0:00:02 > 0:00:05My name is Steve Backshall and this is Deadly Art.
0:00:07 > 0:00:10I'm lucky enough to travel the world tracking deadly animals.
0:00:13 > 0:00:17But in this show, my team of artists take my killer moment...
0:00:19 > 0:00:22..and turn it into art.
0:00:22 > 0:00:25And we'll reveal another unique creation.
0:00:25 > 0:00:28Along the way, you'll get to pick up some tips, tricks
0:00:28 > 0:00:31and techniques so you can make some art yourself.
0:00:33 > 0:00:37This is no ordinary art show, this is Deadly Art.
0:00:40 > 0:00:42'Coming up on today's Deadly Art,
0:00:42 > 0:00:46'my crew and I track down one of the oddest animals on Earth.'
0:00:46 > 0:00:47Crikey!
0:00:47 > 0:00:50My artists make an extraordinary animation,
0:00:50 > 0:00:53and you can make your own Deadly Art at home, too.
0:00:53 > 0:00:54That's just weird!
0:00:57 > 0:01:00What do you get if you cross ET with a gremlin?
0:01:00 > 0:01:03Well, possibly something resembling today's animal.
0:01:03 > 0:01:07It could be the oddest-looking creature on Earth. The aye-aye.
0:01:07 > 0:01:11They're so odd-looking, local people think they bring bad luck.
0:01:11 > 0:01:16In fact, it's thought that the name "aye-aye" might be the sound
0:01:16 > 0:01:18people make if they bump into them by accident.
0:01:18 > 0:01:22Despite their weird appearance, these really are deadly hunters
0:01:22 > 0:01:26with well-developed night vision and several other deadly weapons.
0:01:26 > 0:01:27Let's meet our artists.
0:01:27 > 0:01:31I think they've got quite a challenge ahead of them.
0:01:31 > 0:01:35As ever, they're ready and waiting in the Deadly Art studio.
0:01:35 > 0:01:37Hey, I'm Mike, I'm a cartoon artist
0:01:37 > 0:01:39and I'm up for today's Deadly Art.
0:01:40 > 0:01:41I'm Nicola.
0:01:41 > 0:01:43I'm an ice sculptor,
0:01:43 > 0:01:45a sand sculptor,
0:01:45 > 0:01:47and a power tool queen.
0:01:50 > 0:01:53Mike and Nicola are representing the Deadly Art team,
0:01:53 > 0:01:56who are always up for a challenge.
0:01:56 > 0:01:58And this is today's extraordinary killer moment
0:01:58 > 0:02:00to inspire our artwork.
0:02:00 > 0:02:02For food, the aye-aye will tap around on bark,
0:02:02 > 0:02:05using that extended middle finger, listening for the sound
0:02:05 > 0:02:07of grubs moving around beneath the bark.
0:02:07 > 0:02:11Then, it will hook them out using the claw on the end of that finger
0:02:11 > 0:02:14and gobble them down alive.
0:02:14 > 0:02:16Which is pretty disgusting.
0:02:16 > 0:02:19I can't wait to see today's aye-aye artwork.
0:02:19 > 0:02:21What a strange creature!
0:02:21 > 0:02:24I do love the weird ones. But for me,
0:02:24 > 0:02:27it's about how he jumps from tree to tree and grabs his food.
0:02:27 > 0:02:29I like the idea of an art installation here.
0:02:29 > 0:02:32An animation on a TV screen inside a Deadly Art jungle.
0:02:32 > 0:02:35- Weird, just like the aye-aye. - Excellent. Let's do it.
0:02:35 > 0:02:38- Aye-aye, Captain. - I knew that was coming.
0:02:38 > 0:02:42You can't blame him, Nicola. Time for some more Deadly Art.
0:02:42 > 0:02:45- Nicola's making a start on the jungle.- Watch out!
0:02:45 > 0:02:48All right, the first thing we need for our animation is a storyboard.
0:02:48 > 0:02:51This is going to block out all of the moves of our aye-aye.
0:02:51 > 0:02:54So, first, we're going to have him come in along a tree.
0:02:54 > 0:02:56So, he'll have his head poking out here.
0:02:56 > 0:02:59He's going to walk out, stop and have a little look at us.
0:02:59 > 0:03:02So, we'll see him face on.
0:03:02 > 0:03:05Then, have him jump down, off the frame.
0:03:05 > 0:03:07Then, we'll have him disappear
0:03:07 > 0:03:10and have him come back in along the right side,
0:03:10 > 0:03:11along a tree branch here.
0:03:11 > 0:03:15He's aiming for this point here, where he's going to find a grub,
0:03:15 > 0:03:18using his long finger to tap at the tree.
0:03:20 > 0:03:22All right, that's the storyboard done.
