Here are some thumbnail sketches I've done for the WOW project, as well as concepts/ideas behind them. Feel free to comment, or point out where I deviate from your ideas for the film.

Currently ( 13th Jan ) they are no more than thumbnails, more reference for me than any real attempt at a 'look' for the film although I am happy with a few of the basic concepts here. I'll work on more detailed sketches when I get inspired by a design. If you have any artwork that would help or these sketches inspire you, please send me so I can keep the same style/direction. As I said previously, I currently have a better idea of what I DON'T want than what I want ( no watertowers on stilts! ).

I'll try to update this page as often as possible, and I'll send copies on paper once I have a big enough bundle.

These are some attempts at Martian creature design. I've based them on octopi to get away from the usual humanoid look. I've also tried to add some evolutionary history to them ( so they are 'imperfectly' designed ) so we can add 'quirks' to their behaviour to make them more interesting. I like the tentacle arrangement, and the lack of body. I suggest they evolved from a 9 legged octopus type creature, where 2 sets of 3 tentacles withered and became more dextrous and used as 'hands'. The tentacles can be used independantly of each other or, for finer control ( or more strength ), each set of three can wrap round themselves to create a 2 fingered 'hand' with a opposable 'thumb'.

The head still needs a lot of work. I'd like to show the Earths stronger gravity pulling on the body/head and making it sag ( like an octopus out of water ), but not enough to incapacitate it. Something to show that the Martians don't belong here.

Understanding the Martians help think how they would solve technical problems. Before I started work on this, I though a 3-legged machine would be awkward and impractical to build. However, on reflection, 3 legs are far more stable than a 2-legged machine. A tripod is unstable when moving but very stable when static; a 2-legged arangement is unstable when moving AND when standing still.

I did cheat in this case by coming up with a look I like THEN justifying it ( form before function ).

• Original sketch ( 2 legs at front )
• Alternate design ( 2 legs at front )
• Prefered design ( 1 leg at front )
• Top view ( 1 leg at front )
• Tentacle detail

The cylinders have to retain some streamlining to travel through the atmosphere, but I am thinking of ways to break up the surface while keeping the design organic and streamlined. I like the combination of the rounded shapes from the Calimari ships in Star Wars, and also the weird 'random' scoring and angular designs from the alien fighter in Independance Day. Of course, the idea is to eventually come up with some design as unique as those ones, rather than copying them.

Some rough design was required, as the greater Martian cylinders do have to fit into the machines.

• Colour study
• Small sketch
• Greater Martian cylinder with thrusters and iris opening

The war machines are the most widely known Martian machines, so I've done a little R&D on them to help with the other machine design.

I like the arrangement of the legs, they allow for the 3 legs to be anchored close to each other ( as opposed to being placed at each corner ) so the head had very free movement, while also keeping clear of the body. The head is covered by a hood-like shield, but the underside should be unprotected. As the POV will most often be looking up at these machines ( and because they are far from the ground ), it makes sense to but the breathing machinery underneath to protect it from the elements.

I've gone for a basic 1 leg at the front and 2 at the back as a prefered direction of travel, but it would be nice to surprise the audience ( and to reinforce the alien nature ) to have these machines move in an expected direction THEN suddenly scurry sideways ( or some other unexpected direction ), so you get the feeling you aren't safe whatever direction the machines are moving in.

There needs to be a basket and other details added.

• Prefered design
• Feet detail
• Articulated trilobyte-like body
• Head and tentacles ( sounds like a dandruff shampoo for aliens! )
• Bending down to pick up human
• Flexible head
• Standing showing tentacles
• Front view showing asymmetry

Larger war machines?

• Detailed sketch
• Alternate detail
• Top and underside

The heatray is the main weapon of the Martians, although I also see the technology being adapted by the maker into a sort of cutting/welding tool. I like the idea of it using some sort of filament which heats up and the heat projected through a lens. Making the invisible beam ( made visible, like a laserbeam by smoke and dust in the air, and with heathaze) heat up slightly before causing damage gives a nice look ( red to orange to blue-white ) as well as allowing the machines to use the cool beam as a laser targeting device- except it will feel warm. The beam should also be instantaneous ( not a laserblast like in Star Wars ), something the original film did which I though added to the power of the whole thing.

Unlike the War Machines, I see the Makers being pretty low to the ground. The legs have to be moved to the edges of the body to allow then to move freely ( because they are short, they need room to take larger steps ). To keep the front clear, I've tried both a 1 leg and a 2 legs at the front design. The breathing aparatus should be on top of the machine, to protect it from the ground ( Mars being very dusty ).

I'm not too happy with either design.

• Maker with 1 front leg, 2 back legs
• Maker with 2 front legs, 1 back leg

Haven't worked out any basic ideas for the carriers- should they carry the cylinders in tentacles or place them on a 'holding pen' like a truck?