How Morris and Great Protector Were Created for “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings”

One of the shining stars from Marvel Studios’ Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings was Morris, but how was he brought to life?

(Marvel Studios)

What’s Happening:

Lorraine Cink spoke with Christopher Townsend, VFX Supervisor for Marvel Studios' Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings to learn how his team created Morris and Great Protector for the film.

In the video, fans see how the team created Morris and Great Protector,
Townsend shared a look behind-the-scenes at how the team takes artwork and creates three-dimensional models that can then be used in the film.
Morris is a faceless six-legged creator, part of the challenge was having him emote, and thinking of how he would move with various animation tests. The team took inspiration from dogs, bears, ostriches, and more.

(Marvel Studios)

On set, actors used a green cushion for interaction, then replaced it with Morris as we see him in the movie.

(Marvel Studios)

For the Great Protector, they took inspiration from water snakes and other animals for movement.

(Marvel Studios)

The team also built a portion of the head that actors could hold onto and interact with, then bringing in effects to make it look real.
You can read Mack’s review of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings here.

About Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings:

The story focuses on Shang-Chi’s relationship with his father, who closed him off from the outside world while he trained in the martial arts, only to release him later to do his bidding. Shang-Chi would eventually learn that his father was not the man he thought he was. Now he must confront the past he thought he left behind when he is drawn into the web of the mysterious Ten Rings organization.

Marvel Studios’ Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is now playing in theaters.