0:03:22 > 0:03:24Now, all we have to do is create all of the drawings.
0:03:24 > 0:03:27Heads! When Mike's finished his animation,
0:03:27 > 0:03:30it's going to appear right here on this TV screen.
0:03:30 > 0:03:34What I need to do is set the aye-aye into his natural environment -
0:03:34 > 0:03:37the jungle. So, I'm going to turn some carpet rolls into trees
0:03:37 > 0:03:39and dress them with some foliage.
0:03:39 > 0:03:43We'll leave Nicola building her Madagascan jungle.
0:03:43 > 0:03:46When the Deadly 60 crew and I were in Madagascar,
0:03:46 > 0:03:49we got close to this extremely rare and ridiculously weird creature
0:03:49 > 0:03:51in a special breeding centre.
0:03:51 > 0:03:54This is such a spooky experience.
0:03:54 > 0:03:57You'd almost totally forget that you're in a zoo
0:03:57 > 0:03:59with this crazy goblin.
0:04:02 > 0:04:03Crikey!
0:04:05 > 0:04:11I think she thought my finger was something edible for a second there.
0:04:11 > 0:04:14When it comes down to it, they are pretty fierce.
0:04:17 > 0:04:21The first zoologist that ever discover the aye-aye
0:04:21 > 0:04:24really didn't know what to do with it.
0:04:25 > 0:04:27It's such a mishmash of animal parts.
0:04:27 > 0:04:30It's got a great big, long, bushy tail,
0:04:30 > 0:04:33so they thought it might be a squirrel.
0:04:33 > 0:04:36It also has long incisor teeth, like a rodent,
0:04:36 > 0:04:39that never stop growing.
0:04:39 > 0:04:42So they kind of thought it was like a very peculiar squirrel,
0:04:42 > 0:04:43but it's not at all.
0:04:43 > 0:04:48It's a lemur, it's a primate, but the strangest one I've ever seen.
0:04:48 > 0:04:51Perhaps that's the weirdest thing of all.
0:04:51 > 0:04:55As a primate, she is distantly related to you and me.
0:04:55 > 0:05:01The aye-aye is a very specialised feeder. Look at that front foot.
0:05:02 > 0:05:08You'll notice that the middle finger is kind of all weird looking.
0:05:09 > 0:05:15It has no flesh, no muscle, it's just one long, jointed,
0:05:15 > 0:05:17pencil-like digit.
0:05:19 > 0:05:21Look what he's doing right now, look at that!
0:05:24 > 0:05:26It's so strange, I still can't believe it's real!
0:05:26 > 0:05:31Now let's see some aye-aye art. How is it coming on, Mike?
0:05:31 > 0:05:33We've started by drawing the deadly part of the animation.
0:05:33 > 0:05:36This is where the aye-aye climbs up the branch
0:05:36 > 0:05:37and goes after his grub.
0:05:37 > 0:05:39In the next scene, he's grabbed the grub.
0:05:39 > 0:05:42In the third scene, he's eating the grub.
0:05:42 > 0:05:43You can see, if I flip this,
0:05:43 > 0:05:46he's grabbing the grub, he's eating the grub.
0:05:46 > 0:05:49Now, I'm going to draw the fourth scene where he's enjoying his meal.
0:05:52 > 0:05:55Mike's giant flip book is coming on well.
0:05:55 > 0:05:57There's a few more to go yet.
0:05:57 > 0:06:00Nicola's got a lot to do to create a realistic jungle.
0:06:00 > 0:06:03To transform this carpet roll into a tree,
0:06:03 > 0:06:06I've added some wadding to increase the thickness, some masking tape
0:06:06 > 0:06:09for texture and, later, I'm going to paint it to look like bark.
0:06:09 > 0:06:13But, of course, it's going to need some branches.
0:06:13 > 0:06:15I'm always amazed by the Deadly Artists.
0:06:15 > 0:06:17Here's your chance to be a budding artist, too.
0:06:17 > 0:06:20Nicola's taking a break to show you a Deadly Doodle.
0:06:20 > 0:06:23I'm going to show you how to draw this ferocious little fellow,
0:06:23 > 0:06:24the aye-aye .
0:06:26 > 0:06:29We want our aye-aye to be sitting on a branch, tapping away.
0:06:29 > 0:06:32So, we'll start by drawing the branch,
0:06:32 > 0:06:34using two parallel diagonal lines.
0:06:34 > 0:06:41On top of that, draw a big loaf of bread.
0:06:41 > 0:06:43A circle for his head.
0:06:45 > 0:06:51Two more for his eyes and a small triangle for his nose.
0:06:51 > 0:06:56Two further triangles for his ears.
0:06:56 > 0:06:59His arms are a series of oval shapes. One here,
0:06:59 > 0:07:01which connects to this one here.
