Origin of the Species: Fimir II: Dawn of the Scredling

The creative genesis of the Fimir, Graeme Davis, Jes Goodwin and Tony Ackland (see part one), influenced by the artwork of Alan Lee and the morality of the Broo from Runequest.

But looking at the design we also find precursors to the design in the works of Jim Henson.

Clip starring Jim Henson puppeteering Scred from The Land of Gorch  from American show Saturday Night Live (1975), Note his hunch-backed, toothy snout and disheveled appearance.

Unfortunaely there is very little footage available from The Land of Gorch. I never broadcast in the UK as far as I know, and has never had a DVD or video release. only been released on DVD in 2006 SNL Complete First Season. Both Frank Oz and Jim Henson have gone on record saying it didn't really work, but mixing fantasy tropes with sitcom, Muppet Show-esque meta jokes and alternative comedy is certainly interesting. If you want more on The Land of Gorch see here - it's worth looking at a bit - 1975 fantasy 2 years before the D&D Monster Manual.

Scred was designed by Michael K. Frith, who did illustration and design work on much of the early Muppets and Sesame Street, an original sketch of Scred:

Lovely little drawing that, and bears more than a little resemblance to the more famous muppet Skeksis from the movie,  The Dark Crystal (1982) produced by Jim Henson with conceptual design from Brian Froud.

Skeksis concept art | Brian Froud

Brian Froud Ur-Ru

Both the Skeksis and the Ur-Ru designs seem to bare some vestigal remnants of Scred DNA, the Skeksis more so, but toothy beak-snout, the hunch-back, the dishevelled rags, the 3 fingers. An interesting element that the Ur-Ru added to the mix is the vaguely La-Tene knotwork patterning on the skin.

Quick reminder of the Alan Lee drawing

 Alan Lee had of course collaborated with Brian Froud in the late 1970s, on the best-selling fantsy art book Faeries, and I'm sure Alan would have been aware of his later feature film design work. The hunch, the snout, the mouth the ungainly arms, all hallmarks of the Scredling, even the colouration, although I think at this point Alan Lee was doing a lot of work in this palette.

Paul Bonner | Dwarves and The Mystic

Paul Bonner's Dwarf and Mystic is a personal piece from the mid 80's and used by Games Workshop as a back cover of White Dwarf, inspired by Froud, John Bauer and Finnish art. It's a wonderful piece and I could go on about it for days, another time tho'. Yes that's an Ur Ru in the centre of the picture. And finally we get to our Fimir.

Paul Bonner | Fimir | White Dwarf #102

I think at this point Paul was working from established miniature designs by Jes Goodwin and Nick Bibby, based on the initial concept art by Tony Ackland.   If we soley focus on the head-shape, the snout and the arms, I think it's fair to say there remains an inheritance of the Screds toothy beak-face, and hunch-back, probably inherited via the Skeksis and from the Ur-Ru in the La Tene style knotwork patterning on the armour.