You can't have missed it: our science-fiction submarines have frequent companions in the shape of giant octopuses and squids. That's fortunate, as next year the Museum's curator will publish, together with Michel Raynal, founder of the " Virtual Institute of Cryptozoology " (http://cryptozoo.org/) a popularization book dedicated to those lovely critters. For the meetings with our subs, let me direct you to the diorama section, as well as the " artboxes " that often adorn the toy and model boxes with printed octopuses and architheutis; the book will include a scientific section dedicated to the history of how those animals were discovered, the other part dealing with their representations in literature and the movies.
This new museum section is therefore dedicated to the models you can (rarely) get here and there, while avoiding too many " Made in China " toys that can be found most anywhere in stores. Now to each according to their status: squids first.
This beautiful model comes from a shop in San Francisco:
This is an exact depiction of the Architheutis Dux, the longest squid known. It is produced by the Monterey Bay Aquarium (USA), designed by Safari Ltd in Miami, and of course " Made in China. " Soft PVC, length :18"
USA,*** in Europe.
This squid is the king of cephalopod stars, since it is a model of the Disney " 20000 Leagues Under the Seas " squid:
It was made by Jean-Yves Martin, a sculptor in Saugues (France), another " Beast-Crazy " guy!
Resin on metal skeleton, 14.5"
F unpriced, unique.
An extract from the " pop-up " book by Sam Ita (see Science-Fiction submarines section, Jules Verne), here is a very beautiful pink giant squid:
It unfolds when the book is opened at the right page!
The Museum managed to get two very well-made giant octopus models, dioramas from the more-than-cult " It came from beneath the sea " movie by Robert Gordon. The original creature was designed by Ray Harryhausen (http://www.rayharryhausen.com).
The models are right now being assembled at SOS vintage. (http://www.sos-vintage.weonea.com/)
In the meantime, have a look at that Japanese model showing the same octopus demolishing the " Golden Gate " bridge:
This is a Konami product, sold with sweets. Resin, 5" tall.
J*** en Europe
Finally this very beautiful model is distributed in " Sealife " aquarium shops (http://www.sealife.fr/)
Issued by Lifoliko for Sealife, gum, 12" wide.
Here is the « Mysterious Island » octopus conceived by Ray Harryhausen. I was not able to contact the maker of this beautiful diorama: let them come forward!
LAST NEWS / EXTRAS !!!
The "BOUNTY" VS GIANT OCTOPUS !!!
this diorama is manufactured by Stamatis Anthis from Corfu , Greece. (many thanks to JC Carbonel from "Modelstories" who finded this masterwork.)
The models and other merchandise from movies dealing with such animals are very rare! Let us note that Xplus and Konami distribute the famous octopus/nautile/hermit crab hybrid from " Mystery Island " designed by Ray Harryhausen, as well as the same animal used as book-ends (!) Unfortunately: unobtainable (you know the tune...) !!!! I have therefore entrusted Jean-Yves Martin with the task of working on it from the movie pictures. Maybe in 2011...
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