Weirdo who likes fish and a good story. I write and draw and stuff, sometimes. sideblog of @fishgloom
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Iāve got nowhere else to ramble about this really, so here, have my opinions and predictions about all the The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance characters revealed in this article from Newsweek., under a cut because itāll be long. Uh, possible spoilers for a 40 year old movie? Or the series itself, on the off chance my theories are right? All photos can be seen in the article itself, this post is already long enough. Here we go.
Aughra
Canļæ½ļæ½ļæ½t say I wonāt miss her original voice, but Aughraās new VA sounds like sheās going to do just as well, and might even be better suited to the miniseries than the voice from the original movie would be-- a short 80s fantasy flick is a different animal after all. This Aughra has a more complicated costume, which I like, she looks very scholarly, and she also a bit taller, or least less stooped. Yellowās a good color for her. I just hope her trusty eyeās still removable.
Rian
I remember this character from back when the Henson Company threw a contest to find the author of a new Dark Crystal novel. He was the suggested protagonist, and it was around this time they fleshed out some things about the matriarchal Gelfling society, too. It looks like in this series he keeps his role as a Crystal Castle guard who discovers the Skeksisā horrid secret and kicks off everything that happens next. He does resemble Jen a lot, which I think is a good thing. The designers knew their baseline. That is a quintessential Gelfling right there.
Gurjin
But of course with a whole Gelfling society to focus on instead of just two of them, they have to decide what variation in Gelflings looks like. This is a great start. I trust this guy. He looks level headed and capable. Probably lets Rian do most of the talking.
Maudra Fara
She looks kind of young for a Gelfling clan matriarch, but maybe thereās a reason for that. There will be a war in this show (that the Gelflings have to lose in order for the movie to happen). Maybe her mother was killed in battle. Fara gives me a ālost one or both parentsā vibe.
Naia
Only says that she is Gurjinās twin. Her name is ringing a bell, was she in another spinoff thing? TDCās had a surprising amount of those.
Brea
I think Iāve seen her described as a āprincessā. But one who can read, based on a photo thatās out! I canāt wait to see Gelfling books. I donāt have many solid impressions of her right now.
Deet
I canāt. Sheās. Too cute. My gosh. She is just the right amount of fey and mop-topped and probably psychic. I love her and she reminds me of Kira, who was arguably a better Gelfling hero than Jen was (much love to Jen though).
I also appreciated hearing her speak in the trailer, because she used the same cadence as from the original film, same rhythms and word choices. It sounds like thatās a choice thatās been made across the script, which is a relief because it would have been really jarring to hear these characters speak the way modern screenwriters would make other fantasy tv characters speak, instead of that 80s puppet accent they need.
Tavra
Another weirdly familiar name. I donāt have any ideas about her role, really. I will say that on certain Gelfling ladies, you can see where the designers let the Gelfling baseline slip a bit. Some of them are just a bit too elfin and pretty for my tastes, I like them better when they sit further back in comfortably uncanny territory.
All-Maudra
Yes, this looks exactly like the Gelfing youād expect Helena Bonham Carter to voice (I did think she was doing a Skeksis though!). Kind of puts me in the mind of a medieval noblewoman; from the info, itās not clear if sheās literally the queen of all the clans, or just a figurehead, but she does function as a sort of diplomat to the Castle who specializes in dealing with the Skeksis... and from her clothes Iād say theyāre rubbing off a little bit. (Is it just me, or does her crown sort of mirror the decorative spikes on the Emperorās carapace?)
Oh no, what if sheās in cahoots? I canāt imagine consorting with Skeksis all the time is healthy for oneās morals...
Onica
Weirdly tricky to wrap my head around the idea of a Gelfling with curly hair and freckles, but Onicaās cute. Are they one of the sea sailing Gelflings?
Cadia
Gelfling with a beard. Alright. I guess thatās possible. Iāll bet heās Onicaās uncle or dad or something. I like his face, I hope I like him. He looks like comic relief.
Rekāyr
No idea what to make of this guy. Why is his name different than the others? Is he a leader of an army or some kind of lone wolf?
You know, there are likely going to be Gelflings on both sides of this conflict. the Skeksan status quo is bound to be seductive to at least some of them. Because why not make this story crueler by letting some Gelfling be complicit in their own kindās destruction?
Librarian
Ha. Nerd. I like his big hat. Which library are we visiting? The Scroll-Keeperās? Or someone elseās?
Kylan
Okay, this oneās just straight inscrutable. What is that expression? Why are their clothes weirdly plain and red compared to everyone elseās? Redās not really a Gelfling color. Am I just being paranoid or is there something up with this one?
They remind me of the Chamberlain and I have no idea why???
Seladon
No info here, either. Not listed as a Maudra, but is probably still powerful as Gelflings go. Perhaps connected to the All-Maudra? They seem related.
Ordon
Think I saw this guy in the trailer wielding a weapon. He has the look of an army man out to prove himself in battle only to valiantly sacrifice his life later. Suspiciously specific theory? Yeah, probably.
Mira
Another slightly too pretty Gelfling lady. Iām sure sheās fine. Next.
Maudra Argot
Utterly delightful grandma Gelf. This must be Deetās Maudra; I adore her floppy hat and classy silver embroidery. She looks like she would offer her loved ones milk and cookies one second and kick Garthim beetle butt the next. Iām sure she speaks her mind, look at that defiant little chin jut. I love.
Hup
Podling!!! Yes I am most pleased this show will feature Potato People. Nothing bad had better happen to Hup.
Baffi
Dave Goelz returns to play a shrieking fluffball! We canāt not have a fizzgig. Fizzgigs all look the same so naturally the crew could only think to give Baffi here a sick eyepatch to set him apart. I approve!
Okay, hereās what I know you scrolled all the way down for! Itās time for our favorite decrepit decadent dinosaurs, starting with...
skekUng, the General
I almost hope this is not in fact skekUng, because this is frankly disappointing. Who is this??? It doesnāt resemble the guy from the original movie even a little bit. I know he would have lost weight in some places and gained it in others, I know it might just be a bad angle, but I canāt find anything in common between the two faces. His teeth are in the wrong place, his beak is the wrong shape, thatās not what his smug expression looks like--I remember him being slightly desperate even when he was winning--he doesnāt have his grizzled hair, or, more importantly, his expressive bushy eyebrows-- I refuse to accept that this isĀ ājust what he looked like when he was youngerā. This is a totally different Skeksis! Who are you and what have you done with the General!
Even the armor is wrong! Itās supposed to be all bulky and beetle-like, like the Garthim, even with liftable wing-like parts, here it looks looselyĀ āinspiredā but still flat and nondescript. Everyone else looks so good and almost just like themselves, crew, what went wrong here? Am I missing something?
Maybe Iām just upset because Ungās the only one Iāve ever encountered in person. This isnāt even a bad Skeksis design, Iād actually like it quite a bit if it werenāt for the fact that itās not him.
The Collector
Hello, who is this! Iād almost mistake this charming forest ogre for one of theĀ āgood guysā if their Skeksis-ness wasnāt so obvious. I love the silver and grey fabrics, the beaded hood and the mossy necklace of bottles, filled with...herbs? Did some kind of incident with forest plants cause that fungus-like growth/scarring on their face? It adds so much to their facial silhouette.
There was a character in the spinoff manga called skekLach the Collector, but he looked completely different from this Skeksis, much meaner and more imposing. I doubt this one is the same character or even that they have the same name; it would seem that the Henson Company has declared the manga Collector an AU version and retooled the character concept into someone different. I see this Collector as being like a sort of deadly apothecary, brewing potions and poisons from specimens they collect beyond the castle. 10/10 wicked-witchy birb.
skekAyuk, the Gourmand
Still the same old palace chef, sitting there looking like a Renaissance still life gone wrong; his clothes are in much, much better condition though, and you can see his quite unsettling lower teeth which remind me of a pigās teeth, thanks a lot Henson Co. I know thereās no way you could have know I have a fear of pigs but now Iām all caught up in what I used to be scared the hog in the backyard would do if it caught me and moving on before I freak myself out, okay, very nice teeth there yes--
skekTek, the Scientist
Minus a few blood tubes, plus a few fangs, itās nothing but a pleasure to see this guy back from his, uh... fate, in the movie. And given that the Skeksisā precious vliya life fluid is looking like a huge plot point in the series, skekTek here is probably going to figure in the plot quite a lot himself, hooray! Heās going to be played by the inimitable Mark Hamill, who is probably enjoying getting to play slightly against type by being a subdued, schemy, sciencey villain rather than a loud hammy one, and it is going to be amazing.
The Hunter
Heard of this guy! skekMal, I think it was. Dresses in masks designed to frighten and confuse his prey--often Gelflings--during night hunting trips. The deep blue mixes well with the red to keep even his hunting outfit appropriately regal looking. The way I hear it, they have no idea he is in fact a Skeksis, and he has become the subject of terrifying stories told around the fire. Would not want to see this monster bearing down on me in the middle of the night, hellbent on claiming my skull as a hunting trophy.
skekSo, the Emperor
That is the most punchable face I have ever seen on a bird in my life.
But seriously, itās great to see old skekSo somewhere other than his deathbed. Canāt wait to see what despicable things he gets up to in his prime. He kind of reminds me of a knight, the same way the All-Maudra reminds me of a medieval lady.
(That is totally the face of someone who scarred a generation of children for life by graphically crumbling into dust, and knows it.)
skekZok, the Ritual-Master
Well done resurrecting this particular design, this oneās not easy! I always liked how his head looked almost disembodied in the red velvet cupola of his carapace, and they nailed that penetrating icy blue stare of his, too. They even added to the skull-like effect by giving him a handful of brown, skeletal teeth. Brr.
Base on what I remember of skekZokās voice, I wish Keegan-Michael Key good luck in reproducing it, although I trust him to bring his own flair to the character like Donna Kimball does with Aughra, too.
skekSil, the Chamberlain
Poor Chamberlain! You look as old and worn as you ever did, just slightly less bald. Oh, well, youāll survive. You always do.
Heās got a specific vulture hook to his beak that I hope they remade accurately, I canāt tell at this angle, but he looks pretty much just like himself so far, almost like he wandered off the 1981 set and onto the 2019 one. The most important part of his face is his eyes, so I desperately hope the crew put in extra effort where it counts for him, expressionistically. I think we can expect to see plenty of this slimy, conniving old bureaucrat bird in the series, and his trademark skin-crawling whimper too, which it sounds like Simon Peggās been practicing in a mirror. Iāve seen Pegg voice act before, so Iām confident heāll do a good job here. Have fun, Mr. Pegg!
The Heretic
Is that a huge nail through their...
...hey, wait a minute, I recognize this one!
Theyāre from an old piece of Froud concept art from early in production, when they were still nailing down a species look for Skeksis. It kind of puts me in the mind of a tropical fish. On the real puppet, though, it looks less like natural markings and more like face paint. Their clothes look un-Skeksis-like, too, more like urRu Mystic clothes than anything, although I doubt a Mystic would wear fur. Thatās the sign of the Great Conjunction hanging on their chest. What is the source of this oneās heresy? Did they go try to live in the Valley of the Stones after rejecting the Emperorās dominion over the Dark Crystal? Does it have anything to do with the nail in their head?
skekEkt, the Ornamentalist
And hereās the Castleās resident fashionista and interior designer, looking pretty well, considering. Better kept clothes and better done makeup, at any rate. I kind of miss the caked on powder, the slathered on gold foil on his beak, and the awful and ashy clumped mascara. But Iām sure he appreciates knowing this prequelās been very kind to him in the costuming department. Looking good, skekEkt.
skekOk, the Scroll-Keeper
skekOk didnāt have much to do or say in the movie, being just a shorter-than-average Skeksis who kept the records, when he remembered to. Iām glad to see theyāve updated his crocodilian face to be more expressive this time around, he was always one of my favorite designs.
Supposedly, Jim Henson once saw a childrenās book in which a crocodile was taking a bath in an ornate bathtub. Something about seeing a hulking reptile in such fancy surroundings made the wheels in his head turn, and the earliest concepts for what would eventually become the Dark Crystal were born. skekOk in particular brings that story to mind.
(I love his sardonic āoh really?ā expression in the article Iām looking at. These birds are going to have so much more room for their personalities.)
And then the article shows one single urRu Mystic:
The Archer
I believe their name is urVa. The Mystics tend to defend their Valley through song, but an extra line of defense canāt hurt, and archery can be a very meditative art. The Archer almost looks too active for a Mystic, his eyes just too wide and his fingers too nimble, but there must have been a time when the Mystics werenāt so ponderously slow and forgetful. Seeing the clear eyes and nostrils in their own beak (or beak-like mouth) really makes plain the connection between Skeksis and Mystics, when in the movie it came almost by surprise (but still made sense.) It will be interesting to meet a Mystic like this.
And thatās everyone in the revealed cast, leaving skekNa the Slave-Master and skekShod the Treasurer out of the original Skeksis, and all of the original Mystics, all un-accounted for in the article I read. The show will come out on August 30th. Fingers crossed itāll be a unique but great experience!
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originality < authenticity
I recently bumped into W.H. Audenās quote,Ā āSome writers confuse authenticity, which they ought always to aim at, with originality, which they should never bother about.ā It made me realize that most of my anxiety as a creator, and writer, stemmed from the need to be original.Ā
I used to feel genuine fear every time I found out my idea already existed somewhere else. I felt like an impostor. Every time I shared my idea, I went through a mixed state of dread and anxiety knowing it could be perceived as a rip off.Ā
The first time I joined writeblr, back in 2018, I bumped into various WIPs with the same concept Iām using for a novel Iāve been working on since 2017: Pacific Northwest Gothic // something lurking in the woods // haunted town. Ngl it made me feel like absolute shit. I was driving myself completely off the shits with one single thought,Ā Whatās the point of exerting myself on this WIP, if someone else is already writing it and Iām only going to be called a phony for producing it?Ā
And this is where authenticity comes in.Ā
None of my ideas are original. Someone out there is writing, or has written, your idea. But in a different way. Its your duty to produce a genuinely authentic final draft, thatās fresh and speaks of your creativity.Ā
To be blunt, thereās only two type of creators: Courageous creators and Cowards.Ā Ā
Donāt let fear stop you from producing your work. Write your story. Stop asking for permission and know your story is worth telling. There is absolutely no way [insert x] is going to be an exact replica of [insert y]. Unless if youāre right out stealing. Donāt do that.Ā
Stop trying to be original, itās practically impossible in this age. Sit down and nurture your WIP and write the characters and worlds, that are 100% unique to you.
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by Adam Marshall
instagram / website
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Illustrations by Danish artist Kay Nielsen for his BOOK OF DEATH series. Circa 1911.
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Dawid Planeta / mini peopleĀ Tumblr
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Madagascan Sunset Moth Chrysiridia rhipheus Source: Here
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TAKE BACK THE FALLS
A little stress-off pic, still working on big-big art for artzine..
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How much can you change and get away with it, before you turn into someone else, before itās some kind of murder?
Richard Siken, Portrait of Fryderyk in Shifting Light (viaĀ halflunar)
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Gil Bruvel, The Sleep Goes Away
www.artsytoad.tumblr.com
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tonightās thought: let your life be guided by the things that produce the purest secret happiness with no thought to what that may look like from the outside. feed the absurd whims of your soul and create with no audience in mind but yourself. cultivate the inner voice. what is poignant to you is what others will be moved by too. embrace what you love about yourself and the right people will come.
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Fogged in - Depoe Bay, Oregon - 9.14.18
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I am trying to work on something I enjoy when I can, but itās a secret project so I canāt talk about it very much.
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Schoolās not fun right now. I canāt keep taking this gamble every single term. It shreds my mental health.
And my scanner is still unusable.
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stayed up all night again. my short story is one day overdue and about 1/3 done.
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For anyone whoās ever wondered who theyād be in a 19th century novel, the wait is over: I put together a 19th Century Character Trope Generator!
If youād like to reblog, put your character in the tags because Iām curious.
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