Stranger Things: The Demogorgon

Photo: Aaron Sims Company

Besides Eleven, probably the next terrifying character in Stranger Things is the Demogorgon, the mysterious creature who calls to mind everything from Alien to Guillermo del Toro. In order for Stranger Things to first envision the terrifying monster lurking within “Upside Down,” creators Matt and Ross Duffer first enlisted the artists at Aaron Sims Creative, visual talent behind everything from Disney’s Pete’s Dragon to the re-vamped look of The Amazing Spider-Man, who were given the task of designing a “humanoid creature with no face, just a mouth.”

With all the fans waiting to see the return of Stranger Things on Netflix this year, we’re being teased with a new look at how the Demogorgon is created. Spectral Motion was tasked to build the actual monster from concept artist Aaron Sims. According to Entertainment Weekly, the really freaky head was built using animatronics.

Concept designs

For a more human look at the process, the company also shared some behind-the-scenes sneak peek in the process of making the Demogorgon come to life. This is in part thanks to Mark Steger who puts on the costume and some prosthetics.

This process may seem really old given what CGI can do for movie effects nowadays. In an earlier interview, the Duffer brothers have shared that their dream was to, in fact, create the monster to life not with a computer, but rather to bring it to literal life. This is a shout-out to the horror monster movies of old—the very inspirations that the directors have taken to bring Stranger Things to Life.

It stands to reason Season 2 would unlock additional secrets of either Upside Down, or the Demogorgon itself, though no design work has officially begun toward a prospective second season. Like us, Sims is anxiously awaiting that greenlight, but what other scary secrets of other dimensions do future Stranger Things hold?

Stranger Things is expected to debut its second season this year.