Awesome Weta

During a 2020 trip to New Zealand’s famed Wētā Workshop, Adam Savage learned a lot about how they create practical visual effects. Among his experiences was this lesson from Project Supervisor Mona Peters on how to create convincing miniature landscapes by spraying on layers of green flocking with an electrostatic gun.

Weta Workshop is one of the world’s best special effects and prop companies. Now, visitors to Auckland, New Zealand can enjoy a 90-minute interactive tour that allows them to experience the creative processes behind three imaginary movies in the horror, sci-fi and fantasy genres. Book tickets here.

One of the world’s leading shops for practical visual effects is Wellington, New Zealand’s Weta Workshop. If you need creatures, miniatures, vehicles, weapons, robots, or just about anything else, they’re your guys. Their 2020 reel showcases just a handful of their many incredible visual accomplishments over the years.

Weta Workshop teamed up with Trishula Entertainment to create a board game based on the movie District 9. Set in the movie’s timeline, the game has you play one of four factions, with the goal of gathering the most tech and surviving until the end.

Tested visited Weta Workshop to take a look at some of the props they made for the live action Ghost in the Shell movie. In particular, they showed off the Major’s thermoptic suit, as well as the masks and animatronics for the robot geisha.

From special effects masters Weta Workshop comes Giant Killer Robots: Heavy Hitters. It’s a board game about corporate mechs salvaging abandoned cities for profit. Pick your mech and pilot and either salvage the most resources or destroy the enemy mechs.

Weta Workshop will release a line of collectibles based on the upcoming Warcraft movie. The merch includes a 1:10 scale statue of Orgrim Doomhammer, a 1:6 scale footman suit of armor and a 1:6 scale Axe of Durotan.

Made by WETA using the designs of Jens Hansen, the ringmaker who made the One Ring movie prop for The Lord of the Rings trilogy. The ring is made of 18K gold-plated tungsten carbide.

And we thought this replica was impressive. Weta followed up the Sentry Gun replica with a model of the turret from Portal. It has a motion sensor, protracting guns and it doesn’t hate you.

WETA makes full-size dupes of the first gun Wikus fired at MNU HQ for target practice. Based on the original design by Greg Broadmore, WETA says the weapon won’t fire unless you are part prawn.

WETA Workshop (yes that WETA) built this incredible full-size Level 1 Sentry Gun from Team Fortress 2 for the guys at Valve. How much do you think shipping from New Zealand cost them?

While the full-size replicas have all sold out, you can get your hands on this 1/4-scale mini version of the assault rifle Wikus used to do his first target practice when he’s captured at MNU headquarters.

Made by Master Swordsmith Peter Lyon, Strider’s Sword is a must for Lord of the Rings fans: based on the blade wielded by Aragorn during his ranger days, only three are available.

Missed out on WETA’s 1:1 scale District 9 Arc Generator? This full-size, prawn-friendly Gas Projector gun is also an exact replica from the movie; it’s limited to 200 and made from fiberglass.

A zaptastic addition to Dr. Grordbort’s steampunk arsenal, the Pearce 75 Ray Gun a man-sized raygun made completely out of metal; it’s limited to 400 pieces and includes a gun stand.

It’s a pity that WETA’s one-of-a-kind rayguns are already sold out; each of the trio (Sputnik 500, Death from Above, Jagd Kanone) features slick WW2/steampunk paint jobs.

Now available for Victorian men and women: Dr. Grordbort’s Victory is a steampunk-themed book that delves into the backstories and mythos behind Weta’s collectible ray-gun line.

At a savings of $15, the Doctor Who Helmet Pack consists of three of WETA’s first 1/4 scale helmets from his worst enemies: the Sycorax, Sontaran Officer Linx and Ice Warrior.