Vintage STAR WARS V: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK Teaser Trailer with Ralph McQuarrie Concept Art

Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back teaser trailer by Ralph McQuarrie
Source

Watch the original Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back teaser trailer made of concept art by Ralph McQuarrie!

Every Friday I feature artwork from a classic of science fiction cinema. This week's "Flashback Friday" post is on Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980).

Lucasfilm rereleased The Empire Strikes Back: Teaser Trailer last week and described it this way:

"Watch the original teaser trailer for The Empire Strikes Back, which is notable for featuring solely concept art by Ralph McQuarrie but no film footage. Among the McQuarrie paintings seen are the Rebel hangar on Hoth, Luke on a tauntaun, Darth Vader aboard a Star Destroyer, Cloud City, an Imperial probe droid, and Luke's final duel with Darth Vader."

Back in 1979, before the second Star Wars movie opened, the studio created an early teaser trailer. Since the live-action sequences weren't ready they used pre-production artwork from McQuarrie. This was before the first Empire Strikes Back Trailer was released on August 15, 1979.

Ralph McQuarrie was a professional illustrator who worked on Hollywood films and television like Battlestar Galactica (1978), Star Wars V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982).

Check out the video after the jump.



BleedingCool speculated that this could be leading up to the first teaser trailer for Star Wars Episode VII. I've heard there are a lot of concept artists working hard on it, so they could be getting us ready for a teaser made of concept art.

See more of Ralph McQuarrie's work (for sale) at http://dreamsandvisionspress.com (formerly RalphMcQuarrie.com)

Click on the links if you want to see more of Ralph McQuarrie's workand Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back on my blog.

What do you think of the concept art? What do you think of the trailer? If you've seen Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, what did you think?

Official Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back Synopsis:
After the destruction of the Death Star, Imperial forces continue to pursue the Rebels. After the Rebellion's defeat on the ice planet Hoth, Luke journeys to the planet Dagobah to train with Jedi Master Yoda, who has lived in hiding since the fall of the Republic. In an attempt to convert Luke to the dark side, Darth Vader lures young Skywalker into a trap in the Cloud City of Bespin. In the midst of a fierce lightsaber duel with the Sith Lord, Luke faces the startling revelation that the evil Vader is in fact his father, Anakin Skywalker.
Directed by Irvin Kershner
Cinematography by Peter Suschitzky, BSC
Production design by Norman Reynolds
Starring: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams, Anthony Daniels, David Prowse, Kenny Baker, Peter Mayhew, Frank Oz
Release date: May 21, 1980
Official Site: http://www.starwars.com/explore/the-movies/episode-v
© Copyright 1980 LucasFilm. All rights reserved

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STAR WARS EPISODE VI: RETURN OF THE JEDI Speeder Bike Concept Art by Joe Johnston, Nilo Rodis-Jamero and Ralph McQuarrie

Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi concept art by Joe Johnston

Check out Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi speeder bike concept art by Joe Johnston, Nilo Rodis-Jamero and Ralph McQuarrie!
 
Every Friday I feature artwork from a classic of science fiction cinema. This week's "Flashback Friday" post is on Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983).

For the third Star Wars film, Return of the Jedi, George Lucas asked the artists for a "rocket powered scooter. "

The name was eventually changed to "Speeder Bikes." Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) and Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) rode these in the Speeder Bike chase through the forests of Endor.

Nilo Rodis-Jamero designed a blockier Speeder Bike while Ralph McQuarrie gave a much sleeker look to the vehicles. After the designs were given to the modelers, like Joe Johnston, the final designs for the speeder bikes bore little resemblance to the concept art. But they're still cool.

Rodis-Jamero is a professional concept artist and costume designer who worked on major motion pictures like Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980), Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) and Alice in Wonderland (2010). McQuarrie was a professional film illustrator who worked on Star Wars (1977), E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982).

Check out the rest of the images after the jump (click to enlarge).


These production illustrations were originally printed in the Return of the Jedi Sketchbook. While the artists aren't identified in these images the book gives credit to both illustrators.
Update: Thanks to the manager of Joe Johnston's Facebook page for giving me the correct attributions for these illustrations.

