Detailed Cloverfield Monster Pictures From 2008 Toy Fair

Cloverfield Monster toy

I was going through some of the great images from the toy fair for my other site when I came across these dandy pictures of the Cloverfield Monster toy. Along with the Indiana Jones toys this Cloverfield monster toy is one of the best from the fair. It helps when you present the Cloverfield Monster tearing up New York City in a killer diorama.

Hasbro has made the $100 Cloverfield Monster toy that is due for release in September. Along with the Cloverfield Monster you'll get some of the parasites, interchangeable heads, and the head of the Statue of Liberty. It's supposed to roar as well. Catch the entire photo gallery here!

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Cloverfield Monster Designer Neville Page

Cloverfield Monster picture

Neville Page has finally allowed io9.com to talk to them about his design for the recent movie monster, "Clover" (as he calls it) from Cloverfield. Right now, Page is working on James Cameron's Avatar, the movie adaptation of Watchmen, and J.J. Abrams' new Star Trek. But with the new Cloverfield Monster toy out, all we wanted to do was talk monster. And we got some good answers. Did you know Clover has more than one way to eat? Find out everything you want to know about the Cloverfield monster in our interview with Page.

What inspired your design? What sources did you draw from?

Well, once we had a direction the inspirations were definitely aquatic. Especially with the head. There is a very complex skeletal structure in there for eating, but you don't see it at all in the movie or toy. Clover also has a complex breathing system and more than one way to eat. But, again, it is hardly obvious in the film nor toy. Honestly, the biggest inspiration is less about one or two other animals, but rather inspired by biological plausibility in general (ignoring the fact that something that big could never live on land). Sometime the cart has to lead the horse and you make it cool first then justify it later, but I always try to give the creatures I design a "good reason" to be. As for the parasite, I knew that I wanted something thin and vertical and light. Kinda like a flea.

The monster looks ungainly and J.J. Abrams has said in the press notes that it's a "baby". Was that also part of the design? For it to look a bit clumsy?

I would have preferred that it be even clumsier. But then it can get comical. Yes, it was the intention that it is a baby and it is not only developing its strength, but also its land legs. The proportions are intended to feel a little like a new born deer or horse. Long, thin and slightly awkward.

Do you think there will be a sequel for sure? We know they've said that they are working on one.

I am only speculating here, but I do think so. There are so many other movies that have sequels that make you wonder why. So, if a motivation to make a movie is based on the box office success, then it seems very probable. I have asked, and I still don't know yet. Regardless, I am designing Clover 2 in my head. (...continue interview)

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The Man Behind The Cloverfield Monster. Phil Tippett Talks Shop

Phil Tippett is a living legend in the movie biz. Not only has he had a chance to work on some of the greatest movies in history but he is also one of the leading special effects wizards who has helped define the industry.

The San Francisco Chronicle takes a look at the works of Phil Tippett and his Tippett Studios which includes work on the recent J.J. Abrams monster flick Cloverfield and The Spiderwick Chronicles as well as greats Jurassic Park and the original Star Wars trilogy.

"It's not hard to find Phil Tippett, who is waiting upstairs in the main building of his special-effects studio in Berkeley. Just follow the trail of Tyrannosaurus rex models, which are scattered liberally among the memorabilia from scores of science fiction films he's contributed to since his groundbreaking work on "Star Wars."

"Little boys diverge into two groups: One goes into trucks and the other goes into dinosaurs," he says. "I went into dinosaurs."

Among the special-effects pioneers of his era, many of whom have settled in the Bay Area, Tippett is a bit of a dinosaur himself. The Berkeley native carried the stop-motion animation torch longer than anyone else, and was so despondent when computer graphics took over the industry in the early 1990s, that he became physically ill.

But a decade and a half later, his studio continues to thrive - known for its superior creature effects. Tippett Studio was responsible for the monster in "Cloverfield," and the studio teamed with Industrial Light & Magic to create various beasts for "The Spiderwick Chronicles." Tippett's resume already contained a toy chest's worth of science fiction geek icons, starting with the animated chessboard monsters in "Star Wars" and the stop-motion AT-AT snow walkers in "The Empire Strikes Back."

"Phil's like this big blustery guy - he's grumpy but he's also funny," says Spiderwick animation supervisor Todd Labonte, who has worked at Tippett Studio for almost a decade. "And then you start talking about work, and he has this great understanding of animation and animal behavior." (...continue)

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What's Aladygma?

I've had a few requests to look into the Aladygma rumors. /Film found a little bit of info on the possible Cloverfield sequel codenamed Aladygma. Knowing J.J. Abrams and his ability to defy truth seekers with his magical mystery box, Aladygma is probably something different and new.

If anyone is good at anagrams take a pop at "Aladygma." Abrams and Bad Robot are know for their anagrams and obscure references so let me know if anything comes up.

A Google search finds an Aladygma website with the text "Start date 00 | 11 | 22 | 88" and "coming soon next day?" in the bottom right. This site is probably unrelated but who knows with Abrams?

Now, if you spell Aladygma backwards, and who wouldn't, and switch a letter you'll get Amgydala. This is an actual word which is means "One of the basal ganglia in the limbic system of the brain thought to control motivation and emotion. It may also contain the memory of recent events."

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Cloverfield Monster Toy Pictures Released!

Cloverfield Monster Toy

About a month ago Hasbro announced that a new toy based on the Cloverfield Monster would be on sale for roughly $100 and it would be released in September (see Own the Cloverfield Monster for $100). However, no pictures were released of the Cloverfield monster or the toy at that time. The press release only described the Cloverfield monster as:

* 70 points of articulation and incredible life-like detail
* Authentic sound
* 14” tall
* 10 parasites
* Two interchangeable heads
* Statue of Liberty head accessory
* Special Cloverfield collector’s edition packaging

The Hasbro site has finally loaded up some images of the Cloverfield Monster (order here) finally which marks the first official Cloverfield Monster tie-in. A huge hat tip to Eddy at the Tagruato Blog for keeping an eye out for this and letting me know when they came up.

These pictures of the Cloverfield Monster showcases how ugly the beast really is. Oddly, the lung sacks that were on the side of the head (seen in the movie quite well) are not visible or are on this model painted gray.

The Cloverfield Monster toy also requires 3 AAA batteries to help fuel the Cloverfield Monster Roar (sample Cloverfield Monster roar here) that is allegedly available on the toy.

Grrrrrrr.....

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Picture of the Cloverfield Monster

Picture of the Cloverfield Monster

Here is an enhanced image of the Cloverfield Monster, aptly nicknamed Mr. Grumpy Pants by some fans. This image is from the latest Cloverfield commercials which shows the Cloverfield Monster in all its glory.

Well, kinda. The clip is only a second or two but other than the end scene at Central Park it's one of the best videos of the Cloverfield Monster.

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Lost - The Economist

Lost episode "The Economist" features a Sayid-centric storyline which follows his percise targeting of individuals (with a gun) in a flash-forward. Back on the island, Locke's hostage may be the key to getting off the island, so Sayid and Kate go in search of their fellow castaway in an attempt to negotiate a peaceful deal.

Sayid gets caught up targeting a woman named Elsa in Berlin. He ends up falling for her and tries to warn her off the danger. Instead, he is met with a double-cross. Here are some screen-caps to help you digest the episode. Spoilers warning!


Sayid prays (l), his first target (r)


Sayid on the golf course


Berlin (l), with snow and Fernsehturm (large TV tower),
Naomi's picture of Desmond and Penny (r)


Naomi's braclet. Reads: " N. I'll always be with you. R.G"


Daniel does a test (l), Hurley is locked up by Locke in the bunkers (r)


Daniel's experiment. A small rocket launched from the boat
arrives at Daniel's exact location, only 31 minutes late.


In Ben's room Sayid sees a secret room entrance (l). Inside
is Ben's stash of clothes, papers, money, and more.


Drawer full of foreign currency.


Sayid finds Ben's passports.


Ben's Swiss passport.


Kate and Sawyer talk in Ben's room. Star charts and unique
masks adorn the walls.


Game room with pinball machines hold Sayid and Ben prisoner (l),
Elsa finds out Sayids secret.


Elsa (l) and her bracelet (r) which looks familiar
to Naomi's bracelet.


Sayid gets a helicopter ride out of town (l), and seeks medical
aide at a Berlin vet.


Ben treats Sayid. He is the one with the list of people for
Sayid to kill. He claims it is to help protect those left on
the island.

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