He is twice the size of a jumbo jet and covered in over a million unique scales. Featuring the voice of Benedict Cumberbatch, whose performances also inspired Smaug's motion, Weta Digital built Smaug layer by layer—from the shape of his skeleton, to the way he moves, to the texture of his skin.
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug - Bringing Smaug to Life
My teeth are swords. My claws are spears. My wings are a HURRICANE!
Smaug
Among the many incredible digital creatures and environments in Peter Jackson’s second Hobbit film, one that stands out is, of course, Smaug. Brought to life by the artists at Weta Digital, the dragon features the voice of Benedict Cumberbatch, whose performance was also referenced heavily for the final animation.
Tolkien fanatic Stephen Colbert got a rare opportunity on his show: He got to sit down with The Hobbit trilogy’s fearsome dragon Smaug.
Outstanding Animated Character in a Live Action Feature Motion Picture
Eric Reynolds, David Clayton, Myriam Catrin, Guillaume Francois