Mini Series Elephant Kiwis (aka Anteater Ducks aka Skura)

By now, it is no secret that I am a fan of the elephant kiwis (aka anteater ducks, as referred to in the script, or skura, their buzz-killing official name). In fact, they are my favorite creatures since the Disney acquisition. This is where we celebrate them. Why? Because they have cute wittle elephant heads and kiwi bodies, but they look kinda sad, that's why. Here they are in various lighting situations. Love and cherish them, please. Thank you.

 

Porgs for life

 

The skura are getting sadder. Not enough love.

 

These guys feel like they're actually part of their ecosystem.

 

Love 'em!

 

Where did they film these shots / this planet?

 

Madeira, if I’m not mistaken.

 

I like them a lot! Fit right in in SW.

 

Curious to hear who designed them. Scanlan? Others? Whoever it was, they’re geniuses.

 

Dunno Adam Burn has a bunch of concept art for the show though ... https://www.artstation.com/adamburnart/albums/13492654

 

They’ve evolved to resemble their environment. This implies they’re subject to predation by some, as yet unseen, creature. Hopefully we’ll get to see some of them get mauled next week.

 

I really like their combination of cute, ugly, weird and…sad? There’s a melancholy about them that adds so much.

 

Will you still think the designer is a genius when you find out it was RYAN CHURCH

 

I was so afraid they were gonna be the main ingredient of Osha’s soup. And I was like — noooo not that adorable family unit.

 

If it’s Ryan Church, I will publiish an apology speech here and withdraw to a Himalayan
refuge.

Who am I kidding? Worst creature design ever!

 

Who is Ryan church and why is he automatically bad?

 

Don’t speak his name!

 

I think it might be Marko Manev. https://www.instagram.com/MarkoManev/

He's the one who did the episode posters and there's a quote from him - or some kind of tweet - saying that "the script called for a cross between a duck and an anteater."

But its on X and can't actually see it myself.

 

If so, Marko is magnificent. It’s hard to get a Star Wars creature just right, and this one does that and more.

Kudos to Scanlan and his team for realizing them as puppets, too. They look incredibly lifelike.

 

Which one of them is Darth Plagueis?

 

All of them. Power of one, power of two, power of MAAAANNYY!

 

What we need is a show that's like Clangers, but with Skura, and any other little critters who live nearby.

Spoiler

 

....wonder where the name comes from in-universe. Are there locals on this world, or did Qimir just decide to call them that?

 

I think maybe from an employee at Lucasfilm.