0:07:01 > 0:07:04A larger one at the back for his back leg.
0:07:04 > 0:07:07And then join that to the tree.
0:07:07 > 0:07:11And the third arm we see is right up here underneath his ear.
0:07:11 > 0:07:16Now we just need some guidelines for his fingers.
0:07:16 > 0:07:22Just draw some staple shapes with one extra long one, of course.
0:07:23 > 0:07:29And the same here. On the back, just four simple lines
0:07:29 > 0:07:31and a thumb.
0:07:31 > 0:07:33You can see him already,
0:07:33 > 0:07:35but using a marker pen, we can fill in all the detail.
0:07:35 > 0:07:39Fill in the ears, then join the eyes to the nose
0:07:39 > 0:07:42with a swooping line on each side.
0:07:44 > 0:07:48Fill in the nose. Two U shapes for his mouth.
0:07:48 > 0:07:51And then to scary little fangs.
0:07:51 > 0:07:55Draw two pupils and then a furry face.
0:07:58 > 0:07:59Along this line,
0:07:59 > 0:08:03do a really jaggedy edge to create that furry texture.
0:08:03 > 0:08:05Give him a big, bushy tail.
0:08:06 > 0:08:09And because he's tapping away at that tree,
0:08:09 > 0:08:11two little movement lines.
0:08:11 > 0:08:14And there he is, your deadly aye-aye.
0:08:14 > 0:08:17The aye-aye may look difficult to draw,
0:08:17 > 0:08:20but you all did a fantastic job when we visited Glasgow
0:08:20 > 0:08:22on a Deadly Day Out.
0:08:22 > 0:08:28When you get to the nose, just go over that as well.
0:08:28 > 0:08:31- ALL CHEER - All right!
0:08:31 > 0:08:33BOTH: This is my Deadly Doodle.
0:08:33 > 0:08:37It was kind of hard at first, but Nicola showed us step-by-step.
0:08:37 > 0:08:39Here's my Deadly Doodle.
0:08:39 > 0:08:42I think my drawing's really good but a wee bit weird.
0:08:42 > 0:08:45Very impressive. Remember to keep trying our doodles at home.
0:08:45 > 0:08:48Let's get back to the Deadly Art studio.
0:08:48 > 0:08:50The animation is nearly complete.
0:08:50 > 0:08:54I've used charcoal to smudge in all those really nice fur textures.
0:08:54 > 0:08:56The fur will be different at each stage.
0:08:56 > 0:08:58Which means, when we animated,
0:08:58 > 0:09:01the fur's going to move around in a really cartoony way.
0:09:01 > 0:09:05So, I've got one last one to do. And I'll show you how to fill it in.
0:09:05 > 0:09:07We're just colouring in the shadows
0:09:07 > 0:09:11and then drawing out the charcoal along the body.
0:09:11 > 0:09:14You could try this, too, on your Deadly Doodle.
0:09:14 > 0:09:17Nicola's painting is looking good, too.
0:09:19 > 0:09:23Now, remember how weird those aye-aye hands look?
0:09:23 > 0:09:25You're going to love this.
0:09:26 > 0:09:31I'm going to show you how to make your own deadly aye-aye hand.
0:09:31 > 0:09:32You're going to love this one.
0:09:32 > 0:09:35All right, we need to start by making one finger.
0:09:35 > 0:09:37For that, we need some inner tube from a bike.
0:09:37 > 0:09:41We're going to cut off a piece, about 20 centimetres long.
0:09:41 > 0:09:44And we're going to make it have a really fat end
0:09:44 > 0:09:47and also a really big knuckle, just like the aye-aye.
0:09:47 > 0:09:50So, for that, we need to poly balls,
0:09:50 > 0:09:53one for the end and one in the middle, for the knuckle.
0:09:53 > 0:09:55So you're going to need some insulating tape.
0:09:55 > 0:09:58We're going to tape down that poly ball at the end.
0:09:58 > 0:10:00Keep wrapping around and secure it in place.
0:10:00 > 0:10:03It can be as messy as you like cos we'll to cover it up afterward.
0:10:03 > 0:10:07When you've done that, we're going to fold the finger in half
0:10:07 > 0:10:10and place our poly ball in the middle.
0:10:10 > 0:10:12With one hand, we're going to hold it.
0:10:12 > 0:10:15And with the other, we'll secure it with insulating tape.
0:10:15 > 0:10:20Just keep wrapping until you've got it in place. Just like that.
0:10:20 > 0:10:23All right, now we've got that poly ball in place
0:10:23 > 0:10:25and it's got a fat knuckle like an aye-aye.
0:10:25 > 0:10:28The last thing we need to do is add on those big claws they have.