Top-Joe Johnston, Bottom-Nilo Rodis-Jamero

Top- three large sketches-Rodis...two smaller at left-Rodis, two sketches to the right of them- McQuarrie

Top two-Rodis, Bottom sketch-Johnston

Joe Johnston

Joe Johnston

See more of Ralph McQuarrie's work at RalphMcQuarrie.com (now dreamsandvisionspress.com). See more of Joe Johnston's sketches on Facebook at facebook.com/JoeJohnstonSketchbook

Images via WhatIfModelers.com

Click on the links if you want to see more of Nilo Rodis-Jamero and Ralph McQuarrie's work and Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi on my blog.

What do you think of the concept art? If you've seen Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi what did you think?

Official Star Wars Episode VII: Return of the Jedi Synopsis:
In the epic conclusion of the saga, the Empire prepares to crush the Rebellion with a more powerful Death Star while the Rebel fleet mounts a massive attack on the space station. Luke Skywalker confronts his father Darth Vader in a final climactic duel before the evil Emperor. In the last second, Vader makes a momentous choice: he destroys the Emperor and saves his son. The Empire is finally defeated, the Sith are destroyed, and Anakin Skywalker is thus redeemed. At long last, freedom is restored to the galaxy.

The film is set three years after Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. The Galactic Empire, under the leadership of the villainous Darth Vader, is in pursuit of Luke Skywalker and the rest of the Rebel Alliance. While Vader chases a small band of Luke's friends—Han Solo, Princess Leia Organa, and others—across the galaxy, Luke studies the Force under Jedi Master Yoda. But when Vader captures Luke's friends, Luke must decide whether to complete his training and become a full Jedi Knight or to confront Vader and save his comrades.
Release date: May 25, 1983
Directed by Richard Marquand
Cinematography by Alan Hume, B.S.C.
Starring: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams, Anthony Daniels, David Prowse, Ian McDiarmid, Kenny Baker, Peter Mayhew, Frank Oz
Official Site: http://www.starwars.com/explore/the-movies/episode-vi
© Copyright 1983 20th Century Fox, LucasFilm Ltd All rights reserved


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Dr. Seuss Inspired E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL Concept Art by Ralph McQuarrie

Check out E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial concept art by Ralph McQuarrie!

Every Friday I feature artwork from a classic of science fiction cinema. This week's "Flashback Friday" post is on E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982).

The late artist Ralph McQuarrie worked on dozens of classic films, but there's one film that he only worked on briefly. His only lasting contribution to E.T. is the mothership, but it's brilliant.

McQuarrie was a professional illustrator who worked on Hollywood films like Star Wars, Battlestar Galactica and

Check out the rest of the images after the jump (click to enlarge).

McQuarrie said on his site RalphMcQuarrie.com(now DreamsandVisionsPress.com), "Steven (Spielberg) had a requirement for a space ship for E.T. He was at ILM one day and I talked with him for about five minutes - he said he would like to have ET’s space ship to look like Dr. Suess designed it. I thought that was kind of interesting, very off the wall.

"I made about five or six sketches of space ships for it. He looked at them and picked one out and I made a painting of it. They built the model at ILM and looked almost exactly like the painting with all the features and the retractable lights, it was amazing. They did a beautiful job.

"I suggested that it take off with a sort blue flame as it lifted into the evening sky, that it be very quiet, then a sound of a jet in the distance would come in as it disappeared. They did all that I think."

 Here's what it looks like in the final film.

He also did some designs for the alien which I can't find anywhere.

Here's what he said about them. McQuarrie said, "Steven asked me to do some concepts of E.T. Carlo Rambaldihad sculpted what was really E.T., but Steven was tweaking little wrinkles. He had me making sketches of E.T.’s, and I made a whole lot of off the wall E.T.'s, but Rabaldi’s version stood out. Steven just wanted to get another opinion so to say, which I gave."

See more of Ralph McQuarrie's work on the film at RalphMcQuarrie.com.

Click on the links if you want to see more of Ralph McQuarrie's work and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial on my blog.

What do you think of the concept art? If you've seen E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial what did you think?

Official E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial Synopsis
Steven Spielberg's 1982 hit about a stranded alien and his loving relationship with a fatherless boy (Henry Thomas) struck a chord with audiences everywhere, and it furthered Spielberg's reputation as a director of equally strong commercial sensibilities and classical leanings. Henry Thomas gives a strong, emotional performance as E.T.'s young friend, Robert MacNaughton and Drew Barrymore make a solid impression as his siblings, and Dee Wallace is lively as the kids' mother. The special effects almost look a bit quaint now with all the computer advancements that have occurred since, but they also have more heart behind them than a lot of what we see today.

