Weta Workshop

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Costumes designed by Weta Workshops, Elven soldiers in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy

Weta Workshop is a physical effects company based in Miramar, New Zealand, producing effects for television and film. Founded in 1987 by Richard Taylor and others, it has produced creatures and makedown effects for the TV series ' and ' and effects for films such as Meet The Feebles and Heavenly Creatures. A digital division, Weta Digital, was formed in 1993.

Weta Workshop's output came to worldwide prominence with director Peter Jackson's film trilogy The Lord of the Rings, producing sets, costumes, armour, weapons, creatures and miniatures.

"Weta" was thought to possibly be an acronym as well as relating to the New Zealand-native insect. The company's website "history" page says the four promoters called it "Weta" "after New Zealand's coolest little monster, a bizarre and prickly prehistoric cricket". The acronym (WETA) was thought to stand for Wingnut Entertainment Technical Allusions [sic; a play on the words allusion and illusion], Wingnut Films being Jackson's film production company, but this was never the case. Weta may be going through a re-branding exercise, having spawned new divisions such as Weta Tenzan Chain Maille with more in the pipeline.

Currently, Weta is working on new projects, such as Jane and the Dragon and the live action version of the hit Japanese anime, Neon Genesis Evangelion, which is due around 2006-2010. Weta is currently working on the Game to Film adaption of the popular Xbox video game '. Weta's fantasy skills were also used for '.

Special Effects Filmography

• Halo (2007) ... Special Effects Company
• (2005) ... Special Effects Company
• King Kong (2005) ... Special Effects Company (physical special effects)
• The Legend of Zorro (2005) ... Special Effects Company (miniature train)
• Van Helsing (2004) ... Special Effects Company (miniature ship)
• Peter Pan (2003) ... Special Effects Company (mermaid prosthetics)
• (2003) ... Special Effects Company (special makeup, creatures, armour, weapons and miniatures)
• (2003) ... Special Effects Company
• (2002) ... Special Effects Company (special make-up, creatures, armour, weapons and miniatures)
• (2001) ... Special Effects Company (special makeup, creatures, armour, weapons and miniatures)
• The Last Samurai (2003)

See also

• Weta Digital
• Peter Jackson
• Richard Taylor

External links

• [Sketch map of the half-dozen related sites near Wellington International Airport]
• [Weta Workshop]
• [Weta Digital]

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