Monday, July 23, 2012

Crash Bandicoot - Origin of Aku Aku

For the Crash fans. Bet ya haven't seen this before.

The character of Aku Aku was originally considered to be a fairy or a genie. Not necessarily a voodoo mask. Even when he was conceived to go in that direction, it was initially someone who wore the mask as opposed to magically floating around on its own.

These are the original concept sketches for the character that would become Aku Aku in the Crash Bandicoot series. They were created in early 1995.




As you review this original development art and other original concept development work I'll be posting I'd like you to ask yourselves this question. This is all from Crash Bandicoot in its earliest days when the project was called Willy the Wombat. Why do you think this hasn't been shown until now? Why didn't anyone involved with the production of Crash ever showcase the full extent of the original development art for the project? This art has been in existence for more than 17 years. Was this ever shown in its entirety? Why wasn't the complete collection of development art for Crash Bandicoot ever been shown before?   

5 comments:

tengg said...

Oh, this is freaking awesome...
I haven't any idea why Naughty Dog did never show it us but I really want to know why.

Anonymous said...

Naughty Dog had lot's of concept and 3D art on the old site that was closed.
It's very difficult not only found those concept art but also a lot of 3D high poly models and renders that they created for Crash. There a re a lot of it but those cannot be found on the internet very easy.
Maybe you have answers to those questions right?

Unknown said...

This is radical Charles! I never knew that you designed Aku Aku! I thought it was ND's idea!

Anyway shape or form, a lot of art and renders in the Naughty Dog era are never seen in the public before, very few of them are found in merchandising. Still exiting to see them now!

Charles Z said...

Thanks for your comments guys. The full history behind Crash Bandicoot has never really been disclosed. It's primarily been Naughty Dog's spin which has a lot of misrepresentations.

- said...

Ok first of all, these are really really cool. They look like something you'd see from The Fairly Odd Parents.