This year will be remembered for plenty of things, notably being the zodiac year of the dragon! What better way to draw attention to this topic than by discussing the history of dragons in the filming industry? Much like the zodiac description, the dragon can represent many things in reality and media. As there are many symbols and meanings for dragons in culture, there are many ways they are presented in pop culture. So, let’s explore this cave of history and see The Filming of the Dragon.

Evolution of Effects

There has been a very long history of dragons and how they were depicted in films and the effects that made them. The very film appearance of a dragon was in the 1924 European film Die Nibelungen. The dragon was portrayed as a large puppet with limited mobility however it was an impressive effect. The first animated dragon was a 1941 live-action/animated Disney film called The Reluctant Dragon. This also was one of the first times a dragon was present in a character within a show/movie.

The first depiction of a dragon using stop motion animation was in the 1958 The 7th Voyage of Sinbad. This was one of many films animated by Ray Harryhausen using clay models and other effects to bring the creature to life. For several years, special effects depicting dragons in films utilized these forms of practical effects until 1996. This marked the time dragons were presented using CGI in the well-known film Dragon Heart. As special effects evolved, so have the many ways dragons have been presented in the entertainment industry.

Best of the Beast

There are many memorable dragons that have been shown in the entertainment industry so let’s look and see who could be considered king. The dragon Dragonslayer named Vermithrax Pejorative is remembered for the Go-Motion-animation that brought him to life. Toothless from the How to Train your Dragon is very iconic and lovable among kids and people who grew up with the series. A favorite among kaiju fans is King Ghidorah, the three headed dragon has been reimagined for several years.
Arguably one of the most well-known dragon in pop culture as a whole is Smaug from The Hobbit series. A significant character in one of the most popular fantasy book series but a standout in the film adaptation.

Conclusion

Although dragons are a work of fiction, they hold a significant place in the many mediums in entertainment. From the verbal depiction of books to visual spectacles of shows and movies, they hold interests for many people. For centuries these fantasy creatures have been an important aspect to many stories both in books and films. So, let’s end this year of the dragon with one more roar and look on to the horizon for the future depiction of dragons.

https://theableshow.com/filming-of-the-dragon

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0015175/?ref_=tt_mv_close

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0051337

https://wellfixitinpost.com/vfx-eras-evolution-of-the-cgi-dragon/