Making a bigger splash
HOW AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH IS TAKING TULKUN TO THE NEXT LEVEL
WORDS IAN FREER
IT’S OFTEN HARD to predict a breakout star, a supporting character who wins hearts and launches memes in equal measure. But when Payakan, that cheeky young orca-like tulkun, just about stole The Way Of Water from under the blue noses of the Na’vi, the reason seemed pretty clear. “I think the idea of having a giantsized whale as a puppy dog or a best friend goes a long way,” says Richard Baneham, VFX supervisor and executive producer on Fire And Ash. “He’s turned out to be one of the most popular characters.”