Move over Grogu: A24’s The Legend of Ochi’ puppet is now officially the cutest creature in new-look featurette

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Summary

  • Resurgence of practical special effects, including puppetry, animatronics, and CGI in films like The Legend of Ochi.
  • Cute characters like Grogu in The Mandalorian are capturing public hearts with puppetry and animatronics.
  • Ochi, a primate-like creature in Carpathia, is brought to life through detailed animatronics by director Isaiah Saxon.

Thanks to a revival of an old technique from 80s and 90s films, we can once again appreciate the charming qualities of fascinating creatures. A recent sneak peek for the upcoming A24 fantasy adventure, The Legend of Ochi, showcases how puppetry, animatronics, and CGI were utilized to create the lovable title character.

In the legendary Star Wars trilogy and timeless movies by Amblin Entertainment like Gremlins, E.T., and Jurassic Park, as well as films produced by The Jim Henson Company such as The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth, the skillful use of practical special effects – such as puppetry and animatronics – took center stage. However, this traditional art form seemed to vanish from cinema, largely due to the surge in visual effects technology.

In more recent movie series like Star Wars, films such as Dungeons and Dragons, Five Nights at Freddy’s, M3gan, and Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, have effectively utilized puppetry and animatronics. Characters like Grogu from The Mandalorian, Babu Frik, the Anzellans, Loth-Cat from Ahsoka, Nee’l and Kh’ymm from Skeleton Crew, and Jarnathan from Dungeons and Dragons have won over audiences, and the upcoming character ochi is expected to do the same.

Who and what is Ochi?

In the magical realm of Carpathia, you’ll find an adorably furry creature boasting a blue face and soft, orange coat – a unique species known as Ochis, resembling a charming blend of Grogu and Gizmo. These fascinating creatures are a primate-like species native to the world of Carpathia. They communicate through melodious warbles and have an omnivorous diet, with the abundant Carpathian box beetle serving as their primary food source, as revealed by A24’s associated field guide.

Regrettably, the species has been relentlessly pursued and tormented by people from Carpathia, often referred to as Cossacks. This is believed to stem from the species being falsely accused of biting a young lad named Razvan Patrenko, who tragically passed away following the incident. In the ensuing months, the species came to be known as “The Vampire-like Apes of Carpathia”.

In a conversation with Variety, director Isaiah Saxon shared that the primary influence behind Ochi’s initial character design stemmed from the endangered primates living in the secluded mountains of China, known as snub-nosed golden monkeys, as well as several species of tarsiers and lemurs.

What is The Legend of Ochi about?

In a forthcoming A24 fantasy film set in a family genre, a girl named Yuri (Helena Zengel), living in a secluded village on the imaginary island of Carpathia, is our protagonist. Raised by her father Maxim (Willem Dafoe), a hunter, to be wary of the forest creatures known as ochi, Yuri challenges his teachings upon finding an injured orphan ochi. Determined to help this creature reconnect with its family, she embarks on a journey filled with magic.

As a child, I discovered the deepest secrets lay within nature, and I aim to pass on that sense of wonder, that anything is achievable. This sentiment is mirrored in The Legend of Ochi, a film predominantly shot in picturesque locations across Romania. Notably, scenes were filmed on the Transfăgărășan Road – one of the world’s most beautiful mountain drives – as well as the Apuseni Mountains, Carpathian Mountains, and Bâlea Lake, which are said to be some of the primary filming sites.

How director Isaiah Saxon and a team of puppeteers brought Ochi to life

After refining the primary character design, the director collaborated with John Nolan Studios in London to create the animatronics for Ochi. From the very first prototype, even without facial expressions or fur and with five puppeteers hovering above, it had an undeniable life-like quality as Saxon described to Variety.

On their latest post about X, the director showcased videos displaying the exceptionally lifelike animatronics of a baby ochi’s face and hands, as well as the first comprehensive puppet test. They praised Karl Gallivan at John Nolan Studios for creating these remarkable animatronic features.

In a recent interview, it was disclosed that not one, but five skilled puppeteers are managing the baby ochi puppet. The art of puppetry and costume performance has been expertly directed by Peter Elliott, a renowned primate choreographer, who is known for his extensive experience in creature movement direction within the film industry. Previously, Elliott has worked on productions like Return to Oz, Gorillas in the Mist, and Tarzan.

Saxon shared with Variety that almost all the scenes featuring Ochi are real, in-camera performances, except for a few CG stunt sequences. He emphasized that while every shot of Baby Ochi required some level of visual effects (VFX), we didn’t enhance the animatronic Ochi performances with CG. Instead, he explained that we had to digitally remove the puppeteers and change the backgrounds where they originally blended in.

By employing puppetry and animatronics, as seen in A24’s “Death of a Unicorn” and “The Legend of Ochi,” and continuing the trend with Lucasfilm productions, it is hoped that the resurgence of traditional practical effects will persist, gracing both small and large screens for an extended period.

In the movie, which is under the direction of Isaiah Saxon, we find Helena Zengel, Emily Watson, and notably, twice Willem Dafoe, in leading roles.

The Legend of Ochi is released in US cinemas on Friday, April 25, 2025.

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2025-03-28 20:05