Directed by Steven Spielberg
Production Design by James D. Bissell
Starring Dee Wallace, Peter Coyote, Henry Thomas, Drew Barrymore

Release date: June 11, 1982

Official Site: et20.com

Copyright © 1982 Amblin Entertainment, Universal Pictures. All rights reserved

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Ralph McQuarrie Inspires Upcoming STAR WARS REBELS Animated Show

I don't normally cover animated movies or television, but I broke that rule once before with Star Wars: The Clone Wars so I figure it's safe to do it again. This is mainly because the concept art for Clone Wars and Rebels are based on the art of the late concept illustrator master Ralph McQuarrie.


"For me I wanted to develop a style different from Clone Wars," said Star Wars Rebels Executive Producer Dave Filoni. "This show is going to be different from Clone Wars; it's intentionally going to look different. We're not proceeding with the same style. We wanted to give it its own look and feel. For me, that always goes back to Ralph McQuarrie, and that's a name you're going to hear over and over again. Star Wars owes so much to Ralph, and I'm very dedicated to the history of Star Wars and of Lucasfilm. We need to maintain and respect that history but also do what made it great it always leapt forward."

The show will be animated and is set in the 19-year gap between the Star Wars films Episode III: Revenge Of The Sith and the original 1977 film, Episode IV: A New Hope. It will air in autumn 2014 on the Disney channel before moving to a regular slot on Disney XD.


Find out more about the upcoming show and see more images after the jump (click to enlarge).


Lucasfilm described the show this way:

Star Wars Rebels Executive Producer Dave Filoni pulled back the curtain on Lucasfilm's highly anticipated animated series for Star Wars Celebration Europe attendees today, discussing the huge influence of original Star Wars concept artist Ralph McQuarrie on the look and feel of the show, and revealing the series' unique logo and select designs.

Filoni talked at length about the use of McQuarrie art as a springboard for the series, showcasing many works from the original trilogy, including landscapes and characters, and detailing how they inform the visual identity of Star Wars Rebels.

For Star Wars Rebels, fans were given their first look at the Ghost, which will be the main character's ship and play a big part in the series, as well as a computer rendering of a very McQuarrie-esque Stormtrooper, the interior of a Star Destroyer, and more. The show's logo, a minimalist yet powerful design, is notable for its orange and black color scheme, which recalls the flight suit colors of Rebel pilots in the original Star Wars trilogy.

While unable to attend in person, Executive Producers Simon Kinberg and Greg Weisman shared their excitement for the series in a video message recorded specifically for Celebration attendees.

The series is set between the events of Episode III and IV -- an era spanning almost two decades never-before explored on-screen. It takes place in a time where the Empire is securing its grip on the galaxy and hunting down the last of the Jedi Knights as a fledgling rebellion against the Empire is taking shape.

Star Wars Rebels will be produced by Lucasfilm Animation, featuring many of the key talents that made Star Wars: The Clone Wars. It is scheduled to premiere in fall 2014 as a one-hour special telecast on Disney Channel, and will be followed by a series on Disney XD channels around the world.

One of the key designs in the show is the Rebel ship called "The Ghost."

"It's actually a pretty big centerpiece for the show," said Filoni. "We all like the sense in the classic films that the Millennium Falcon that was a ship but it was also a place it was like a home. We wanted to give this new generation of kids a place they could go feel safe when they were running from the Empire. And I'm really excited about that. We're on the run again. The Empire is controlling the whole galaxy, so we needed a home and a ship."

The Star Wars Rebels CEII Pins revealed the Rebel Ship Schematics.

In case you can't read the Star Wars writing called Aurebesh, here's what it says according to TheForce.net:

Modified VCX-100 light freighter, Corellian Engineering Corporation,
Metrics: length: 43.9 meters, width: 34.2 meters, height: 14.5 meters,
1. nose turret's gunner position,
2. forward floodlights,
3. main cockpit,
4 crew quarters,
5 port docking ring,
6. starboard docking ring,
7. dorsal laser cannon turret,
8. main cargo hold,
9. engine assembly.

Here's some more concept art.

Finally, here's a description from StarWars.com

Production has begun on Star Wars Rebels, an exciting, all-new animated television series based on one of the greatest entertainment franchises of all time. Scheduled to premiere in fall 2014 as a one-hour special telecast on Disney Channel, it will be followed by a series on Disney XD channels around the world.

