"Ferngully the Last Rainforest" Hexxus designs

Here are some concept designs and animation drawings for "Hexxus" from "Ferngully the Last Rainforest". I had left Disney Animation 1991 for a year to pursue working on my independent film called "Hide and Seek" when Sue Kroyer asked me if I could work on Ferngully designing and animating the villain.  This was really exciting for me because I love villians and this was one I couldn't resist.  I love the idea of shape changing and this character allowed for a lot of inventive ideas starting off as a smoky character to oil then to the finale of oil and fire together.  Ferngully was an awesome experience and working with Bill and Sue Kroyer was the most artist friendly, fun experinces I had in my career and I got a chance to work with some amazing artists! During this production, I still had a chance to continue working on my independent film as well which was neat that I could do both. :)

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The 5 animation drawings below were special drawings I created to give the effects artists (John Armstrong and perhaps others too), an idea of what kind of look I was thinking of for Hexxus at this stage. Of course these were just only indications and they worked their magic in their own way and did an amazing job on the effects. It was a real fun collabrative, artistic effort!

 I loved drawing in this blue pencil for some reason. The drawings should have been done in black but the blue pencil had a better feel for me.  I imagined Hexxus growing out of the forest into this huge billowing cloud.

I loved drawing the little death skulls in the billowing clouds. Seemed to fit since he was a toxic cloud.

 Maybe the cloud could shoot out fire....

 I tried to get a bit of the actor Tim Curry into the Hexxus character. I was really fortunate to have been able to meet Tim and he was such a sweet nice guy!

 Hexxus sucking up the oil.  I imagined hoses of oil being hooked up to him in the top right photo. Below those, I loved playing with the idea of how Hexxus face could move through the smoky shapes.

More Tim Curry studies...

 The idea of Hexxus being able to shoot oil out of his cloudy hand as a weapon...

 Hexxus I thought could explode into a mushroom cloud from the tree chopping machine

 Hexxus beginning to die. I thought oil could begin to flow from him like blood.

 Hexxus in his most climatic state as this oil and fire monster. I liked the idea of the oil being the skeleton and cape like shapes while the fire was the force moving his body around.

 The tree branches growing inside of Hexxus ultimately defeating him...

 I always loved this drawing of Hexxus being devoured by nature.