Weta's 10 Latest TV Articles

Yellow Eyed Penguin for Polyphon [2009]

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 12:04:43 +1300

Weta got the opportunity to contribute to the project by creating a very life-like Yellow Eyed Penguin double. The NZ Yellow Eyed penguin is an endangered species, so it was definitely not an option to use a real bird. Even if you could find one.

Several people worked hard on the penguin, Frances Hawker and Pietro Marson did much of the construction and the finishing. Greg Tozer sculpted, Shaun Foote moulded and Sourisak Chanpaseuth added colour.

The anatomy of a Weta penguin

Foam latex skin on a fibreglass core was crowned by a vac-form (hard shell) head housing the servos and other animatronic components.

The neck is posable (bends and stays bent) and the wings and feet are also articulated.

The penguin "breathes" thanks to inflatable bladders fed by a tube. All the internal components are accessed via a very convenient and totally invisible "service flap" under the penguin's belly.

Keeping up appearances

The plumage is artificial fur, carefully painted to achieve a realistic look. The team spent many hours getting the colour gradations and hues just right. A penguin isn't just black and white you know... as you can see in the pictures.

Finally the bird was adorned with real feathers. Not from another endangered Yellow Eyed Penguin, we hasten to add, but with feathers voluntarily discarded by other birds and re-purposed for the penguin.

The WotWots [2009]

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 08:55:30 +1300

Launched 2009

the WotWots is an enchanting pre-school series that follows the adventures of two adorable siblings from outer space, SpottyWot and DottyWot. This delightful pair of enquiring minds have come to Earth to explore and to marvel at the extraordinary diversity of life on the blue planet. The show celebrates this joy of discovery and demonstrates the positive values that are the building blocks of a true and enduring friendship.

Season one was set at a Zoo and in season two of the vibrant, energetic and colourful learning-based series from Pukeko Pictures (which first aired in Aug 2011), DottyWot and SpottyWot land on a farm and meet strange and friendly farm animals and then travel to the sea shore. There they discover the weird and wonderful creatures that live on the beach and in the sea; encouraging the love of animals and awareness of the extraordinary diversity of life on the planet.

Success has not been long in coming to the WotWots having received three separate Parents' Choice Foundation Awards in the past year and being broadcast in over 90 territories including the US, UK, Australia, Canada, Korea, Middle East and Poland. American Greetings Properties recently signed on for the worldwide licensing and merchandising rights to the popular preschool property.

Connect with us on Facebook - www.facebook.com/wotwots
Download colouring sheets and more at www.wotwots.com

Writers

Martin Baynton, Terri Baynton, Theo Baynton, John Carr, Janice Marriott, Peter Salmon

Trooper Tom [TBA]

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 08:57:58 +1300

Half Boy. Half Robot. All Hero...

Trooper Tom (working title) is an animated action adventure series aimed at six to nine year-old boys. The sci-fi animation is set on an epic stage with Shakespearean villainy, a wry sense of humour and action. Half human, half robot, Trooper Tom is described as a futuristic Pinocchio.

The series is jointly led by Richard Taylor and Martin Baynton of Weta Workshop and Chapman's creative director Keith Chapman.

Tommyknockers [1993]

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 21:41:29 +1300

1993

This was a sci-fi television feature based on a Stephen King novel. Richard and Tania and their friend, Grant Wallis built 4 dead aliens and an animatronic dog for this show.

Xena [1995-2000]

Sun, 02 Nov 2008 00:06:11 +1300

1995-2000

This high adventure television series, filmed in New Zealand, was supplied with effects from Weta Workshop for two years. When Xena started up as an offshoot of the Hercules series, Weta was thrilled to be taken on to produce a variety of characters for this show.

One of the coolest things about working on Hercules and Xena was the opportunity to work alongside some of the more unique characters within the film and television industry, including the biggest and smallest actors in the world.

