- Title: Giant mechanical creatures delight spectators as they roam central Toulouse
- Date: 7th November 2018
- Summary: TOULOUSE, FRANCE (NOVEMBER 2, 2018) (REUTERS) GIANT MECHANICAL SPIDER "ARIANE" MOVING THROUGH STREET IN FRONT OF CROWD LEGS OF SPIDER AS IT WALKS PAST WATCHING CROWD GIANT MECHANICAL SPIDER "ARIANE" MOVING IN SQUARE IN FRONT OF CROWD STEAM HANGING IN AIR AS GIANT SPIDER MOVES LEGS CONTROLLED BY MEMBERS OF "LA MACHINE" PRODUCTION COMPANY MEMBERS OF "LA MACHINE" PRODUCTION COMPANY OPERATING GIANT SPIDER AND SITTING ON TOP GIANT MECHANICAL MINOTAUR "ASTERION" MOVING IN SQUARE IN FRONT OF CROWD PEOPLE IN CROWD WATCHING AS MINOTAUR WALKS PAST GIANT MINOTAUR WAKING IN FRONT OF CROWD
- Embargoed: 21st November 2018 11:20
- Keywords: Nantes France minotaur La Machine spider machines Toulouse mechanical creatures parade
- Location: TOULOUSE, FRANCE
- City: TOULOUSE, FRANCE
- Country: France
- Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment
- Reuters ID: LVA00195IBWW1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: A giant mechanical spider and minotaur thrilled crowds in central Toulouse on Friday (November 2), as French street theatre group "La Machine" introduced its latest feat.
To a person standing on the ground, Ariane the spider and Asterion the minotaur are huge: Ariane measures 13 metres (43 feet), can reach up to 20 metres (65 feet) with her legs and weighs 38 tonnes, while Asterion is 14 metres high (46 feet) and weighs 47 tonnes. They took two years to build.
The machines are controlled by dozens of operators who meticulously move every part of its body to make it look as alive as possible.
"It's the eyes that accentuate the emotions and feelings of animals. So if the eyes, or even the other parts of the minotaur, remain static, it doesn't work," said La Machine member Emily Battersby, who controls the movements of the minotaur's eyes and ears using a remote.
The creatures in the "Guardian of the Temple" mechanical show are based on ancient Roman ruins found near the banks of the Garonne River, where the performance also begins.
The show is also the opening event of a new workshop for La Machine in Toulouse, which will exhibit the large and small mechanical creations of their engineers, artists, designers and technicians.
The "Guardian of the Temple" show ran until November 4 and the group's Halle de la Machine workshop opens its doors on November 9. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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