0:10:28 > 0:10:30So, for that, we get a smaller piece of inner tube
0:10:30 > 0:10:33and we're just going to cut out a little triangle.
0:10:33 > 0:10:36And then, with some more insulating tape,
0:10:36 > 0:10:38secure that at the end of our finger.
0:10:38 > 0:10:41Going to wrap it around a few times.
0:10:41 > 0:10:44OK. Now comes the easy bit.
0:10:44 > 0:10:47I'm just going to cover the whole thing in insulating tape
0:10:47 > 0:10:49so you're hiding all the inner tube.
0:10:51 > 0:10:55I'm giving it that aye-aye hand texture.
0:10:55 > 0:10:57Just so it fits over your finger really easily,
0:10:57 > 0:11:02we're going to do two slits, one at the top, one at the bottom.
0:11:02 > 0:11:04All right, that's your finger all finished.
0:11:04 > 0:11:07Now, for the hand, you need to use any old glove.
0:11:07 > 0:11:10Get permission or you may be in big trouble,
0:11:10 > 0:11:14because we're going to cut the tips off of each of the fingers.
0:11:14 > 0:11:17OK, when you've done that, spread out that finger.
0:11:17 > 0:11:19We're going to use some glue.
0:11:19 > 0:11:23You can use craft glue, it just takes longer to dry.
0:11:23 > 0:11:26And just slide it inside. All right, that's secure in place.
0:11:26 > 0:11:30We've got one finger, now we need to add the other fingers in.
0:11:30 > 0:11:34So, just like before, I've got the thumb, which is really big and thick.
0:11:34 > 0:11:36That long, big finger.
0:11:36 > 0:11:38Don't forget the long one is the middle finger.
0:11:38 > 0:11:41I'm gluing in those other two fingers.
0:11:41 > 0:11:45Make sure you have all the claws pointing the same direction.
0:11:45 > 0:11:50OK, I told you this was easy. How's that for a deadly DIY?
0:11:50 > 0:11:53How cool are the aye-aye hands?!
0:11:53 > 0:11:55Back to the final stages of our big art.
0:11:55 > 0:11:58The jungle is really taking shape now.
0:11:58 > 0:12:02I finished the base coat and now I'm using this dry brushing technique
0:12:02 > 0:12:05with a lighter colour to highlight that bark texture.
0:12:05 > 0:12:08Doesn't it look like a real tree?
0:12:09 > 0:12:12All right, all of our drawings are complete.
0:12:12 > 0:12:15Now, we have to take a picture of each one of them with this camera.
0:12:15 > 0:12:17Then we upload it to our computer.
0:12:17 > 0:12:21That way when we played them back at speed, it creates our animation.
0:12:21 > 0:12:25So I've got to line up all of my sheets.
0:12:25 > 0:12:31That way the animation runs smoothly. Take a picture and repeat.
0:12:31 > 0:12:33All right, I'll just play it back a little bit,
0:12:33 > 0:12:34see how it's looking.
0:12:34 > 0:12:36Oh, I love it! It's looking great.
0:12:36 > 0:12:40OK, well, there's loads to do, so I better get on it.
0:12:41 > 0:12:45So, it's nearly time for the big reveal.
0:12:45 > 0:12:49All right, Nic, I can't wait anymore, I got to show you a preview, OK?
0:12:49 > 0:12:51- OK.- All right.
0:12:53 > 0:12:57Wow, that looks so cool! It looks like the real aye-aye.
0:12:57 > 0:13:00Yeah, but when we put the jungle in, he'll be really at home.
0:13:00 > 0:13:02I love it!
0:13:04 > 0:13:07Come on, guys, this is supposed to be deadly.
0:13:07 > 0:13:11I asked the Deadly Art team to re-create this killer moment
0:13:11 > 0:13:12and turn it into art.
0:13:12 > 0:13:15So, let's take a look at the finished result.
0:13:17 > 0:13:20There goes our arty aye-aye.
0:13:20 > 0:13:23It's running across the branch, jumps down
0:13:23 > 0:13:26and now it looks like it's climbing up Nicola's tree
0:13:26 > 0:13:28on the hunt for food.
0:13:28 > 0:13:30The jungle installation looks incredibly realistic
0:13:30 > 0:13:34and representative of the aye-aye's environment in Madagascar.
0:13:34 > 0:13:38The animation is brilliant. And take a look at that!
0:13:38 > 0:13:42He's pulled out a grub with his extra long finger and gobbled it up.
0:13:42 > 0:13:44Art doesn't get any deadlier than this!
0:13:44 > 0:13:46What an incredible creation!
0:13:46 > 0:13:48Make sure you try the doodle and the DIY
0:13:48 > 0:13:51and we'll see you next time for more Deadly Art.
0:14:01 > 0:14:04Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:14:04 > 0:14:07E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk