How ‘Love, Death and Robots' Season 4 Made the Ultimate Cute Little Guy
But the biggest delight is the emotionally stirring 'Spider Rose,' helmed by series supervising director Jennifer Yuh Nelson ('Pop Squad' and 'Kill Team Kill'), which occupies the same cyberpunk universe as Season 3's 'Swarm.' Both are adapted from Bruce Sterling short stories about human survival on an asteroid mining operation dominated by competing factions: the genetically-engineered Shapers and the cybernetic Mechanists.
More from IndieWire
The First-Dayers of 'The Pitt' Highlight the Need for More Portrayals of Competent Young Professionals
'Arco' Review: France's Answer to Studio Ghibli Offers an Emotional Sci-Fi Epic
In 'Spider Rose,' the grieving titular Mechanist (voiced by Emily O'Brien and mo-capped by Miller's Blur Studio) plots her revenge against the Shaper who murdered her husband. However, that means bartering with the large reptilian Investors, who loan her a cute alien pet she calls Nosy. It is through Nosy that she rediscovers her lost humanity.
' I love the story because of the emotions, and the idea that this woman has ruined herself in her grief and trying to find her way back has quite a steep price,' Yuh Nelson told IndieWire. 'I think that that sort of emotional journey is interesting to me, and also how to show that visually.'
Although 'Spider Rose' was always on 'the writer's wall,' it never made the cut until this season, when Yuh Nelson found the right empathetic through line. But, of course, there's more than meets the eye to Nosy. He's not mischievous, like a Gremlin, but there's a definite edge to him. The trick was not overdoing it so that he still looked appealing.
'I love the design process of trying to find something that would make you feel so sympathetic to it,' said Yuh Nelson. Blur Studio provided the effective key frame character animation. But instead of opting for a typical space monkey, Yuh Nelson was drawn to something much more cuddly.
'To me, its purpose was to try and become closer to [Spider Rose],' she said. 'But we actually had designs where it was very monkey-like with long, spindly limbs, and it crossed the threshold towards creepy rather than empathetic. So I tried to push it a little bit towards bush baby because that reminds me of cuddly.'
But they made Nosy multifaceted because he appears in two stages: slimy and furry. 'We looked at adorable pet frogs from Japan mixed in with French bulldogs for the first stage because they have those adorable butts and that waddle to them,' said Yuh Nelson. 'But the second stage was bush baby.'
This enabled Spider Rose to become more attached to Nosy. They play games and she holds it tenderly. 'You know how certain creatures camouflage so other creatures won't eat them? In this case, it's kind of flipped,' continued Yuh Nelson. 'The idea is that creatures will do things to survive by developing these visual defense mechanisms to be more adorable.'
You could say that 'Spider Rose' represents the Season 4 poster child of 'Love, Death + Robots' in the way it embodies all three parts. 'I don't know if it's an entry drug for 'LDR' because there is a lot of violence,' Yuh Nelson said. 'Usually, if people haven't seen the show before, we recommend that they watch one of the comedies first. In the case of 'Spider Rose,' there's an entire world involved. And we really wanted to make this one like a tentpole: a moment that's lush and emotional, that's gonna really reflect the level of the story.'
'Love, Death, and Robots' is streaming on Netflix.
Best of IndieWire
The 19 Best Thrillers Streaming on Netflix in May, from 'Fair Play' to 'Emily the Criminal'
Martin Scorsese's Favorite Movies: 86 Films the Director Wants You to See
Christopher Nolan's Favorite Movies: 44 Films the Director Wants You to See
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
41 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Fever, Caitlin Clark announce Stranger Things uniform collab
The post Fever, Caitlin Clark announce Stranger Things uniform collab appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Indiana Fever are blending basketball with one of Netflix's biggest cultural juggernauts. On Wednesday, July 23, the team launched a new limited-edition uniform inspired by Stranger Things, the hit series set in the fictional Hawkins, Indiana, per SI. The jersey completely reimagines the Fever's look, swapping out their typical colors for a retro-inspired design. Deep reds and blacks dominate the uniform, with claw-like accents and vintage Stranger Things lettering giving it a bold edge. One of the most striking details is the '011' stitched on the waistband, a direct nod to the show's iconic character, Eleven. Fever chief operating officer and general manager Amber Cox summed it up perfectly, saying, 'This jersey represents the fierce spirit of our team and the fearless energy of Stranger Things – two forces that never back down.' A Creative Partnership That Works For Caitlin Clark and the Fever, this collaboration makes perfect sense. The team and its superstar are among the most marketable names in basketball, and Stranger Things remains one of the most beloved series of the past decade. Bringing the two together creates a product that is both a fashion statement and a collector's item, especially with the show's final season premiering this winter. The Fever released a video capturing the players' reactions when they first saw the uniforms, and their excitement was palpable. Jerseys featuring Clark, Aliyah Boston, and Kelsey Mitchell are available now, with customization options for fans who want their own name or number. The team has also rolled out Stranger Things-themed t-shirts, hoodies, and other merchandise. Indiana currently sits at 12-12 after a tough loss to the New York Liberty, but Clark's anticipated return from injury could give the Fever the boost they need for a late-season playoff push. Fans won't have to wait long to see the new look in action, as the Fever will debut the uniforms Thursday against the Las Vegas Aces and wear them six more times this season. Related: Dolphins' Tyreek Hill has jokes about his Justin Jefferson-loving son Related: Stephen A. Smith destroys CEO caught cheating at Coldplay concert
