The Electric State

In The Electric State’s world of 1994, a devastating robot uprising has left humanity and artificial intelligence caught in an uneasy stalemate. Michelle, an orphaned teen navigating life in the wake of this cataclysm, goes in search of her lost brother across the American southwest, accompanied by a sweet yellow robot called Cosmo.  

Wētā Workshop had the pleasure of traversing this alt-historical landscape directed by Anthony and Joe Russo and based on Simon Stålenhag’s 2018 graphic novel of the same name. Working closely with production designer Richard Johnson, we built a series of full-size poseable Cosmos that could be used for over-the-shoulder shots and as VFX lighting reference busts, as well as some small-scale Cosmo props. 

Supplied with a design and a VFX 3D model featuring his pearly whites and slick coiffure, we created a 3D model for manufacture as the start of our build process, then set out to resolve how Cosmo’s range of motion could work. The answer came in the form of camera gear — specifically, their ball-and-socket joints, which worked effortlessly for his shoulders, elbows, wrists and knees. Cosmo then had his final components 3D-printed, finished, textured and painted.