The Running Man

Bespoke Creature Fabrication & Puppeteering for Edgar Wright’s “The Running Man”

MACHINESHOP engineered, and built a massive, high-fidelity giant hamster puppet for the major cinematic feature film “The Running Man”. Working alongside a world-class creative crew under the vision of acclaimed director Edgar Wright, our workshop brought this surreal character to life through advanced structural model-making and live practical performances.

The embedded behind-the-scenes videos showcase the meticulous technical testing and coordinated internal performances required to operate this large-scale creature prop seamlessly on a live film set.

Advanced Character Animatronics & Two-Person Puppetry

Building a massive, interactive creature suit for a major studio feature film demands precise weight distribution, structural ventilation, and highly synchronized mechanical controls:

• Two-Person Internal Mechanics: Custom-engineering a lightweight, load-bearing internal skeleton controlled inside by two professional puppeteers to deliver highly synchronized, organic, and lifelike bodily movements.
• Integrated Illuminated Animatronic Eyes: Fabricating custom eyes which light up using embedded, dimmable LED electronic modules designed to photograph cleanly without camera lens glare.
• Macro Close-Up Ready Fur & Finishing: Applying advanced textile fabrication and hair punching techniques to completely hide structural seams, ensuring the character withstands tight camera framing.