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Kelly Osbourne's Partner Sid Wilson Proposes Backstage at Her Dad Ozzy's Final Black Sabbath Concert
Kelly Osbourne and her longtime partner, Sid Wilson, are engaged! 'Oh, and this happened yesterday!' Kelly, 40, captioned Sunday, July 6, Instagram footage from her dad Ozzy Osbourne's Black Sabbath concert the day before. In the clip, Kelly joined Ozzy, 76, and mom Sharon Osbourne backstage at the Birmingham, England, venue when Wilson, 48, got down on one knee. 'Kelly, you know I love you more than anything in the world,' Wilson said. 'Nothing would make me happier than spending the rest of my life with you. In front of your family and all of our friends, Kelly, will you marry me?' Slipknot's Sid Wilson Ditches Mask on Red Carpet With Kelly Osbourne Kelly put her hands in front of her face before nodding 'yes.' Wilson also turned to show off the diamond ring to Ozzy. Kelly and Wilson have been together since February 2022, welcoming son Sidney the following November. 'I truly believe my baby saved me and made me a whole human,' Kelly said in her Us Weekly cover story published in October 2024. 'I don't think I knew what love was before having a baby.' She added, 'I don't remember life before having the baby because everything has changed. I didn't realize just how powerful the feeling of love was [going to be] when you have the baby. It's the most … addictive feeling I have ever felt. You realize in that one second, 'You've given me purpose like nothing has ever given me before.' I don't think I had purpose.' At the time, Kelly also gushed to Us that the Slipknot performer was The One. 'I found my guy. We don't need the certificate, but I know Sid really wants to get married, so we will get married,' she said. 'It's not as important to me. I've worn so many beautiful dresses and had so many moments that have been just about me, so that whole idea of a big day isn't as important to me.' Kelly Osbourne's Ups and Downs Through the Years: Weight Loss, Sobriety and More Kelly further joked that 'never in a million f***ing years' did she believe she would 'end up with a rock star partner' like her dad. 'But, I did,' she quipped. 'We've known each other for 25 years.' Kelly, who proclaimed to Us that she 'definitely' wants to have more children down the line, had attended her dad's musical farewell on Saturday. 'I just wanted to take a moment to say thank you,' Kelly said in an Instagram Story video earlier on Sunday. 'Thank you to everyone who came to the show last night, [and] thank you to everybody who was involved in the show last night. You have no idea what it did for my dad.' Ozzy confirmed his Parkinson's disease diagnosis in 2020. Solve the daily Crossword
Black America Web
5 hours ago
- Black America Web
‘Top Boy' Actor Michael Ward Accused Of Rape And Sexual Assault In UK
Source: SAMEER AL-DOUMY / Getty Michael Ward, the British actor known for his role in Netflix 's popular series Top Boy has been charged with rape and sexual assault connected to alleged events that took place in 2023. The 27-year-old Jamaican-born performer is slated to appear before the Thames Magistrates' Court on Thursday, Aug. 28 to answer to the charges, People reports. He is currently facing two counts of rape and three counts of sexual assault levied by an accuser who remains unnamed by UK police. 'Our specialist officers continue to support the woman who has come forward – we know investigations of this nature can have significant impact on those who make reports,' said Detective Superintendent Scott Ware, whose team is leading the investigation for Metropolitan Police. Ward has not been arrested in connection to the crime and will appear before the court under his own free will. The young actor has been making a name for himself over the last few years appearing in projects like The Book of Clarence, The Beautiful Game and The Old Guard. He also received rave reviews for his work in The A List prior to his breakout role as Jamie on the Drake-produced Top Boy . 'I deny the charges against me entirely. I have cooperated fully with the police throughout their investigation and will continue to cooperate,' Ward said in a statement amid the charges. 'I recognise that proceedings are now ongoing, and I have full faith that they will lead to my name being cleared. Given those proceedings, I am unable to comment further.' Though the allegations against Ward are serious, the deputy chief crown prosecutor for CPS London South, Catherine Baccas, has asked that the public allow the actor his right to a fair trial before rushing to judgment. 'Having carefully reviewed a file of evidence, the Crown Prosecution Service has authorised the Metropolitan police to charge Micheal Ward, 27, with two counts of rape, two counts of assault by penetration, and one count of sexual assault against a woman in January 2023,' said Baccas in a statement. 'We remind all concerned that proceedings against the suspect are active and he has a right to a fair trial. It is vital that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.' The post 'Top Boy' Actor Michael Ward Accused Of Rape And Sexual Assault In UK appeared first on Bossip. SEE ALSO 'Top Boy' Actor Michael Ward Accused Of Rape And Sexual Assault In UK was originally published on
