—

From the very first sighting of the baby Ochi in the trailer for The Legend of Ochi, I realized I had found my latest fantasy creature fascination.

The baby Ochi’s allure lies not just in its adorable appearance — characterized by golden fur, a tiny blue face, elongated ears, and expressive eyes — but also in the remarkable artistry that brought it to life. In the film, adult Ochi are depicted by actors in suits, while the baby Ochi represents a captivating mix of puppetry and animatronics. The outcome feels both tangible and enchanting, as if this creature genuinely inhabits a world just outside of our own.

The Legend of Ochi takes cues from actual animals.

For director Isaiah Saxon, making his feature debut with The Legend of Ochi, crafting a convincing creature was imperative. “The concept was that a child — or even an adult — might believe these animals are real, akin to something they hadn’t encountered in a BBC nature documentary yet,” Saxon shared during an interview with Mashable.

Instead of seeking inspiration from other fantasy beings, Saxon looked to real animals, especially the Chinese golden snub-nosed monkey, lemurs, and tarsiers. His aim? To render the Ochi as if it were a recently discovered primate species.

To replicate genuine primate movement, Saxon enlisted John Nolan, a creative supervisor recognized for his animatronics work on the Harry Potter and Jurassic World franchises. Nolan recommended bringing in Peter Elliott, a distinguished performer and primate movement authority, known for his work on Gorillas in the Mist and Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan. Elliott conducted a workshop for the puppeteers, aiding them in embodying the weight and strength of primates — an essential phase for animating the adult Ochi.

However, the baby Ochi moves in its own unique way. “He’s still getting accustomed to his body,” Saxon noted. “He’s a bit of a lanky fellow,” filled with youthful wriggles and hesitation.

Exceptional puppetry animates Baby Ochi.

Leading the Baby Ochi team was puppeteer Robert Tygner, whom Saxon fondly referred to as the “quarterback and choreographer” of the character. Tygner oversaw a crew of four puppeteers controlling the body and two managing the animatronic face. While filming, he would vocally express emotions and responses for the puppet to enact, creating the impression that he was voicing Baby Ochi’s inner thoughts.

Three iterations of the Baby Ochi puppet were employed: a primary puppet, a stunt version, and a unique backpack puppet for scenes where the creature rides on the character Yuri, played by Helena Zengel.

Tygner’s notable background includes work on classics such as Labyrinth (1986), The Witches (1990), and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990). His participation — alongside Labyrinth hair and fur expert Vicky Stockwell, who contributed to the Ochi’s fur — links The Legend of Ochi to a rich heritage of practical effects filmmaking.

“The legends persist,” Saxon remarked. “We remain here!” added Tygner.

For Saxon, enlisting these talented artists was a fulfilling experience. “The greatest honor of this project was collaborating with the finest individuals in the world at their craft, giving them a platform, and allowing them to shine,” he stated, likening Tygner’s significance to that of Willem Dafoe, who plays Maxim in the film.

A tribute to practical effects.

Tygner and his team invested significant time rehearsing Baby Ochi’s motions, dissecting each scene to convey the creature’s feelings. Prior to filming in Romania, they even constructed full-scale cardboard and duct tape replicas of the sets to practice within accurate dimensions.

The Legend of Ochi was produced on a $10 million budget, with $1 million allocated for creature effects. Development of the Baby Ochi puppet began in 2018, and the results are nothing less than stunning. The film serves as a testament to the enchantment of practical effects.

“It’s enjoyable to create things and make them tangible,” Saxon stated. “But it also brings this advantage: When you witness something practical, with all of its flaws, and you can’t quite discern how it exists, it feels magical.”

He continued, “So many techniques are employed simultaneously — filming on location, incorporating matte paintings, puppets, suit performers, and real actors. Ideally, your mind just relinquishes control and thinks, ‘I don’t know how they’re achieving this. This is magical.'”

The Legend of Ochi is currently showing in theaters.

—