This is how the bizarre yet beautiful creature created by Guillermo del Toro in “The Shape of Water” is completed.

The world's best actor to portray creatures

The silhouette of the merman was inspired by the sculptures of Greek gods. After exploring subtle differences in the size and position of the eyes, as well as the color tones, the design was completed, and then each part was entrusted to a specialist. The eyes of the merman were handled by Japanese special makeup artist Tsuji Kazuhiro, who also worked on the eyes of Abe Sepian (another aquatic character) in Hellboy. By layering multiple layers of translucent film, the eyes were given a jewel-like sparkle, and CG was used for their movement. In all, it took a full three years from the start of the design to completion.

Of course, the most important thing is the movement of the merman. He is the man the mute heroine falls in love with, and he has to capture the hearts of the audience. Although CGI was used for small details such as the movement of his eyes, the main focus was on special effects makeup and suits, so it all depended on the talent of actor Doug Jones. Doug is an indispensable character in Guillermo del Toro's works, having played Abe Thepian in the aforementioned "Hellboy," Pan with the sheep-like head and the Pale Man with eyes in the palms of his hands in " Pan's Labyrinth ," and a ghost in " Crimson Peak ." He is the leading expert when it comes to tall creatures.

“The Shape of Water” (C)2017 Twentieth Century Fox

How would an aquatic creature move if it came onto land? This was left to Doug Jones, who portrayed the character's graceful movements as if he were floating underwater throughout the film. In one scene, for example, he presses his palm against the glass of an aquarium, his movements are clearly different from humans, and the habits of the merman are expressed in detail. The love scene between the merman and the heroine, which Guillermo took the most care in directing, is sure to shine beautifully on audiences who have already fallen in love with the merman. And in one scene where the merman and "film" are connected, Guillermo del Toro's love of monsters and film creates an ultimate chemical reaction, deeply moving the audience.

Text: Hiroaki Saito

Became freelance in 1997, contributing movie reviews and interview articles to various media such as movie magazines, theater pamphlets, and movie sites. The column is constantly updated on Yahoo! News. Star Channel's program "GO! Theater" introduces the latest released works.

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(C)2017 Twentieth Century Fox