Screenwriter/producer Simon Kinberg (X-Men: First Class, Sherlock Holmes, Mr. & Mrs. Smith) is one of the executive producers on Star Wars Rebels and will write the premiere episode. He is joined by Dave Filoni as executive producer, who served as supervising director of the Emmy nominated Star Wars: The Clone Wars since 2008.

Executive producer Greg Weisman brings with him a wealth of animation experience with credits such as Young Justice, The Spectacular Spider-Man and Gargoyles.

Gary Marsh, president and chief creative officer, Disney Channels Worldwide, said, "The entire team at Lucasfilm has provided extraordinary creativity and innovation for over three decades, and we're thrilled to be bringing the expansive and imaginative world of Star Wars to Disney XD's viewers."

"I couldn't be more excited to explore new corners of the Star Wars universe," said Kathleen Kennedy, president, Lucasfilm. "I think Star Wars Rebels will capture the look, feel and fun that both kids and their parents love about Star Wars."

The action-filled series is set between the events of Episode III and IV -- an era spanning almost two decades never-before explored on-screen. Star Wars Rebels takes place in a time where the Empire is securing its grip on the galaxy and hunting down the last of the Jedi Knights as a fledgling rebellion against the Empire is taking shape. Details about the show are a closely guarded secret at this point.

Star Wars Rebels will be produced by Lucasfilm Animation, featuring many of the key talents that made Star Wars: The Clone Wars

Some of the artists that we know about are Andre Kirk (http://bunsenbrown.blogspot.com) and Amy Beth Christiansen (http://artbyabc.com/).

You can see more concept art by Ralph McQuarrie on my blog and see more of his work at RalphMcQuarrie.com. 

Visit the official Star Wars Blog for a full recap of this panel and other Star Wars Celebration Europe events!

More information about this developing project will be found on StarWars.com and on Facebook at facebook.com/starwarsrebels.

Thanks to Idle Hands for images

What do you think of the illustrations?
 
© Copyright 2014 Lucasfilm Animation. All rights reserved

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See 1978 Boba Fett Costume Screentest Based on Concept Art by Ralph McQuarrie and Joe Johnston

See the original 1978 Boba Fett Costume Screentest for Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back.

I shared concept art by Joe Johnston and Ralph McQuarrie for Boba Fett before but a behind-the-scenes video from StarWars.com shows the early design.

Before he became a director, Joe Johnston was a professional concept and storyboard artist who worked on films like Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back.Ralph McQuarrie was a professional illustrator who contributed art for films such as Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, Cocoon and other films.

The design of Boba Fett are based on designs of Darth Vader by Ralph McQuarrie. Originally, Vader was supposed to be a rogue bounty hunter, but over time he became more of a Jedi Knight and they abandoned those designs.

Check out the video after the jump and click to enlarge any images.

Here's one of Ralph McQuarrie's original sketches

Now here's the video


Here's how the StarWars article "Proto-Fett: The Birth of Boba" described the design: "True to his enigmatic character, facts about Boba Fett remain as shifty as the sands of the Dune Sea. Before Attack of the Clones, the origin of Fett had long been a subject of controversy -- was he a vestige of the Clone Armies, a Mandalorian mercenary, or a super-stormtrooper? Was he once called Jaster Mereel? Did he in fact survive the treacherous Pit of Carkoon? While some of these questions have been answered by the prequels and framers of the Expanded Universe, the character's cinematic debut is still open for debate -- is Episode II to be considered the film that launched the Fett character, or Empire? And let's not forget about his cameo in the retro-fitted Star Wars Special Edition....

"As for Fett's first public unveiling, tradition holds that Boba was first revealed to audiences as an animated character in 1978's televised "Star Wars Holiday Special". However, digging through the records at Skywalker Ranch, a different story emerges -- Fett had in fact made a public appearance nearly two months before the Holiday Special on a scorching hot day in the streets of San Anselmo, a small town just north of San Francisco.

"Marching alongside Darth Vader before droves of spectators at San Anselmo's Country Fair parade on September 24, 1978, an unsuspecting press photographer snapped what is likely the very first public image of the intergalactic bounty hunter, plastered the following day across the front page of San Rafael's Independent Journal newspaper. Though the scene-stealing Vader (manned by Kermit Eller) had grand-marshaled the parade and consequently grabbed most of the press (Boba wasn't even mentioned in the story), the Fett costume must have struck many as exotic, battle-worn, and downright intimidating, which, of course, was the whole point.

