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LEGO stop-motion film: Bestia (The Beast)

Today I would like to share with you an incredibly well-made LEGO stop-motion film by French animators France & Alex. The story is based on real historical events revolving around the mysterious Beast of Gévaudan; man-eating, wolf-like creature (or creatures) which terrorized the former province of Gévaudan in France between 1764 and 1767. The film is in French, but you can turn on caption in English below the video-player. It is a fascinating story with many twists and turns. 🙂

LEGO Stop-Motion Film Bestia

This LEGO stop motion film starts out with setting the scene for the story, based on true events. The caption reads: “Picture of the monster that saddens the Gévaudan country. This beast is the size of a young bull. It preferably attacks women and children. It drinks their blood, cuts their hear off and takes it away. 2700 pounds are promised to whoever kills this animal.” Interesting? Turn on the captions by hitting the little CC button below the video and enjoy the show!

Amazing film isn’t it? And a gripping story! It is also interesting to see how ordinary people, the church, and Louis XV (the French king at that time) responded to the reported events. And as far as the LEGO stop-motion film itself, the animation, editing, special effects and music are excellent – something that is not easy to achieve with LEGO stop-motion techniques, and takes tremendous time and patience. According to the information at the end of the video, it took about 3 years to make this film. Below is a behind-the-scenes look at how it was made.

For your information below are some excerpts from the Wikipedia article about the real-life events related to the Beast of Gévaudan. You can read the original here: Beast of Gévaudan on Wikipedia

LEGO Stop-Motion Film Bestia History

The Beast of Gévaudan (French: La Bête du Gévaudan) is the historical name associated with the man-eating wolves or wolf-like animals which terrorized the former province of Gévaudan (modern-day département of Lozère and part of Haute-Loire), in the Margeride Mountains in south-central France between 1764 and 1767. The attacks, which covered an area stretching 90 by 80 kilometers (56 by 50 miles), were said to have been committed by beasts that had formidable teeth and immense tails according to contemporary eyewitnesses. Witnesses also saw the beast was wounded at several occasions without dying. Those injuries include shots at point blank range.

LEGO Stop-Motion Film Bestia Scene 2

Victims were often killed by having their throats torn out. The French government used a considerable amount of manpower and money to hunt the animals; including the resources of several nobles, the army, civilians, and a number of royal huntsmen. The number of victims differs according to sources. In 1987, one study estimated there had been 210 attacks; resulting in 113 deaths and 49 injuries; 98 of the victims killed were partly eaten. However, other sources claim it killed between 60 to 100 adults and children, as well as injuring more than 30.

LEGO Stop-Motion Film Bestia The Beast

Descriptions of the time vary, but generally the beast was said to look like a wolf but about as big as a cow. It had a large dog-like head with small straight ears, a wide chest, and a large mouth which exposed very large teeth, and was in some reports said to have a muzzle like that of a pig or calf. The claws on its feet were as sharp as razors. The beast’s fur was said to be red in color but its back was streaked with black. It was also said to have quite an unpleasant odor.

LEGO Stop-Motion Film Bestia Reference

The Beast of Gévaudan carried out its first recorded attack in the early summer of 1764. A young woman, who was tending cattle in the Mercoire forest near Langogne in the eastern part of Gévaudan, saw the beast come at her. However the bulls in the herd charged the beast keeping it at bay, they then drove it off after it attacked a second time. Shortly afterwards the first official victim of the beast was recorded; 14-year-old Janne Boulet was killed near the village of Les Hubacs near the town of Langogne.

LEGO Stop-Motion Film Bestia Scene

Over the later months of 1764, more attacks were reported throughout the region. Very soon terror had gripped the populace because the beast was repeatedly preying on lone men, women and children as they tended livestock in the forests around Gévaudan. Reports note that the beast seemed to only target the victim’s head or neck regions; the bites were not to the arms and legs – the usual body parts favored by known predators such as wolves – making the woundings unusual.

Since the late 18th century, numerous explanations have been promulgated as to the exact identity of the beast. However none of the theories have been scientifically proven. Suggestions as to what sort of cryptid animals roamed Gévaudan have ranged from exaggerated accounts of wolf attacks, to the myths of the werewolf, or a punishment from God. Modern theorists now propose the beasts were some type of domestic dog or a wolf-dog hybrid on account of their large size and unusual coloration.

What do you think? How did you like this LEGO stop-motion film? And what about the story? Do you think the beast was a large wolf? Or something else? Feel free to share and discuss in the comment section below! 😉

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{ 29 comments… add one }
  • Lloydguy July 3, 2014, 10:40 AM

    First comment! If it was a domestic hybrid, then I would not want it as a pet 🙂

  • Tom July 3, 2014, 11:25 AM

    There is a great film made around this. I believe the US title is brotherhood of the wolf. Needs to be watched in french with subs for the best though but well worth it. Was an 18 here in the UK.

    Will watch this when home with interest!

    • admin July 3, 2014, 12:02 PM

      Tom, thanks for sharing that! Yeah, very interesting story!

