(I saw this excellent video before I went on vacation; after I got back I received three requests to post it. And so I shall!)
My Lupine Life is a Canadian webseries about Louis Pine (geddit?), a 14 year old boy convinced he's a "genetic werewolf" who inherited the condition from his Dad. Believing he's due to transform, Louis spends the rest of the series driving his friends and family crazy. But in episode 12 the comic tone shifts and we discover he just might be right after all...
I've cued the clip to start with the onset of the transformation, but you might enjoy watching from earlier on, or from the first episode.
First, let's give some well-deserved praise--the filmmakers were obviously working on a limited budget but their imagination puts most Hollywood productions to shame. This is a lesson on how to do a good low-budget werewolf transformation. There's just the right amount of cgi (Louis's stretching hands and feet), combined with high-quality prosthetics (dig that scary wolf head!) and creative touches like Louis's fangs popping his braces. And let's not forget the terrific sound work, ranging from bone-crunching TF sounds to that ear-cracking crazed wolf roar, though those shouldn't distract us from Aron Tomori's performance as the unlucky Louis. Though I wish we could have seen more of the muzzle-growth than a silhouette, this is one time I'm more than prepared to make the budget excuse.
What I most appreciate is that the filmmakers went the extra mile. Since Louis transforms into a full wolf, the filmmakers could have just used the quick-and-easy CGI of shows like True Blood. Instead they chose to emphasize prolonged body-horror, and for that we are grateful. Now let's see if enough of you watch to inspire a sequel!
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Blind Pilots (Satyr/Goat Transformation)
Today's video is a transformation classic...which is why I was reluctant to post it, since I assume lots of TF fans are already familiar with the music video of "Blind Pilots," a song by the band Cooper Temple Clause. And so they are, but they've made multiple requests to re-see it, so I've decided to post "Blind Pilots."
This gloriously idiosyncratic video starts with a bloke stepping out for his bachelor party. Before he does, his fiancee places a necklace (with a bell talisman) on him. The bachelor party devolves into a drunken mess, and the talisman turns the would-be groom into a real satyr. Reveling in booze and girls, this latter-day Pan doesn't notice the continuing effects of the talisman until it's too late and he turns into a complete party animal...
It's a terrific concept joined with fluid special effects (an excellent melding of CGI and prosthetics), a good-looking guy, and classical mythology. The guy happens to be none other than a pre-fame Michael Fassbender, which unfortunately means a bimbo-load of fangirls have left heaps of idiotic comments displaying their ignorance of even basic mythology. "Blind Pilots" is hardly difficult to understand or even that strange; it's a moralistic allegory. The groom acts like a self-centered boor, breaks the trust of his friends and future wife, and becomes a party god. And while that might look cool for a while, acting like an animal has its consequences...
P.S. The making-of video for "Blind Pilots" is also online, though the video quality is bad. If you're interested, here are parts one, two, and three.
This gloriously idiosyncratic video starts with a bloke stepping out for his bachelor party. Before he does, his fiancee places a necklace (with a bell talisman) on him. The bachelor party devolves into a drunken mess, and the talisman turns the would-be groom into a real satyr. Reveling in booze and girls, this latter-day Pan doesn't notice the continuing effects of the talisman until it's too late and he turns into a complete party animal...
It's a terrific concept joined with fluid special effects (an excellent melding of CGI and prosthetics), a good-looking guy, and classical mythology. The guy happens to be none other than a pre-fame Michael Fassbender, which unfortunately means a bimbo-load of fangirls have left heaps of idiotic comments displaying their ignorance of even basic mythology. "Blind Pilots" is hardly difficult to understand or even that strange; it's a moralistic allegory. The groom acts like a self-centered boor, breaks the trust of his friends and future wife, and becomes a party god. And while that might look cool for a while, acting like an animal has its consequences...
P.S. The making-of video for "Blind Pilots" is also online, though the video quality is bad. If you're interested, here are parts one, two, and three.
Friday, September 7, 2012
Campione! (Werewolf Transformation)
The anime Campione! features a werewolf transformation from the villain of episode 6. He's elderly and vampiric-looking, and thus not my ideal transformee, but the TF is quite fine. I've cued the video.
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Kid Hulk (Age-Progression/Growth Transformation)
This cute short features a bullied tyke showing his tormentors why they won't like him when he's angry. Since the actor playing the Hulk is at the very least a teenager, the transformation also counts as age progression...
Reader Contributions VIII: The Art of Whiteflamek
Before I went on vacation, I received a message on TF-Spot from the artist Whiteflamek, asking if I could mention his artwork. Though late, I'm happy to do so--his Furaffinity page can be found here. His most extensive work is a many-paged horse photomanipulation TF, viewable here. Like most of the stallion transformations featured on this blog, it's NSFW. Thanks again for contributing Whiteflamek!