Explore the history of monsters and design a few scary, hairy, one-eyed creatures with a 3D pen. With Halloween on the horizon, there’s no better time to learn about monsters and create them in 3D using your imagination.
Monsters pre-date written history as stories of them persist across the ages sparking fear, fascination, and even pity. Frankenstein, Dracula werewolves, cyclops, mummies, and zombies have terrified and delighted audiences worldwide for decades. They appear in novels, on television, in movies, and music. In recent times, monsters have been depicted as friendly, misunderstood creatures and invoke a sympathetic response. Cookie Monster, Chewbacca, Shrek, and Monsters Inc. are examples of approach, furry monsters.
With so many examples to choose from, it’s hard to decide where to begin. So follow along to create some ghastly ghouls and purple people eaters!
Early Science Fiction: Frankenstein
Mainstream Monster Madness
In the 1900s, monster mayhem became mainstream with more approachable characters. The song Monster Mash was released by Bobby “Boris” Pickett and the Crypt Keepers in 1962. It’s become a staple of Halloween culture. Much like the latest TikTok trend, novelty dances were all the rage in the 1960s, and Monster Mash paired well with a popular dance at the time, the Mashed Potato. The song remains a classic. A few years later, in 1964, the Addams Family launched a whole family of bizarre characters in a series of single cartoons created by Charles Addams for The New Yorker.
Friendly Faces Inspire Kindness
Fast forward to the present, and monsters have become more kid-friendly in movies like Monsters Inc. and Hotel Transylvania. These films offer some creative creatures who look a lot less scary and are much more approachable to younger audiences.
Monster Making with 3Doodler
Exploring monsters through history, we noticed a few key traits that all monsters seem to share. So as you’re thinking about crafting a monster in 3D, be sure to keep four main character traits top of mind.
Physical: What are your monster’s physical traits? Is it big and tall or small and short? Does it have large teeth or sharp claws?
Physiological: What scares you? What makes your monster scary?
Target: What motivates your monster? What or who is it trying to get?
Weakness: Monsters aren’t invincible. What is it that makes your monster disappear? How will you defeat it?
Now, take your ideas and imagine how your monster should look. This free 3Doodler stencil will give you plenty of options to create a monster of your own. The template provides different shapes that you can combine to come up with a scary or silly creature all your own. Review the tutorial to see how to combine the shapes and where to add detail to customize your creation.
