Celebration Japan: The Dewback Project
July 21, 2008
(photo by Bonnie Burton)
Words: Bonnie Burton
Chances are if you attended Celebration Japan, you got to climb onto the full-size dewback created by Japanese Garrison member Goro Inoue and his dedicated crew which include Kayo Saeki, Ruriko Tsutsumi, Yayoi Negishi, Otoe Takahashi, Jun Agata, Daisuke Togami, Takatoshi Makiuchi, Masaaki Fukada, Kakuyuki Yamazaki, Hiroshi Shounai, Keisuke Aiso, and Masaru Sato; with special thanks to Mish’al Samman, Takefumi Tenshima, Toshio Fujisawa, Toshiki and Kaori Komiya, Art Andrews, Kazuhisa Kawahara, Takeshi Ogawa, Mary Frankin, Steve Sansweet, the Dented Helmet, the 501st Legion and Lucasfilm Ltd.
Walking past the dewback, I spied everyone from little kids and their parents, to fans dressed as Princess Leia and Obi-Wan Kenobi, among others. The dewback always had a long of people eager to get the photo op of a lifetime.
I chatted with Goro about his fantastic creation, and what prompted him to donate his blood, sweat and money to The Dewback Project.
(photo by Bonnie Burton)
Why did you decide to make a life-size dewback for Celebration Japan?
I wanted to do something unique and original to celebrate A New Hope. It’s nice to have something that fans can climb on and take a photo with instead of the usual “don’t touch this prop” kind of thing. This is something the whole family can pose with. I think the most people we’ve gotten on the dewback at once is 5!
What did you use to make the dewback?
We started with a wooden frame with Styrofoam to carve and shape the body. Then we put clay on top and started really sculpting the details. I took a mold of head, feet and a leg — which means I can make a few more of them. The body is a one-time plaster mold.
How long did the dewback take to make?
It tool 3 1/2 months with my elite crew to make the dewback.
Are you surprise at how popular you dewback is at this convention?
I haven’t had time to check but I can’t wait to see how many photos of it are online now, but a lot of people were posing on it. People gave me a lot of compliments on it, including model maker Lorne Peterson, which was an honor.
Where is the dewback headed next?
Probably storage for awhile. Since a lot of money went into making it, it would be great if a collector who really liked the dewback bought it so I could make what I put into it back, and give some of the money to Make a Wish Foundation as well.
Check out our Celebration Japan photo set to see fans posing on the dewback and more!
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July 21, 2008 at 11:22 am
Fantastic job!
July 21, 2008 at 11:37 am
All that talent and humility, too. Big thumbs up!
July 21, 2008 at 7:26 pm
Goro!!! I love you man! Great job my brother.
Goro from Japan!!
Arturo
July 21, 2008 at 11:36 pm
Now this is called a prop. Wonderful job ! So much better than all those cardboard thingies.
July 22, 2008 at 3:28 am
Hey, I think this would be FANTASTIC for CELEBRATION 5! hint! hint!
July 22, 2008 at 3:53 am
I echo Dustin’s sentiments! We could gather around it for a big RS fan photo op!
July 22, 2008 at 5:36 am
Amazing job! Congratulations!!
July 22, 2008 at 9:26 am
That is SO awesome!
July 22, 2008 at 10:21 am
Japanese Garrison all the way! Goro you make us so proud
July 22, 2008 at 7:26 pm
i wish i was there!
July 24, 2008 at 1:19 pm
Goro you are amazing! I hope I see it in person soon!
July 24, 2008 at 8:54 pm
Amazing job Goro! You make us proud, brother!
July 24, 2008 at 9:11 pm
GORO FROM JAPAN Does it again - wow! This is the coolest thing I”ve seen all year.
July 24, 2008 at 10:27 pm
That’s amazing work Goro! Please bring it to Celebration 5. If everyone chips in $20 towards the cost of shipping, it would be no problem!
July 25, 2008 at 12:51 am
Nicely done! Japanese Garrison all the way. So much for the love of history that took place a long time ago.
July 25, 2008 at 4:53 am
To Goro and crew, amazing job!
Kudos to you and the Japanese Garrison. You make us proud!
July 25, 2008 at 9:44 am
Excellent domestic saurious!!
This dewback is a proper replica from anh creatures.
July 25, 2008 at 10:14 am
Fantastic job to Goro and his team. You guys did an excellent job on the Dewback. I don’t think anybody could have made any more real. Keep up the good work!
-B’rutuss Kast-
July 25, 2008 at 11:05 am
WOW!!!!!!!!!
GREAT JOB!!!!
And what about a Ronto real size model? or a Bantha? *-)
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!
Andres
July 25, 2008 at 12:13 pm
Install it at the Mos Espa film set in Tunisia, I would love to see all the tourists faces when they saw that !!! LOL
July 27, 2008 at 4:55 am
Gorosan, shinjirarenai! Totally Fantastic. If I were to ever win lotto, I would be honoured to buy it & place it on display for all my fellow Australian SW fans.
July 30, 2008 at 2:47 pm
[…] left in the uniform is Mish’al. I met him at Celebration Japan where he was working on the Dewback project. It was absolutely amazing that I saw this guy wearing this Dewback shirt and then looked […]
July 30, 2008 at 4:03 pm
[…] BEST ATTRACTION: Life-size Dewback Yeah, that’s me on Dewy. This fan-made attraction had the longest lines and the fans loved LOVED loved it. I kinda wish Lucasfilm would buy it for our next Celebration in the States. Or maybe put it in the daycare area at the Lucasfilm campus at the Presidio. This thing was AWESOME! I interviewed Goro who made it if you want to find out more: The Dewback Project […]
August 5, 2008 at 7:38 am
gorosan tankyou!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!