Buzz
The quality of a film is shaped by its narrative, performances, visual effects, and sound design. Sound effects, in particular, play a crucial role in determining a movie's success. They enhance every on-screen action, and their precision is vital. When executed well, sound effects crafted by designers can evoke the intended emotional response from viewers.
Some sound effects from beloved films are so memorable that hearing them instantly brings to mind the associated object or character. For instance, the hum of lightsabers from Star Wars is recognizable even without visual cues.
Artists often use unconventional everyday objects to produce the distinctive sounds they imagine, and animals frequently play a behind-the-scenes role in creating iconic sound effects. Interestingly, many viewers are unaware that animals contributed to these sounds or don’t know which species were involved. Below are the top ten animal-created sound effects in movies.
10. Fight Club (1999) - Punching Sounds
Fight Club is a captivating drama centered around a sleep-deprived office worker seeking a drastic life change and a carefree soap maker. Their unlikely meeting leads to the creation of an underground fight club, which eventually spirals into something far darker.
In a fight club, punches are inevitable. Director David Fincher aimed to revolutionize the sound design of punches, moving away from the repetitive effects used in earlier films like Rocky. Sound designers Ren Klyce and John Roesch were tasked with creating a variety of distinct punch sounds to meet Fincher's high standards.
Roesch took a conventional approach, experimenting with punching himself, heavy bags, leather, and meat. Klyce, however, opted for more unconventional methods. He used pigs’ feet, cracked walnuts inside chicken carcasses, and even shattered the carcasses with baseball bats. These experiments resulted in the film's realistic, unique, and somewhat unsettling punch sounds, with chickens playing a key role in achieving this effect.
9. X-Men (2000)
Designing sound effects for a beloved comic book series is no easy task. Fans are meticulous about details, and any misstep could lead to the film's failure. The pressure to deliver exceptional sound design is immense.
Craig Berkey and Stephen Flick were well aware of the challenges when they joined the X-Men project. Both seasoned professionals in comic book sound design, they had previously recreated numerous classic comic book sounds. Their collaboration focused on crafting a realistic “snikt” for Wolverine’s claws, paying close attention to details like the CGI claws' length and the speed at which they extended and retracted.
To replicate the sound of Wolverine’s claws piercing and retracting from his flesh, they sought something raw and authentic to avoid a cartoonish imitation. They blended the sound of a blade being unsheathed with the cracking of nuts and, once more, chicken sounds. Once again, chickens played a crucial role, their sacrifice contributing to the visceral effect of metal slicing through flesh.
8. Transformers (2007) - Frenzy
While opinions on the newer Transformers films vary among fans, especially those who have followed the franchise since its pre-live-action days, many agree that the smaller, more chaotic Decepticons add a layer of entertainment.
Frenzy stood out as one of these quirky robots. Tasked with infiltrating Air Force One, stealing data, targeting Sam Witwicky and Mikaela Banes (who eventually decapitated him with a saw), and breaking into the Hoover Dam to revive Megatron, this hyperactive bot was known for creating chaos and noise.
Voiced by Reno Wilson, a master of vocal versatility, Frenzy required numerous sound effects to match his sinister, mechanical nature. Sound designers enhanced his speech and movements with the ticking of a metal wind-up clock and, surprisingly, the rhythmic patterns of a young cougar's growls.
7. LOTR: The Fellowship Of The Ring (2001) - The Orcs Of Moria
While some creatures in Lord of the Rings had straightforward sound design, such as the wargs' howls created from recordings of sound designer David Farmer and real dogs, others were more intricate. The orcs of Moria demanded extra effort, though their limited dialogue narrowed Farmer's focus.
Upon seeing the orcs' initial design, Farmer knew he needed a specific seal sound but wanted to avoid overused sea lion noises. His inspiration came from baby elephant seals at California’s Marine Mammal Center, which perfectly suited the smaller orcs.
