Here are some characters I designed and sculpted in ZBrush for a recent Geico commercial, Cuckoo Clock: Take a Closer Look. Legacy Effects 3D printed these guys and turned them into puppets for the clock.
This was a fun challenge. My initial pass was a bit too smooth and detailed. The director wanted these to be more crude and vintage looking, so I took down the details and sculpted them to appear as though they were hand-carved out of wood.
Here are renders of the characters:
Here’s a screen shot from the spot:
And here’s the commercial:
Really Cute take off of a Anton Schneider 8T-MT34139 Cuckoo. Obviously these style cuckoos weren’t designed until the 70’s/80’s. The old Farmer’s daughter clock in the late 1950’s. Novelty fun. Your clock reminds me of a China knock off and I was trying to place the clock but nothing identical came to mind. Nice to know it was from your creation. we posted the video on our Champ’s Clock SHop facebook page for our customers to enjoy. Everyone loves it.
Hi Jeff,
Great to have an expert weigh in on this. Thanks for the details on the original clock. I actually didn’t build the clock, I just designed the characters. I believe Legacy Effects built the clock- or perhaps it was another prop dept. I was onto another job by the time they were building and mechanizing the clock and the characters.
Best,
Bodin
Why did you use Allen fasteners for the arms?
Hi Sam,
I assume you are referring to the two guys sawing. I digitally sculpted the characters in the clock. Legacy Effects 3D printed and mechanized them by adding functioning joints and mouths. I am not sure why they used allen fasteners, as I assume that’s not what would have been used in a vintage clock.
Cheers,
Bodin
Allen screws weren’t in use until 1910 114 years ago 1903 the pins mostly were brad nails, dowels or slotted screws.
hello everyone.
That is a really cool clock. does anyone know where I can buy that clock or one just like it?
thanks a bunch!!
if anyone knows where I can buy this clock or one like it, please email me at alethia.now@hotmail.com thanks, brenton
Can this clock be purchased?…if so from whom ?
Where can i purchase one of those clocks i love it great job
It’s great to see some of the characters up close and with detail. I’ve just started selling cuckoo clocks on my website shoparoundtheclockonline.com and it;s interesting to find out little known facts about the clocks. Thanks.