Check out Batman concept art by Julian Caldow!
Welcome to Flashback Friday where I feature artwork from classic science-fiction movies or tv shows. Today's feature is Batman.
The Batmobile is the most iconic vehicles in comic book history. In 1989, when Anton Furst, the production designer set out to bring Batman's ride to the screen they had a unique take that fit Tim Burton's dark vision. "The Batmobile was more like a knight in armor, an extension, an expression of Batman’s costume—an intimidating, furious war machine," Furst told Bomb magazine. "We didn’t spend much time looking at concept cars of the future. We went back in time. We wanted it to look very forbidding, and the most forbidding things that we had ever seen were some of those surveillance aircraft, so it had that stealth look to it. It’s like a knight in armor, with that shrouded, helmeted feel to it, and then with a rocket engine right down it – so you end up with this piece of pure expressionism."
In the past, I've attributed several designs for Batman as being from Anton Furst. But several helpful readers pointed out the designs are actually from artist Julian Caldow. So I'm making a separate feature to share his designs of the Batmobile, Batplane, grappling gun and the unused communicator design.
Julian Caldow is a professional concept artist who's worked on big-budget movies like Jupiter Ascending (2015), Gravity (2013), and X-Men: First Class (2011).
Click on the images to enlarge. *Note: Some are very low res.
See more of Julian Caldow's portfolio at http://www.krop.com/juliancaldow/
Click on the links if you want to see more of Julian Caldow's work or Batman artwork on my blog.
About Batman (1989)
Official synopsis: "Tim Burton directs this big-screen outing for the caped crusader. The streets of Gotham City are no longer safe for criminals, who are being picked off by a masked vigilante in a rubber suit - dubbed 'Batman' by the press. Reporter Alexander Knox (Robert Wuhl) teams with photographer Vicki Vale (Kim Basinger) in an attempt to discover Batman's true identity - an investigation which leads them to the door of mysterious millionaire Bruce Wayne (Michael Keaton). Meanwhile, crime boss Carl Grissom's (Jack Palance) attempt to rid himself of untrustworthy henchman Jack Napier (Jack Nicholson) does not go according to plan, and after emerging physically - and mentally - disfigured from a vat of chemicals, Napier reinvents himself as the psychotic Joker..."Directed by Tim Burton
Cinematography by Roger Pratt
Production Design by Anton Furst
"Batman" stars Michael Keaton, Jack Nicholson, Kim Basinger, Robert Wuhl, Pat Hingle, Billy Dee Williams, Michael Gough, Jack Palance, Jerry Hall, Tracey Walter, Lee Wallace, William Hootkins, Richard Strange, Carl Chase, Mac McDonald,
"Batman" was released on June 23, 1989 (United States)
What do you think of the concept art? If you've seen Batman what do you think of the look?
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- X-Men: First Class' Concept Art by Julian Caldow
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