Cryptid Wildlife Project

[Paleogene Pals]

We have jackalopes aplenty here in South Dakota. You can't throw a stone around here without hitting one. They get big too; you can ride around them like horses. Around my town, we have the Missouri River fanged trout. You gotta watch yourself in a canoe because they will jump out of the water and bite your head off!

[tanystropheus]

I think the main issue with cryptozoological endeavors is funding. Whenever an expedition begins to show some promising leads, the budget is exhausted and the process is halted. Also, cryptids (e.g. lowland gorilla) are generally discovered/revealed by zoologist, further undermining the credibility of cryptozoological specialists.  However, climate change may force 'hidden' animals out of familiar zones of comfort, providing a theoretical opportunity for future cryptozoological pursuits.

[tanystropheus]

I used to be into cryptids, but my favourite was always Bigfoot aka Sasquatch. I was a member of a sasquatch forum back in the day and I have lots of books dedicated to the subject. I have my doubts about whether they exist but for some reason Bigfoot was always the most compelling to me. Maybe because it's one of the few cryptids that we have an (alleged) film of (the female Bigfoot known as "Patty").

The topic of Bigfoot brings back fond memories for me I guess.

Assuming that Sasquatches exist, I would imagine that they are remnant lineages of prehistoric hominids that refused to go extinct or become integrated in our gene pool. I think there are some borderline credible reports about the Almas.

[tyrantqueen]

I can't speak for other cryptids but I know from experience that the Sasquatch field is badly contaminated with hoaxers. Tom Biscardi, Rick Dyer etc..that was part of the reason I left the scene.

[E.D.G.E. (PainterRex)]

Yes to all of your statements. However, since our project regards making up facts about the creatures based on the creatures they seem most related to, we are going to be having creatures that are confirmed to be nonexistence.

[Tyto_Theropod]

You could try on deviantART. Also, I'm starting to work on a Sasquatch concept based mainly on Australopithecines (I always try to make cryptids look plausible by basing them on real animals). As I don't want to over face you in terms of production, I wondered what kind of effects you would be using to bring these creatures to life (I get the impression you're using practical effects rather than CGI) so that I can cater for that in my concepts.

Finally, about wampus cats: as far as I can see from my own research they have variously been portrayed as half woman, half cat (as per the Native American origin myth), as a cat with six legs, or as an ordinary looking cat that is exceptionally fierce. On the whole the animal it is compared with most is the cougar, but I've also heard it being described as like a bobcat.

We will be using a generic monkey suit for the main furry parts, somehow tightening it to fit snuggly against the actor. Then we want to have prosthetic make-up and the like on the face in order to portray the creature feeling/acting/emoting/and eating. I hope to do the same type of make-up for the hands and feet. I figured an australopithecus/neanderthal type look would fit well. I want to use CGI eventually, maybe when we have more funds and knowhow. Plus, right now, my group only has three members. We are definitely trying to make it a much bigger thing. Next year it will be an official "club" at my high school....so yeah!

Did you want some reference pictures to conglomerate an apeoid form? or are you good?

I'm good, generally find my own reference pics.

I thought the wampus cat was one of those 'fearsome critters' like the hidebehind or sqounk. I applaud you guys for such an ambitious undertaking, especially for high school. Should be an interesting project though.

Lacrimacorpus dissolvens Hunting is no joke, caught one once and keep the trophy out back in a bucket

Pah! That's nothing. Living in Scotland as we do, my famil net wild haggis all the time. They're easy to catch because they run around a hill in one direction, so they end up with the legs on one side longer than the other. You just have to get them to change direction and they roll down the hill and into the net. We mostly sell them to butchers and feed to leftover bits to the cat, the dog and the Velociraptor, but I would quite like to taxidermy one one day. I'd also like to bag myself a, Elwetrisch or a jackalope one day, but we don't get them in these parts so I'd have to travel for that.

Any news on the concept art? Just wondering, thanks

Sorry I've been quiet - life suddenly got hectic, so I didn't have much time. My apologies  - I'm hoping to fit some in over the next week or so. 

[E.D.G.E. (PainterRex)]

You could try on deviantART. Also, I'm starting to work on a Sasquatch concept based mainly on Australopithecines (I always try to make cryptids look plausible by basing them on real animals). As I don't want to over face you in terms of production, I wondered what kind of effects you would be using to bring these creatures to life (I get the impression you're using practical effects rather than CGI) so that I can cater for that in my concepts.

Finally, about wampus cats: as far as I can see from my own research they have variously been portrayed as half woman, half cat (as per the Native American origin myth), as a cat with six legs, or as an ordinary looking cat that is exceptionally fierce. On the whole the animal it is compared with most is the cougar, but I've also heard it being described as like a bobcat.

We will be using a generic monkey suit for the main furry parts, somehow tightening it to fit snuggly against the actor. Then we want to have prosthetic make-up and the like on the face in order to portray the creature feeling/acting/emoting/and eating. I hope to do the same type of make-up for the hands and feet. I figured an australopithecus/neanderthal type look would fit well. I want to use CGI eventually, maybe when we have more funds and knowhow. Plus, right now, my group only has three members. We are definitely trying to make it a much bigger thing. Next year it will be an official "club" at my high school....so yeah!

Did you want some reference pictures to conglomerate an apeoid form? or are you good?

I'm good, generally find my own reference pics.

I thought the wampus cat was one of those 'fearsome critters' like the hidebehind or sqounk. I applaud you guys for such an ambitious undertaking, especially for high school. Should be an interesting project though.

Lacrimacorpus dissolvens Hunting is no joke, caught one once and keep the trophy out back in a bucket

Pah! That's nothing. Living in Scotland as we do, my famil net wild haggis all the time. They're easy to catch because they run around a hill in one direction, so they end up with the legs on one side longer than the other. You just have to get them to change direction and they roll down the hill and into the net. We mostly sell them to butchers and feed to leftover bits to the cat, the dog and the Velociraptor, but I would quite like to taxidermy one one day. I'd also like to bag myself a, Elwetrisch or a jackalope one day, but we don't get them in these parts so I'd have to travel for that.

Any news on the concept art? Just wondering, thanks

Sorry I've been quiet - life suddenly got hectic, so I didn't have much time. My apologies  - I'm hoping to fit some in over the next week or so. 

no problem, no hurry. thanks again!