Classic horror ``Child's Play'' Innovative ideas and the secret of Chucky's birth

The presence of a stunt actor dressed as a killer doll

Nowadays, digital processing using CGI/VFX is commonplace, but when Child's Play was made, analog special effects, or SFX, were still the norm. The techniques used to portray the Chucky doll in the film varied, from a dummy doll that didn't move, to animatronics with countless wires strung around it, to a stunt double made up of an actor. A celluloid dummy was used to portray the innocent, normal Good Guy doll. Animatronics were basically used to portray the Chucky doll that showed its true nature and changed.

There are many more types of animatronics, ranging from walking ones with boom arms to battery-powered ones that allow regular movements. Apparently, five to six puppeteers are needed to operate an animatronic, with one person in charge of lip sync and jaw movement, and another in charge of arm and torso movement. With everyone working together to operate one puppet, it must require a great deal of coordination and harmony.

"Child's Play" (c)1988 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc.

Based on the script by Don Mancini, the special makeup artist Kevin Yeager was responsible for creating the three-dimensional killer doll. He made Chucky's subtle facial expressions and difficult movements that were thought to be impossible possible possible with animatronics, and made a huge contribution to the subsequent series. It can be said that he is the creator of Chucky.

However, there are scenes that are difficult to film even with Kevin's doll. In those scenes, a small actor who is a stunt double is actually used. Actor Ed Gale appeared in "Howard the Duck " (1986), executive produced by George Lucas. He played the main character Howard as a suit actor and became well known.

"Child's Play" (c)1988 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc.

In this film, "Child's Play," he appears as Chucky in a sequence that would be impossible for a doll, such as a burning scene in a fireplace. In the latter half of the film, the scene where his whole body is on fire is a stunt by Ed Gale. Ed Gale is 30 percent taller than a normal Chucky doll. Therefore, two types of indoor sets were prepared: a normal size and a 30 percent larger size for Ed.

The wonderful technique of combining puppets and stunts is something worth revisiting in this digital age.

<Reference>

"Child's Play <Final Edition>" (King Records) Audio commentary / video bonus / enclosed booklet

Text: Hayato Otsuki

Born in May 1993 in Sapporo, Hokkaido. Writer, editor. He started his writing career in 2016 and currently contributes columns, movie reviews, etc. to various media. By reading the creator's Arrival from a bird's-eye view, we incisively analyze and explain the original intention of the work. His writing publications include "THE RIVER", "IGN Japan", and "Real Sound Movie Club". My specialty is action and fantasy.

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"Child's Play <<Final Edition>>"

Blu-ray released on July 10th

¥10,000+tax

Regular version Blu-ray: ¥4,800 + tax

(c)1988 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc.