The action figure, so fondly remembered simply as a toy for children, has undergone an incredible transformation over the past decade as technology has turned plastic torsos, appendages and heads into miniature versions of celebrities from today’s movie blockbusters.
Burbank’s Gentle Giant Studios is at the forefront of the revolution, which has its roots in effects-filled filmmaking. The company has been using 3-D laser scanning for eight years to work with special-effects companies to capture the digital data needed to make computer models.
This same process ultimately can be applied to generating detailed molds for licensed products such as statues, busts and action figures.
“Since we have worked with everyone involved in the moviemaking process, the product has an authenticity and integrity that does not just come from an artist trying to work from photos or pictures,” says Karl Meyer, president of Gentle Giant Studios.
Over the years, Gentle Giant Studios has worked on such big-budget efforts as the “Spider-Man,” “X-Men,” “Matrix” and “Harry Potter” film franchises using a procedure that has become fairly routine.
With about 12 types of scanners in their arsenal, company technicians arrive at movie productions in their mobile scanning vehicles and digitize actors (in and out of costume), the props and entire movie sets.
Action figures take shape after the 3-D scan’s digital data is cleaned up and sent to a 3-D printer. Physical models are output to size, and a mold is made out of the scaled output and filled with sculpting wax to create an exact replica of the film character that can be used as a prototype.
Of course, actors and studios must be happy with the results before the actual product is sold. That used to be a laborious process, as egos often got in the way.
“The hardest thing to do when creating a human being [as an action figure] is getting their portrait right and getting it through the approval process,” Mr. Meyer says. “By using the outputs from the 3-D scanning data, there is no question that it is the person.”
One of the company’s clients, Toy Biz, the master toy licenser of all Marvel Comics movies, has made a name for itself by delivering incredible-looking action figures that also are fun to play with.
Its lineups have used laser scanning since the release of 2003’s “X2: X-Men United.” Children were able to play with multiarticulated, 7-inch versions of actor Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, Alan Cummings as Night Crawler and Halle Berry as Storm.
That success led to the massive project of capturing the likeness of hundreds of actors in the “Lord of the Rings” films to develop figures ranging from Legolas Greenleaf to Ringwraiths to Cave Trolls.
JoAnn McLaughlin, co-chief operating officer for the New York-based company, says it is important not only to capture the likeness of the actor, but also to capture the actor in the role he is playing.
“Just doing a laser scan of Ian McKellen and using it for [’The Lord of the Rings’] Gandalf would not have worked. He had numerous prosthetics on for the role; his nose and brows are very different from his actual face. When we sent Gentle Giant to scan him in New Zealand, we required [that] he completely look as his character in the film would,” she says.
Toy Biz has added innovations such as voice-recognition technology, sound bites, light-up features, changing facial expressions and up to 60 points of articulation on its various figures over the years.
The company continued its relationship with Gentle Giant Studios on the new “Fantastic Four” movie and has added plenty of tech features to its core lineup.
Some of the latest examples include:
m The Flame-on Human Torch ($13.99) stands 7 inches tall and combines multiple textures of translucent plastic to show actor Chris Evans engulfed in fire. It lights up and then blinks and talks when mounted on its funnel-of-flames base.
m The 18-inch-tall Clobberin’ Time Thing ($24.99) looks exactly like actor Michael Chiklis wearing his character’s bodysuit and prosthetics. It even delivers sound effects when hit, along with sound bites from Mr. Chiklis, who did a special recording session just for the toy. ($24.99).
The future of the action figure remains fixed upon melding computer technology and artistry as companies look for the perfect mix.
“The next step is the figures come to life,” Miss McLaughlin says. “They walk, they talk, they punch you in the nose — although it’s also still about aesthetics. The challenge will always be how to make action figures look real, look beautiful, but do more.”
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