  • BLProductions July 3, 2014, 11:49 AM

    Wow! That is absolutely stunning work. I’ve never tried Technic beams to raise and lower my camera, or curved rulers. Great story too. Had it been longer and more violent, it could have been a horror movie (I’m glad it’s not, though). 😉

    Off-topic, but my brother and I have thought up a full wave (or two) of LotR sets, including what minifigs come with each, and possible price. I can list them if anyone wants to see them (suggestions are welcome). 🙂

    • admin July 3, 2014, 12:04 PM

      Yeah, it is not just a great story, but an excellent stop-motion as well. And it is always interesting to see behind-the-senes stuff. And go ahead with that list! I would love to see what you guys came up with! 🙂

      • BLProductions July 3, 2014, 1:47 PM

        My brothers and I have made a few brick films, though they aren’t all that great. 😕
        After consulting them, we’ve so far decided on these sets:
        -Amon Hên Battle; minifigs- Boromir, Merry, Lurtz, Uruk-hai.
        -Rohirrim Ambush, w/ a Rohirrim, Pippin, Moria Orc, & Uruk-hai.
        -Bridge of Khazad-Dûm, w/ Gandalf, Balrog, & Moria Orc.
        -Tower of Cirith Ungol, w/ Frodo, Sam, Shagrat, & Mordor Orc.
        -The Crack of Doom, w/ Frodo, Sam, & Gollum.
        -Battle of Mt. Doom, w/ Elendil, Isildur, Elrond, & Sauron (figure).
        -The Entmoot, w/ Treebeard, Quickbeam, another Ent, Merry & Pippin.
        -Oliphaunt, w/ 2 or 3 Southrons, & 2 Gondor Rangers
        That’s pretty much it so far, I would like more Moria, Minas Tirith, and Barad-dûr, but they seem to big for LEGO. 😕 I would also have to re-watch the movie to get it right, as I base on the books. 😉

        • admin July 3, 2014, 2:03 PM

          I would love to see some of these! I’m sad that LEGO didn’t release a really large LOTR set. The ones the have made are nice, and I’m not complaining, but they are too puny in size compared to the epicness of the books and films.

          • BLProductions July 3, 2014, 8:40 PM

            Well, they did release the Tower of Orthanc, which is awesome. Now, if they released an equal sized Barad-dûr, that would be the Two Towers. 😛 The Great Eye could be a textile attached to both points on the side. 🙂

            I actually started a whole Moria series, where each set could be stacked on the others to form a huge Mines of Moria in Lego. But I haven’t worked on it recently. 😕

            • admin July 3, 2014, 10:20 PM

              Yes, that’s true about the Tower of Orthanc, I don’t know why I forgot about that one. That’s a really interesting concept about stackable models. Would love to see that! 😛

            • Daveia July 4, 2014, 11:29 AM

              Maybe the could use the Star wars planet series planet for the eye.

        • Jake July 3, 2014, 2:03 PM

          Yeah me too

        • BLProductions July 4, 2014, 10:38 AM

          Huh, I seem to have missed a few on that list. They were good ones too:
          -The Prancing Pony; minifigs- Butterbur, Frodo, Aragorn (with hood), A Nazgûl, & possibly Bill Ferny.
          -Witch King Duel, w/ Witch King, Eowyn, & Merry.
          I also thought of a possible Osgiliath, but nothing really happens there. 😕

          • admin July 4, 2014, 1:42 PM

            Yes, those are good ideas as well. I would love to see a LEGO Prancing Pony! With big jugs of beer… non-alcoholic of course. 🙄

  • Jake July 3, 2014, 2:02 PM

    I wish I could watch it

    • admin July 3, 2014, 2:04 PM

      Well… why don’t you? You just have to press the play button. 😉

  • Robin July 3, 2014, 8:00 PM

    Does anyone have any tips on brick filming and what I should use to film

    • BLProductions July 3, 2014, 8:34 PM

      1. have a good movie set, and a good storyline.
      2. You need a small point-and-shoot camera for taking pictures.
      3. You need a tripod. 😉

  • Robin July 3, 2014, 8:01 PM

    Golly jee batman there’s a beast on the loose.

  • Superweapon July 4, 2014, 9:08 AM

    Off topic but Exo-suit, Exo-Suit, EXO-SUIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Green classic space figs! Turtles! Peter Reid screaming!

    • admin July 4, 2014, 10:03 AM

      I know!!! I have been dancing around all morning! It is even better then I thought it was going to be! Greebled Exo Suit, Green spacemen, a turtle! Love every bit of it! Can’t wait! 😛

      • BLProductions July 4, 2014, 1:21 PM

        Awesome!!! I’m going to try to get it, I bet it will be sold out in hours. Like the turtle too! 😀
        Does anyone think the guy in the set will actually have a Zane-ish face? 😐

        • admin July 4, 2014, 1:44 PM

          I’m not sure about the head, yeah, it resembles Zane, but I think that’s unintended. And yes, I expect this set to sell out very fast…

          • Superweapon July 4, 2014, 6:50 PM

            It’s not actually Zane’s face but the Russian Soldier’s face from the Indiana Jones line (I have a few). Peter Reid’s (the creator of the set) personal minifig uses this face, hence the green astronaut having it. Also, said astronaut is voiced by him.

            • admin July 4, 2014, 7:14 PM

              Ahhh, that makes a lot of sense! Thanks for clarifying that. BTW, I put together an article for tomorrow so we can talk about the Exo Suit more freely instead of discussing it here. There is just so much to talk about! 😀

              • Chris July 17, 2014, 4:48 PM

                That would’ve been creepy. But it looks like an fat wolf. lol

  • Jake July 7, 2014, 10:21 PM

    That’s amazing! It was kinda creepy, though. 0_0

    • admin July 7, 2014, 10:23 PM

      Yeah, I probably should have said it not to watch at night. Imagine that people actually lived through this for real!

      • Chris July 17, 2014, 4:48 PM

        That would’ve been creepy. But it looks like an fat wolf.

  • Jake July 7, 2014, 10:29 PM

    Yeah really

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