"According to Empire's 'making of' book, Once Upon a Galaxy: A Journal of the Making of The Empire Strikes Back, Boba Fett's character had originally emerged from that of Darth Vader:

"'I wanted to develop an essentially evil, very frightening character,' said Lucas of Vader. 'He started as a kind of intergalactic bounty hunter, evolved into a grotesque knight, and as I got deeper into the knight ethos he became more a dark warrior than a mercenary... I split him up and it was from the early concept of Darth Vader as a bounty hunter that Boba Fett came.'

"Borne of Vader, Fett required an equally villainous look, but something a bit less conspicuous. Designing Fett's signature helmet, armor, and accoutrements fell primarily to Joe Johnston, who worked in tandem with Ralph McQuarrie to come up with the bounty hunter's distinctive look. Far removed from the black-on-black wardrobe of Vader, early concepts for Fett clad the bounty hunter in white, possibly a vestige of his 'Super Trooper' origins. This all-white Fett was actually the first costume produced for the character, officially unveiled to Lucasfilm insiders in a screen test shot on June 28, 1978.

"In the 20-minute black and white video, sound designer Ben Burtt 'hosts' Fett's reveal for Lucas and crew, describing the different weapons, functions, and characteristics of the costume (worn by Empire's assistant film editor Duwayne Dunham for the test). The somewhat amusing footage depicts Fett with a mocked-up laser rifle (which used a lightsaber hilt for the barrel) and a Star Wars beach towel doubling as the bounty hunter's tattered serape.

"Even at this early stage, the plan was to give the costume a muted color scheme, visually placing the character somewhere between the rank-and-file stormtrooper and the fearsome Dark Lord of the Sith. 'I painted Boba's outfit and tried to make it look like it was made of different pieces of armor,' said Johnston in Star Wars: The Annotated Screenplay, "It was a symmetrical design, but I painted it in such a way that it looked like he had scavenged parts and done some personalizing of his costume; he had little trophies hanging from his belt, little braids of hair, almost like a collection of scalps."

Video via starwars.com, images via Dented Helmet

Official Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back Synopsis
After the destruction of the Death Star, Imperial forces continue to pursue the Rebels. After the Rebellion's defeat on the ice planet Hoth, Luke journeys to the planet Dagobah to train with Jedi Master Yoda, who has lived in hiding since the fall of the Republic. In an attempt to convert Luke to the dark side, Darth Vader lures young Skywalker into a trap in the Cloud City of Bespin. In the midst of a fierce lightsaber duel with the Sith Lord, Luke faces the startling revelation that the evil Vader is in fact his father, Anakin Skywalker.

Release Date: May 21, 1980

Directed by Irvin Kershner

Starring: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams, Anthony Daniels, David Prowse, Kenny Baker, Peter Mayhew, Frank Oz, James Earl Jonees

Official Site: http://starwars.com/explore/the-movies/episode-v/

Copyright 1980 Copyright Lucasfilm, 20th Century Fox

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Read the Entire STAR WARS: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK Portfolio Book by Ralph McQuarrie

In celebration of the 33rd Anniversary of Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) I'm hosting the entire book of photos and descriptions from Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back Portfolio  by Ralph McQuarrie.

I do not own these images, but eskimio on Imgur posted them.

There are better scans and better images, but I've never seen a more loving tribute to the book. It really gives you the feel of thumbing through this old art book.

Check out the rest of the images after the jump.




I gotta say the book is pretty cheap, so if you're interested you should pick up a copy.



See more of Ralph McQuarrie's portfolio at RalphMcQuarrie.com

What do you think of the illustrations and the book?

Wikipedia Synopsis:
Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (also known as The Empire Strikes Back) is a 1980 American epic space opera film directed by Irvin Kershner, produced by Gary Kurtz, and written by Leigh Brackett and Lawrence Kasdan, with George Lucas writing the film's story and serving as executive producer. Of the six main Star Wars films, it was the second to be released and the fifth in terms of internal chronology.

