Moving Pictures - Land of Giants

Recently released was a crowdfunded 12 minute pilot/proof of concept for Land of Giants, described as an apocalyptic steampunk sci-fi actioner, with hopes of it being picked up as a movie or television series.

After the storm reduced our world to ruins, the Giants came to us, to punish those who would ever again lay their hands on the magic called "Electricity".

A long time ago Crutch (Mathis Landwehr) challenged the Giants anger. His destroyed knee won't let him forget the day, they took everything from him.

So he ventured out to hunt and kill them.

Moving Pictures - Dr Grordbort Presents: The Deadliest Game

Recently coming to light is this Dr Grordbort moving picture, featuring Lord Broadforce, showing off his collection methods of rare Venusian wildlife - all guns blazing!  It is very much in the old pulp style of planetary adventure.

 

Moving Pictures - Lantern City Concept Trailer

Lantern City, the upcoming television steampunk show, have released a short moving picture concept trailer for it.  This is not the full trailer, but designed to give a feel for the visual style, character development, and emotional importance of the series.

Moving Pictures - Lantern City News

I have previously made mention of Lantern City, an upcoming steampunk television show.

Over on their facebook page, they have made an annoucement of a new actress joing the cast, that beign Gigi Edgley, who will play the role of Naomi Jones.  An Australian actress, she is best known outside of the antipodes for her role as Chiana in the quirky sci-fi series Farscape.

Steampunk in Space!

During the era on which steampunk is based, the nature of the planets was not entirely known.  There were many who thought, under its clouds, that Venus possessed a rich primeval world, while Mars had canals across it surface, built by dying civilisations.

This, of course led to a wide variety of stories in which men went to the moon, or Mars or Venus (such as in Edgar Rice Burrough's John Carter of Mars series), or of Martians coming to Earth (War of the Worlds).

As steampunk has in its origins that time period, it is not uncommon to find that it can reflect the ideas of that time, where Mars and Venus can be visited by man, or weird steampunk ships (and even airships) can sail through space.

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There has even been a game based upon the concept - Space 1889.

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Weta Workshop even got into the act with Dr Grordbort, including a couple of very short animated moving pictures, designed as a means to provoke interest in their Infallible Aether Oscillators.

So prepare to go boldly where steampunk has gone before - to space and beyond.

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Moving Pictures - Just Glue Some Gears On It

This short musical moving picture, entitled Just Glue Some Gears On It (And Call It Steampunk), grew out of a discussion about things that were not steampunk.  It refers to the lamentable habit of some to simply slap a few gears on an object in the mistaken belief that that is what makes a thing steampunky, when in fact it goes well beyond that.

Moving Pictures - The Sky High City of Steampuff

I just stumbled upon this on twitter - a steampunk moving picture cartoon called The Sky High City of Steampuff.

This is the first four minute cartoon.  More will come.  And it is rather awesome.  I'd show it to my children, if I had any.

Moving Pictures - Lantern City

Currently in development is Lantern City, an upcoming steampunk television show.

Their claim is 'Lantern City highlights the steampunk genre to create a one-of-a-kind television experience. Other properties have had Steampunk elements, but this is the first mainstream television show to proudly wear the label of Steampunk. Current fans of the subgenre will not be disappointed and it will attract a much wider audience to the long neglected world of Steampunk. The show is unique in that it allows viewers to be involved in the process – a first for any television show.'

It is being produced by Bruce Boxleitner (Tron & Babylon 5),  and so far has announced Raphael Sbarge, (Once upon a Time & Mass Effect), Mira Furlan (Lost & Babylon 5), and John Rhys-Davies (Indiana Jones & Lord of the Rings) as cast members.

It has a Pinterest page, Facebook page and forums where people are encouraged to make suggestions for the show.

Early conceptual art looks impressive.  I look forward to see how it turns out.

Moving Pictures - Steampunk Transformer

The Transformers landed in modern times and took on the appearance of modern vehicles - but what if they didn't?  What if they landed in, say, steampunk Victorian times?

They may have ended up looking something like this.

Moving Pictures - What is Steampunk?

To show some of the various views on what steampunk is, the following moving pictures are presented for your perusal.

Moving Pictures - Tai Chi Zero

While steampunk may have started off with a very Victorian feel, it has moved on beyond that now.  Steampunk can take place in near any setting the creator's mind takes it.  Such is the case with the moving picture called Tai Chi Zero - which is a kung-fu steampunk movie.

Moving Pictures - Arms Race and Aurora

Here we have two more moving pictures of steampunk in action.

The first, Arms Race, is a short five minute show of action in the Crimean War, if steampunk had been involved.

[1]

The second, Aurora, is much longer, at thirty minutes.  'After his wife Alina (Nikki Gaertner-Eaton) is kidnapped by a group of slave traders and put up for sale to the highest bidder, Emerson Marks (Peter Rossi), captain of the airship ‘Aurora’ flies out in search of her. With his crew’s opinions divided and the ruthless slave trader LeMaher (Mark Aitchison) in his way, Emerson must decide how much he is willing to sacrifice in order to bring back the one he loves.' [2]

Created on just $1800, it is most impressive given it had basically no budget.  Made in the antipodes, it reminds me in some way of a steampunk version of Firefly.

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[1] itsatrapuk (2010) Arms Race - steampunk short film. [online] Available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQT6Bnqsvg0&feature=fvwrel [Accessed: 25 Nov 2012].

[2] Aurorathefilm.com (n.d.) Aurora. [online] Available at: http://www.aurorathefilm.com/ [Accessed: 25 Nov 2012].

[3] AuroraTheFilm (2011) Aurora - Steampunk Short Film. [online] Available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RG0BO2P78E&feature=related [Accessed: 25 Nov 2012].

Moving Pictures - A Gentleman's Duel

When honour demands satisfaction, the only recourse left to a gentlemen is to settle the matter with a duel.  Of course, when steampunk becomes involved, it is not a simple matter of pistols and ten paces, as can be seen by this eight minute animated moving picture.