Joe Dante may have directed the film and Chris Columbus may have written it, but special effects artist Chris Walas is literally credited as the “creator” of the Gremlins in the credits for the movie. Though his career also includes work on Star Wars: Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, David Cronenberg’s remake of The Fly (the sequel for which he directed), and Frank Marshall’s Arachnophobia, the Gremlins seem like the thing he’s best known for to fans. To that end, Walas still spends his days still making creatures and monsters, documenting his exploits on Twitter and his official site. Recently he dug up a special Gremlins themed treat though, alternate designs!
Found my very first rough sketches for the Mogwai. I think you can see the tarsier influence here. pic.twitter.com/1NhRFR3mC3
An abandoned Gremlin design sketch. pic.twitter.com/4piLN1rDtE