The film is set three years after Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. The Galactic Empire, under the leadership of the villainous Darth Vader, is in pursuit of Luke Skywalker and the rest of the Rebel Alliance. While Vader chases a small band of Luke's friends—Han Solo, Princess Leia Organa, and others—across the galaxy, Luke studies the Force under Jedi Master Yoda. But when Vader captures Luke's friends, Luke must decide whether to complete his training and become a full Jedi Knight or to confront Vader and save his comrades. - Source

Starring: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams, Anthony Daniels, David Prowse, Kenny Baker, Peter Mayhew, Frank Oz

© Copyright 1980 LucasFilm. All rights reserved

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See Ray Harryhausen and Ralph McQuarrie Meet For the First Time

See a tribute photo of Ray Harryhausen and Ralph McQuarrie by concept artist Star Wars concept artist Doug Chiang that he shared on Facebook.Three legends of the industry together at the same time.

Ralph McQuarrie (left), Doug Chiang (center) and Ray Harryhausen (right)

"Truly sad day. Here I am seeing my heroes Ralph [McQuarrie] and Ray Harryhausen meeting for the first time. RIP Ray." - Doug Chiang

This week we lost another film great. Raymond Frederick "Ray" Harryhausen died on May 7, 2013.

He was an American visual effects creator, writer, and producer from California who lived in London, England. He created a form of stop-motion model animation known as "Dynamation."

He worked on Mighty Joe Young, with Willis H. O'Brien, which won the Academy Award for special effects in 1949. His most memoreable films were The 7th Voyage of Sinbad and Jason and the Argonauts, featuring a famous sword fight against seven skeletons.

Doug Chiang started out as a stop-motion artist for Pee Wee's Playhouse, so he probably has a special place in his heart for stop-motion animation.

See more of Doug Chiang's work at dchiang.com Ralph McQuarrie's portfolio at RalphMcQuarrie.comand Ray Harryhausen's work at RayHarryhausen.com

Do you remember the great Harryhausen?

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11 Concept Art Designs That Changed Movie History Forever

Movie history is full of brilliant images and inspired designs. But some designs have left their mark on films when the last flicker of light plays in the theater.

Check after the jump to see the designs that inspired generations of filmmakers.

11. Discovery One by Harry Lange
2001: A Space Odyssey

Discovery One concept art by Harry Lange via Digititles

Stanley Kubrick and Arthur C. Clark set out to make the most realistic science fiction movies ever made. The common stereotype of anti-gravity generators were thrown out in favor of the scientifically accurate centrifuge that created a type of gravity. Even today it's ground breaking on a science-fiction film to be so scientific.

10. Predator Alien by Stan Winston
Predator (1987)

Predator concept design by Stan Winston

The original design for the Predator (then called Hunter) was a bug like alien. Make up designer Stan Winston created the most unique looking alien ever. It was James Cameron that suggested the mandibles.

9. Star Trek Enterprise by Matt Jefferies
Star Trek (1966)

Star Trek Enterprise by Matt Jeffries source

The design of the starship USS Enterprise (NCC-1701) broke all the rules. Roddenberry wanted to get away from the cigar shaped designs from 1950s science-fiction and Star Trek art director Matt Jefferies was the man to do it. With Jeffries' experience in aviation, he was able to design a ship that was unique, familiar and majestic. From the unique look of the engines, to it's unconventional design, it rewrote the book on spaceship design and ushered in a whole new world.

8. Machine Man (Maschinenmensch) by Walter Schulze-Mittendorff
Metropolis (1927)

Metropolis Machine Man by Walter Schulze-Mittendorff source

The robot woman in the German film Metropolis has influenced designers for decades. Star Wars' C-3PO was heavily influenced by her design.


7. Delorean Time Machine by Ron Cobb and Andrew Probert
Back to the Future (1985)

Delorean designs by Ron Cobb source

Designed by Ron Cobb, and finished by Andrew Probert, the Delorean is the most unique time machine ever designed. The car company went bankrupt after a

6. Planet of the Apes Statue of Liberty by Don Peters
Planet of the Apes (1968)

The ending of the original 1963 novel, Planet of the Apes (La Planète des Singes) by Pierre Boulle,had a distant world taken over by apes. It was only when Don Peters drew the image of the State of Liberty buried in the sand that the greatest twist ending of all time was created. Several people, including screen-writer Rod Serling, took responsibility for the idea. Peters claims that it was his idea alone, from preliminary sketches for Arthur P. Jacobs when the film was in development at Warner Bros.


5. Robby the Robot by Robert Kinoshita.
Forbidden Planet (1955)

The initial design was sketched by Arnold "Buddy" Gillespie, refined by production illustrator Mentor Huebner, and then turned into reality under the direction of mechanical designer Robert Kinoshita. Multiple designs were created for the concept of Robby the Robot in the 1955 film Forbidden Planet, but Kinoshita did the final design that created the most iconic and popular robot ever.


