Any ideas on how to make a practical frog tongue effect?

[thebooder]

I'm building a frog creature for a short film, and I'd like to have the creature grab a fly with his tongue.
I've thought of everything from stop motion to those new year's party favors you blow into. If I have to I'll go CG, but I want to
keep the frog as practical as possible.

 

[Pobbrett]

how about those kids toy that are like a gel type of material you'd throw them at a wall or window and they'd stick then slowly crawl down the wall attach one in the frogs mouth and just use one of the limbs pulled out with thread or fishing line just an idea



you may be able to get this type of kit and mold your own tongue

 

[thebooder]

how about those kids toy that are like a gel type of material you'd throw them at a wall or window and they'd stick then slowly crawl down the wall attach one in the frogs mouth and just use one of the limbs pulled out with thread or fishing line just an idea

View attachment 177475

you may be able to get this type of kit and mold your own tongue

View attachment 177477

That's a pretty good idea. Thank you.

 

[thegreatgalling]

The only thing I was thinking was one of those party rollers you blow in and they unroll. Perhaps you can take one apart and make it look like a frog tongue.

 

[CreatureFX]

If you really wanted to get crazy you could make a tentacle mechanism. Stan Winston School has a good tutorial.

 

[El Duderino]

I'm sure you've seen those prank spiders before and they have the squeeze thing on them and they have a long rubber tube thing in them that looks like a frogs tongue, at least I've always thought so, I'm sure you could figure something out using that?

 

[ahoudini]

Don't forget reverse filming: bug on tongue, move frog away until tongue is tight, start filming, pull frog away while framed on tongue/bug, until tongue is really tight and finally lets go of bug; tongue snaps back leaving bug in place; run film in reverse and it looks like tongue snaps forward and gets bug. Now do it again: this time let go of bug from surface as it snaps back, attached to tongue. Play this forward following reversed first section: tongue snaps out, grabs bug and snaps back with bug.

Or something like that!

Stretchy, sticky silicone tongue like the kids' toys mentioned. There is one that looks like a hand on a long cord of sticky silicone that might work if you can find pink (just the cord part!). A long silicone fishing worm might work, also.

Sounds like fun!

 

[thebooder]

Don't forget reverse filming: bug on tongue, move frog away until tongue is tight, start filming, pull frog away while framed on tongue/bug, until tongue is really tight and finally lets go of bug; tongue snaps back leaving bug in place; run film in reverse and it looks like tongue snaps forward and gets bug. Now do it again: this time let go of bug from surface as it snaps back, attached to tongue. Play this forward following reversed first section: tongue snaps out, grabs bug and snaps back with bug.

Or something like that!

Stretchy, sticky silicone tongue like the kids' toys mentioned. There is one that looks like a hand on a long cord of sticky silicone that might work if you can find pink (just the cord part!). A long silicone fishing worm might work, also.

Sounds like fun!

Thanks. Reverse filming is a great idea!

 

[Sourdoh]

You beat me to the reverse filming. Done right, it can look perfect. You have to think in reverse for the movements, though, because if you don't it looks like jerky and ruins the effect. Also, filming at slo-mo speed also smooths out the effect.