It’s challenging to connect the adorable image of baby elephant seals with the terrifying orcs, but the approach worked brilliantly, showcasing Farmer's innovative thinking.
6. The Lord Of The Rings (2001–2003) - Uruk-Hai
The Uruk-hai were far more formidable, intelligent, and dangerous than the orcs. While orcs often elicited dark amusement, the Uruk-hai commanded fear and respect.
These distinctions required Farmer to find a deeper, more menacing voice. He achieved this by blending sounds from three animals: sea lions for pain reactions, and lions and tigers for aggressive noises. To humanize the effects, he layered these with human vocal recordings.
5. Tarzan (1939) - Tarzan’s Yell
The origin of Tarzan’s iconic yell has long been debated. Johnny Weissmuller, who portrayed Tarzan, insisted he alone created the yell, inspired by a yodel he imagined while reading the Tarzan books as a child.
MGM, the studio behind the film, offered a different account. They asserted that Weissmuller’s voice was enhanced with the howl of a hyena, a soprano’s high C, a violin’s pluck, and a camel’s bleat. While the truth may never be confirmed, the yell became iconic, though MGM’s version seems somewhat implausible.
4. Jurassic Park (1993) - T-Rex
Jurassic Park gained widespread acclaim for its groundbreaking use of technology, particularly its visual effects. However, the film’s sound design also earned significant praise, with the T-Rex’s roar standing out as one of the most impressive in cinematic history.
Creating the T-Rex’s realistic vocals required immense creativity, as its actual sound remains unknown. With birds and crocodilians as its closest living relatives, sound designers had to think outside the box.
The terrifying roar was crafted using a mix of a baby elephant’s squeal, an alligator’s gurgle, and a tiger’s growl. The grunts came from a koala bear, whose deep voice belies its size, while the breathing sounds were created using air escaping a whale’s blowhole.
3. Star Wars - TIE Fighters
Once again, Ben Burtt is credited with creating another iconic Star Wars sound. The TIE Fighters' sound was inspired by World War II Ju 87 (Stuka) dive-bombers, which used air ducts to produce a terrifying siren wail designed to intimidate. Their sole purpose was to instill fear, and they succeeded.
Initially, the goal was to evoke the same sensation without relying on sound. However, Burtt blended slowed-down elephant sounds from a documentary about saving African elephants with the noise of cars on wet roads. He admitted to using this combination out of necessity and was astonished when it received widespread acclaim and became a legendary sound effect.
Unconventional animal sounds can be a game-changer for sound designers, offering unique solutions to creative challenges.
2. Star Wars - Chewbacca
Chewbacca, one of Star Wars' most cherished characters, won hearts without uttering a single word in English. His loyalty, humor, and furry appearance, combined with his distinctive grunts and growls, made him unforgettable. But what brought the Wookiee language to life?
Sound designer Ben Burtt crafted Chewie’s voice, a task made challenging by the character’s lack of traditional lips and limited mouth movement. Fortunately, bears naturally vocalize from their throats, providing a foundation for Chewbacca’s sounds. A four-month-old cinnamon bear reportedly contributed significantly, though rumors suggest additional input from three other bears, a badger, a lion, a seal, and a walrus from Long Beach.
Chewie’s popularity has spawned a niche industry of YouTube tutorials teaching fans how to speak Wookiee, showcasing the character’s enduring appeal.
1. Jurassic Park (1993) - Munching On The Lawyer
One of the most darkly humorous scenes in Jurassic Park is when Martin Ferrero’s character, Donald Gennaro, meets his end at the jaws of the T-Rex while seated on a toilet.
In the book, Donald survives and even rescues the children. However, Ferrero revealed that Steven Spielberg informed him during casting that his character would be devoured—specifically while using the restroom. Ferrero has since embraced his legacy as the actor who was eaten on the toilet, taking it in stride.
The gruesome crunching sounds of Donald being eaten were created using the sound of a content horse chewing on a corncob.
Delicious.
