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JUNE 11, 2004 at 9:26 PM
Posted by GERI
Source: USA Today/MSNBC
It would seem that there was magic in creating a flying half-bird, half-horse for Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and USA Today and MSNBC both have information on the process.
In the USA Today article
they discuss how it took two years of computer work to create Buckbeak and that even he had a stand-in.
"The hippogriff was probably one of the most complex creatures we've ever done (in the three Potter films)," Potter producer Mark Radcliffe says.
In the MSNBC article, which includes video, you actually get to see how they created each of his feathers and how they all moved on screen via computer.
"We spent a lot of time down at the zoo," says CG supervisor David Lomax, "going to bird sanctuaries to study their movement and what they looked like, as well as taking many pictures of horses and studying horses in fields."
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Points: 141
Amy_345123 says:
Wow.............. ! long time :-P
Posted Jun 12, 2004 at 4:34 PM EST
Witch
Points: 599
wanabee weasley says:
It took two years to make Buckbeak! It was definately worth it. Buckbeak looked amazing. The things people can do with computers is great. I think it was a good idea to study birds and horses to see how they acted to make Buckbeak as real as possible.
Posted Jun 12, 2004 at 4:47 PM EST
Witch
Points: 645
Stage Violence says:
Who do they have working over at Warner Brothers that it took them two years to do Buckbeak? LOTR had 100 times as much computer generated items and they were much more efficient.
Posted Jun 12, 2004 at 4:48 PM EST
Squib
Points: 131
felton luva says:
I was reading something on a site that said Buckbeak was made up of complete hydraulics.
Posted Jun 12, 2004 at 4:58 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 82
that70switch says:
Buckbeak looked fantastic! The animators were brilliant! Just brilliant...
Posted Jun 12, 2004 at 5:37 PM EST
Ravenclaw's Heiress
Points: 3930
PhoenixFire says:
Buckbeak looked awesome in the movie! I had some doubts when I first saw a picture of it, but once I saw it on screen it was amazing...two years...wow....
Posted Jun 12, 2004 at 6:16 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2000
Lupin's cool says:
they did a really good job on Buckbeak,he is a great creature and he is way beautifull.
Posted Jun 12, 2004 at 6:19 PM EST
Astro Zombie
Points: 2601
Fallen Bomb says:
Those are quite interesting. I liked them both. I think it's amazing of the detail they use for just one animal. I wonder how they'll do the dragons in GoF.
Posted Jun 12, 2004 at 6:20 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1269
Leira the Hobbit says:
I thought Buckbeak was brilliantly done in the movies. Of all the special CGI affects I have seen in movies, this was one of the most realistic! Well done. I hope they are working on the dragons for the fouth movie now!!!
Posted Jun 12, 2004 at 6:31 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 439
mrs_r.weasley says:
I was worried to see how Buckbeak would look. I honestly thought it would look too fake, but they did a great job with him!
Posted Jun 12, 2004 at 7:05 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 330
alicia marie says:
I love Buckbeak! He was so pretty, i love the scence when they are flying over the lake even though it reminded me of the movie titanic... it just made me smile!
Posted Jun 12, 2004 at 7:16 PM EST
Mad Cow Breeder
Points: 8481
Lord Of The Cows says:
Buckbeak is sooo cool, i wish i knew how they created him, also are they using the same thing to create the dragons.
Posted Jun 12, 2004 at 7:31 PM EST
Weird Sisters Lead Singer
Points: 5747
Annie Potter says:
Two years of work must have took quite a lot of work to create! It's very good that people are taking their time out to create things for HP!
Posted Jun 12, 2004 at 9:18 PM EST
Obliviator
(Moderator)
Points: 8471
Prof. Dish says:
After watching POA for the 3rd time today, I noticed how hard it must have been to make! It looks so realistic on film, even when he is interacting with Harry and others. When we saw earlier pictures of him it wasn't as good as it turned out on the screen.
Posted Jun 12, 2004 at 10:00 PM EST
Squib
Points: 126
Ninina says:
Really!!??
Two years!!??
I did not know that!
Buckbeack was exactly the way i imagine him!!
I guess it's not that hard to imagine a hipogrif eh?
Posted Jun 12, 2004 at 10:29 PM EST
Mad Cow Breeder
Points: 8481
Lord Of The Cows says:
Buckbeak was so amazing its incredible what the computer can do. Im realo ,pleased with the result of him, I always wondered what he would look like.
Posted Jun 12, 2004 at 10:41 PM EST
Witch
Points: 707
i_love_tom says:
I never knew they put so much effort in making buckbeak. Buckbeak looks so real though. I wanna have a hippogriff as a pet now!
Posted Jun 13, 2004 at 4:38 AM EST
Mad Cow Breeder
Points: 8481
Lord Of The Cows says:
Buckbeak rocked sooo much
he was great. And the scene with him and harry flying over the lake and the castle was just
They did a great job on him!, Im so plesed Iam alive to See Harry Potter.
Posted Jun 13, 2004 at 5:03 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 12
malee33 says:
I can't believe it took two years to make Buckbeak. That's crazy, but they made him look so real. It's unbelievable! Well, not anymore, haha.
Posted Jun 13, 2004 at 12:51 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 81
rubio chicka says:
wow that was worth two years to create the thing. it loves magnificent. i would hae never expected it to look so authentic. I'm just am in awe of it.
Posted Jun 13, 2004 at 1:15 PM EST
Mrs. Ronald Weasley
Points: 2606
hplover234 says:
Wow, Two years! Thats a long time. Buckbeak was perfect in the end. Just how i pictured him to be.
Posted Jun 13, 2004 at 2:32 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2142
Red and Black says:
I reckon the crew did a fantastic job on buckbeak; you couldn't tell whether it was real or not!
Posted Jun 13, 2004 at 2:41 PM EST
Points: 6760
Zarry Sotter says:
Wow, I didn't know it took them 2 years! That's a lot of time for one, erm, thing.
Haha, they spent a lot of time watching birds and horses? Interesting. It really paid off though...Buckbeak looks amazing!
Posted Jun 13, 2004 at 2:43 PM EST
Brightest Witch
Points: 3111
hermione_rox. says:
Hey, I think Buckbeak was really cool and the graphics were great! 2 years of time was well spent!
Posted Jun 13, 2004 at 3:05 PM EST
Squib
Points: 128
tamar says:
It's just amazing i love buckbeak!!
I love the film!!!
I don't wanna stay a muggle!!
I'm filling this comment so i'll get more points!
you can stop reading!
jodjg dijg dihg eirun kvh eojld.
iu irut wkal boih 4y5gu d;of kdfj.
fog iidfh ghu odri kxj jhk sfae.
well i'm done...
bye!
Posted Jun 13, 2004 at 4:10 PM EST
Squib
Points: 128
tamar says:
And yes the werewolf wasn't really good...
oh well...
Posted Jun 13, 2004 at 4:15 PM EST
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