Here's a clip to take you back to the golden age of Xena:

Xena intro clip

Young Hercules and Amazon High [1998]

Sun, 02 Nov 2008 17:01:11 +1300

1998

Weta Workshop did a small amount of work on two shows for Pacific Renaissance, the production company for Hercules. Weta made a variety of creatures, including a two-headed dragon-dog (that could literally breathe fire), an animatronic sabretooth tiger, and Ruff, who appeared in two incarnations.' Little Ruff and Big Ruff were baby and adult versions of the same character, played by performers in suits.' Little Ruff was played by the wonderful Verne Troyer.

Jane And The Dragon [2005]

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 09:28:06 +1200

2005

Weta Workshop has partnered with New Zealand author and illustrator Martin Baynton, to create a Television series based on Martin's best selling books, Jane and the Dragon. They have joined forces with Canadian childrens' television producers Nelvana, in a co-production to deliver the show to market.

Martin Baynton has an international reputation as a writer and illustrator of children's books with titles published by major English and American houses including Walker Books, Penguin, Scholastic and Greenwillow. He has more than 30 published titles. He also works for the stage, radio, TV and film as a producer, director, screenwriter and script editor. He is the director of Limelight Studios, a TV production company which has just completed making their first pre-school animation series Fifty The Tractor based on Martin's best selling book series.

The content of Jane and the Dragon is a perfect fit for Weta Workshop's first foray into children's television production. Drawing on the skills of the Weta Workshop design team, they are bringing the same creativity and eye for detail to the world of Jane that was used in the creation of The Lord of the Rings film trilogy.

Their work has been combined with the latest digital effects technology, developed by a visual effects team supervised by Trevor Brymer, to deliver a beautiful and stunning new aesthetic for animated television.

The Fairies [2005]

Sun, 02 Nov 2008 16:57:23 +1300

2005

The Weta Workshop design crew worked on a fun project, creating concepts for Australian children’s television show, The Fairies.

After completing season one, The Fairies approached Weta to give some fresh ideas for the second season. We came up with some set and prop designs, working on various concepts, from big mushrooms, pink fairies to giant oversized flowers!

To learn more about this television show, please visit www.thefairies.com.

Forgotten Silver [1995]

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 20:57:23 +1300

1995

This mockumentary is in the best tradition of film spoofs and hoaxes. Forgotten Silver, directed by Peter Jackson and Costa Botes, fooled audiences, with the help of Weta's work, into believing they were watching long-lost footage that proved the innovative genius of pioneer NZ filmmaker, Colin McKenzie.

Weta Workshop made the models and props that were highlighted throughout the footage.

If you are a film enthusiast and haven't yet seen this unusual piece of New Zealand film history, do try and get a look at it and judge for yourself whether you would have seen through this hoax.

Here's a clip to give you a taste:

Wright Brothers? What Wright brothers...

Mrs Piggle Wiggle [1994]

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 21:34:07 +1300

1994

The wacky world of this television show required Tania and Richard to build a talking, dancing tree. This was shaped out of urethane foam, with branches consisting of big plush leaves and filled with hats. The actor wore the suit for many hours a day, with his face protruding through the knothole while doing various comical performances.

Weta also built an unusual miniature of the town in the television show, including an upside down house where Mrs Piggle Wiggle lived. This was a great deal of fun and the clients loved the stuff when they turned up on set.

Weta's 10 Latest TV Articles

Yellow Eyed Penguin for Polyphon [2009]

The anatomy of a Weta penguin

Keeping up appearances

The WotWots [2009]

Launched 2009

Writers

Creators

Director

Producers

Trooper Tom [TBA]

Tommyknockers [1993]

1993

Xena [1995-2000]

1995-2000

Xena intro clip

Young Hercules and Amazon High [1998]

1998

Jane And The Dragon [2005]

2005

The Fairies [2005]

2005

Forgotten Silver [1995]

1995

Wright Brothers? What Wright brothers...

Mrs Piggle Wiggle [1994]

1994