The Unexpected Challenge Clifford The Big Red Dog’s Natural Color Caused For The Movie’s Crew
After years of charming audiences in the pages of books and animated series, Clifford the Big Red Dog is finally making his live-action debut on the big screen. The latest trailer for the movie hints that the beloved dog is going to get himself into plenty of humorous situations. However, plenty of viewers have also probably taken notice of Clifford’s live-action look, particularly his signature red fur. While the crew ultimately managed to land on a color they were pleased with, the process of doing so created an unexpected problem for them.
Working with a CGI character can be challenging for a myriad of reasons, but it can be even more tedious when you’re dealing with a visually distinct character. The creative team behind Clifford the Big Red Dog truly had their work cut out for them. I recently had the pleasure of speaking with director Walt Becker and producer Jordan Kerner, who shed some light on the process of zeroing in on a suitable shade of red.
When asked how long it took to land the color, Walt Becker was honest, saying that it took “a long time.” He also explained that before they even got to determining the red, there were other variables to consider when crafting a red dog reminiscent of the one seen in the books:
Jordan Kerner echoed Walt Becker’s sentiments, jokingly saying that neither he nor Becker had gray hair before they started working on Clifford’s fur color. The veteran producer, who’s worked on adaptations ranging from Inspector Gadget to Charlotte’s Web, also discussed some of the technical hurdles that came with the color:
You have to appreciate the level of time and effort that was put into nailing the look of Clifford the Big Red Dog’s star, and it’s nice to hear they had the necessary tech at their fingertips. It’s true that red is a difficult color to nail down, but Jordan Kerner’s comments suggest that they found a color that both looks good on screen and stays true to Clifford’s iconic appearance.
Clifford the Big Red Dog arrives in theaters on September 17th.
CINEMABLEND NEWSLETTER
Your Daily Blend of Entertainment News
Erik Swann is a Senior Content Producer at CinemaBlend. He began working with the publication in 2020 when he was hired as Weekend Editor. Today, he continues to write, edit and handle social media responsibilities over the weekend. On weekdays, he also writes TV and movie-related news and helps out with editing and social media as needed. He graduated from the University of Maryland, where he received a degree in Broadcast Journalism. After shifting into multi-platform journalism, he started working as a freelance writer and editor before joining CB. Covers superheroes, sci-fi, comedy, and almost anything else in film and TV. He eats more pizza than the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.