Re: Aliens that look alien.
Posted: Mon Oct 26, 2009 11:18 am
As a student studying biology at Newcastle University I would like to throw my (meager) weight behind a few concepts. I think when designing aliens that look realistic (i.e. not an incomprehensible blob and not a human with some forehead ridges) it would behoove all designers to bare in mind a few biological principals:
-Form follows function and function follows form. Nature tends not to tolerate useless physical features unless they are vestigial traits from the creatures evolutionary history (snakes with hipbones, flightless birds with wing muscles etc.). Don't design aliens that look cool but neglect the practical aspects. Your Chitinous bug-like alien may be overflowing with bad-assitude but remember, how does it speak, eat, defecate, reproduce, and how does it scratch it's back? (laugh now but lets see how long a species lasts without being able to get rid of exoparisites!
- every creature is well adapted to it's environment. They might be interdimensional beings from the depths of the ether realm, but at one point your alien was just another dumb critter that had to survive it's environment. keep in mind how your alien came about (using point 1).
-Convergent evolution. Look at the shark, the dolphin and the ichthyosaur. A fish a mammal and a reptile all with remarkably similar structure. They all needed to exploit the same environment (open ocean) and they all naturally evolved into the most efficient form to do so. Don't be afraid to look to earths organisms to research the way they have overcome specific problems. This doesn't mean a copy-pasta of animal bits, like a Frankenstein monster made out of the remains of a cluster bombed zoo. Use with restraint. Use these references as guides and inspiration.
-Personal note. Think outside the square! Think of some wildly different ways that life could have come about. What would it be like if life evolved on a sun? what would an alien that photosynthesizes look like? What about a species with three or more sexes or intelligent life that has evolved from a parasite? It is likely that most of your ideas will not be practical but when you free your mind to the endless possibilities there is always the chance that you come up with a real gem. (my favorites were always the silicoids)
In my opinion the best aliens are the believable ones. We can solve some of these problems mentioned above (portrayal of emotion etc.) if we create creatures that really could exist. I think the rest will follow naturally. I hope this guide helps. I would be happy to answer any questions about biology if anyone thinks they will be relevant or expand on any points if people think a further guide would be useful.
-Cheers,
Jish
-Form follows function and function follows form. Nature tends not to tolerate useless physical features unless they are vestigial traits from the creatures evolutionary history (snakes with hipbones, flightless birds with wing muscles etc.). Don't design aliens that look cool but neglect the practical aspects. Your Chitinous bug-like alien may be overflowing with bad-assitude but remember, how does it speak, eat, defecate, reproduce, and how does it scratch it's back? (laugh now but lets see how long a species lasts without being able to get rid of exoparisites!
- every creature is well adapted to it's environment. They might be interdimensional beings from the depths of the ether realm, but at one point your alien was just another dumb critter that had to survive it's environment. keep in mind how your alien came about (using point 1).
-Convergent evolution. Look at the shark, the dolphin and the ichthyosaur. A fish a mammal and a reptile all with remarkably similar structure. They all needed to exploit the same environment (open ocean) and they all naturally evolved into the most efficient form to do so. Don't be afraid to look to earths organisms to research the way they have overcome specific problems. This doesn't mean a copy-pasta of animal bits, like a Frankenstein monster made out of the remains of a cluster bombed zoo. Use with restraint. Use these references as guides and inspiration.
-Personal note. Think outside the square! Think of some wildly different ways that life could have come about. What would it be like if life evolved on a sun? what would an alien that photosynthesizes look like? What about a species with three or more sexes or intelligent life that has evolved from a parasite? It is likely that most of your ideas will not be practical but when you free your mind to the endless possibilities there is always the chance that you come up with a real gem. (my favorites were always the silicoids)
In my opinion the best aliens are the believable ones. We can solve some of these problems mentioned above (portrayal of emotion etc.) if we create creatures that really could exist. I think the rest will follow naturally. I hope this guide helps. I would be happy to answer any questions about biology if anyone thinks they will be relevant or expand on any points if people think a further guide would be useful.
-Cheers,
Jish