4. "Spinner" Police Cars by Syd Mead
Blade Runner (1982)

Blade Runner car designs by Syd Mead source

The entire look of Blade Runner has set the standard for dystopian science-fiction. It's gritty style and futuristic designs has influenced science fiction films, anime, video games, and television programs like Battlestar Galactica. Syd Mead's car designs, known as "Spinners," that have set the standard for flying cars.

3. Xenomorph by H. R. Giger
Alien (1979)

H.R. Giger Alien source

The Alien design is credited to Swiss surrealist and artist H. R. Giger. It started in a lithograph called "Necronom IV", but was refined for the film Alien. The Alien design is the most effective biomechanical design ever. Not only is the design imitated in other sci-fi movies, but video games like Metroid and Contra have used it as well.


2. Darth Vader by Ralph Mc Quarrie
Star Wars (1977)
 

Early Darth Vader sketch by Ralph McQuarrie source

The most famous villain ever is known for his skull-like mask. While director George Lucas created the character, it was Ralph McQuarrie that came up with the idea of Vader wearing a gas mask to travel onto the ship. McQuarrie's done some amazing designs, but this one stand above them all.


1. Terminator by James Cameron
Terminator (1984)

Director James Cameron is also an accomplished artist. His drawing of the murderous Terminator robot with half his face missing has become the symbol of terror for decades. Every Terminator film has used it.

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High-Flying STAR WARS X-Wing Concept Art by Joe Johnston and Ralph McQuarrie

Before Joe Johnston directed films like Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) and Jurassic Park III (2001) he was a film storyboard and concept artist. His big break came in 1975 on the first Star Wars film, which led to him to film school.

He helped design Yoda and many more key elements of Star Wars. For this post I'm focusing on his work designing the Rebel X-Wing Fighter along with Ralph McQuarrie.

Check out the rest of the images after the jump and click to enlarge.
First, the designs by Joe Johnston. The notes and images are from the book The Star Wars Sketchbook by Joe Johnston 1977 via Hey Oscar Wilde

"THE X-WING
The Rebel forces are not financially well off. The ships were conceivably acquired decades earlier at a discount, and have been made to last through prudent. but affectionate maintenance. Engines and body panels are scavenged from derelict craft. Paint and polish being unaffordable luxuries, appearance is unimportant. The one graphic consistency in the X-wing squadron is a large red horizontal stripe on the flank of each ship. In addition to attaining the used-car look, the X-wing fighters took on a kind of tough. no-nonsense quality through production changes. Engines were beefed up. Wings thickened. A lot of hardware is allowed to show on the surface, where it complements the carefully finished body shapes, creating a feeling of styled functionalism.

"Early X-wing lighter concepts from different angles. In the final version, upper and lower split-circle engines became fully circular to accommodate thicker wings, and a segmented canopy replaced the 'bubble' canopy to eliminate reflection problems."



Designs by Ralph McQuarrie

See more of Ralph McQuarrie's work at ralphmcquarrie.com

What do you think of the illustrations?

Wikipedia SummaryStar Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, originally released as Star Wars, is a 1977 American epic space opera film written and directed by George Lucas. It is the first film released in the Star Wars saga and is the fourth in terms of the series' internal chronology. Groundbreaking in its use of special effects, unconventional editing, and science fiction/fantasy storytelling, the original Star Wars is one of the most successful and influential films of all time.

Set 'a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away', the film follows a group of freedom fighters known as the Rebel Alliance as they plot to destroy the powerful Death Star space station, a devastating weapon created by the evil Galactic Empire. This conflict disrupts the isolated life of farmboy Luke Skywalker when he inadvertently acquires the droids carrying the stolen plans to the Death Star. After the Empire begins a cruel and destructive search for the droids, Skywalker decides to accompany Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi on a daring mission to rescue the owner of the droids, rebel leader Princess Leia, and save the galaxy.

Directed by George Lucas
Starring Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Peter Cushing, Alec Guinness

@ Copyright 1977 20th Century Fox, Lucasfilm. All rights reserved.


X is for X-Wing
This post is part of the month long "A-Z Challenge." For 26 days, I'll be choosing a letter from the alphabet and featuring one favorite arts or properties. To read more of the posts in the series click here. To find out more about the challenge go here. Check the Facebook page and follow on Twitterusing the hashtag #AtoZChallenge.

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