Emma Tammi discusses working with Jim Henson’s Creature Shop to bring the animatronic characters to life and why they needed to physically be a part of Five Nights At Freddy’s. Based on the mega-popular video game of the same name, Five Nights At Freddy’s follows Mike Schmidt, who takes the night security job at the long-abandoned Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza. However, he soon learns this job is more than he bargained for, with danger lurking around every corner, not just for Mike but for his younger sister as well.
In an exclusive interview with Screen Rant, Tammi discussed bringing the Five Nights At Freddy’s animatronic characters to life. She shared details about the experience of working with Jim Henson’s Creature Shop. She also explains why using practical animatronics was so important to Five Nights At Freddy’s success. Check out Tammi’s full quote below:
Emma Tammi: Yeah, bringing them to life was as important as the casting process in this film. They are part of the cast and the characters that the fans are the most familiar with actually going into this film. Working with Jim Henson’s Creature Shop was the biggest honor, the biggest inspiration, and they held such reverence to what the designs needed to be based on something that already existed. And figuring out how to make them come to life in a three dimensional way that was unique in and of itself and even more exciting than what the fans had ever seen before. I think there’s a character and an imperfection to the designs that are so uniquely Henson and so fantastic.
Why The Animatronics Needed To Be Practical While Filming Five Nights At Freddy’s
The animatronic characters are the most iconic aspect of Five Nights At Freddy’s, from their look to their origins to their scare factor. If the movie wasn’t able to get this piece of the story right, there would be no chance of the movie succeeding. CG has taken over movies and television, making practical effects more rare. By making the animatronics practical, Five Nights At Freddy’s can take the movie to the next level.
Practical animatronic characters allow the other actors to not only authentically interact with them but also react in a way that looks and feels more genuine. These characters are the heart of the franchise. By making them practical, it adds artistry to the movie and allows for real details to be included, as well as creative innovation.
The interactions between the animatronics and the human characters are the entire point of Five Nights At Freddy’s, as the revelation that the animatronics are alive is slowly teased before Mike learns the truth. This horror element is a huge part of what makes the game successful, and using practical effects allows the actors, director, and production crew to fully visualize it. Five Nights At Freddy’s is the perfect project for Jim Henson’s Creature Shop to step in and continue their legacy of next-level practical effects.
Key Release Date
Five Nights at Freddy’s
Release Date:2023-10-27
