hope used a mix of every makeup, camera, and special effects method they could come up with, and continued to push the boundaries to fearlessly invent new techniques along the way. The new book, and first in a series, takes fans on a journey of film history, special effects wizardry, and the magic behind the myth.Įver since we first stepped inside the wretched hive of scum and villainy that is the Mos Eisley cantina, Star Wars fans have been enthralled with an endless galaxy of creatures and aliens beyond our wildest dreams.

Alien special effects