Monster Island, the latest TV movie produced by MTV and Insight Films/Shavick Entertainment, is an entertaining and visual ride back to the popular B-movies of the 50’s and 60’s with the stop-motion and visual effects of Bowes Productions. Not since stop-motion animation pioneer Dr. Ray Harryhausen’s Clash of the Titans which hit the screens over 22 years ago, have audiences been treated to a full-on monster movie in this genre. Director Jack Perez took on the project with a strong sense of tribute to the film’s genre, making certain it combined both the classic look with just enough of today’s technology to appeal to its audience.

Monster Island features entertaining roles by actors Carmen Electra (Starsky & Hutch, Scary Movie) who plays herself, and Adam West (TV’s original Batman) who plays the mad scientist respectfully named Dr. Harryhausen. In the film, MTV throws a contest where the winner gets to invite their entire class aboard a party ship, destined for an island in the tropics…only there’s more that just sand and surf on Monster Island.

The Bowes Productions team was responsible for creating all the animated visual effects, sets, stop motion characters and live action mechanical creatures in addition to the animated scene storyboards. They built the fully moveable Giant Queen Ant and two Soldier Ant heads and legs, which were operated through mechanics and puppeteering in scenes where the actors were one-on-one with the giant creatures. From huge to miniature, the team also built physical elements for the film including a mini Carmen Electra, and a jungle with over 1,000 hand-made trees and plants as well as the canyon gorge and the island itself. The insect-monsters were made out of a combination of epoxy resin, fiberglass, sculpy, foam rubber latex and aluminum/brass stainless steel armatures, featuring full moving ball and socket parts with the Female Praying Mantis having over 152 parts alone.

And when the script called for the island to explode, Bowes Productions created the look by utilizing an Air Canon and over cranking the camera at 120 frames per second ……… Boom!

Staying true to the movie’s genre, Bowes Productions used only traditional practical visual effect techniques in the film. Computerized compositing was used in post-production to marry the scenes of live action together and rig removal.

"Voyage of the Unicorn"
Sextant Entertainment, Pacific Motion Pictures, Hallmark Entertainment

On a mystical world of sprawling oceans and ancient magic, the evil Troll Skotos (Mackenzie Gray) and his army threaten to destroy all. A thousand-year-old prophecy calls for three saviors to come from beyond the Seas to push back the approaching darkness. The Aislings, (Professor Aisling; Beau Bridges) a troubled family from our world, are brought over to the mystical side where they fore fill their role within the prophecy. Guided by a Queen's wisdom, they sail across the oceans on board the Unicorn, a wondrous magical ship, freeing the Isles' enslaved heroes. In a final confrontation with the Trolls, the Aislings succeed in bringing back the great Dragon, and peace is restored to the Isles.

Bowes Productions had the pleasure of creating the Stop Motion animated segment (working title; Miranda and the Mermaid dream sequence) for "Voyage of the Unicorn".

The production segment consisted of the villain Troll Skotos conjuring up an evil spell in which Miranda Aisling (Heather McEwen), her family and crew of the "Unicorn" ship are threatened by a sea serpent. Miranda falls into a dream sequence and we find her dancing (live-action) on an operatic stage (stop motion animation) only to be faced with a menacing stage serpent now threatening Miranda and a replica of the Unicorn ship. Suddenly from across the stage, a bronze Mermaid rises up between the waves and begins to sing while trying to cast one of her own spells onto the stage serpent. Miranda and the Mermaid are now faced with the fact they must work together to do battle with the serpents if they are to save the "Unicorn" ship and her crew, all to the delight of Skotos.

Will Miranda and the Mermaid foil Skotos dastardly spell, is the "Unicorn" ship and crew doomed?

Any use of the images in any manner or format whatsoever without the prior express written consent of Bowes Productions Inc. is strictly prohibited.

©1988 - Bowes Productions Inc.