It’s hard to believe, but Gremlins Officially 40 years old. This quirky horror holiday classic from 1984 remains a beloved part of pop culture and one of the quintessences of ’80s cinema, as beloved now as it was then.
A new generation experiences the charm of Gizmo through the animated series Gremlins: Secrets of the MogwaiDirector Joe Dante, who recently aired on Max, recently reflected on one of the key decisions that led to the decision Gremlins Credit for such success goes to producer Steven Spielberg.
In a recent interview with CinemaBlend, Dante is a consulting producer Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwaireflects on the key choices Spielberg made that turned young Mogwai into the hero we know and love today. As Dante reveals:
“Well, to me, the Gizmo was the key to the success of the entire series. And we have to thank Steven Spielberg, who about two weeks before we started shooting, said firmly, ‘You know, this Gizmo character is going to be in 20 minutes Then he turned into a bad little monster. I like him so much.
“You have to keep him around the whole movie.” It was a nightmare for us because we didn’t have the technology and we didn’t think we could make him look real throughout the movie. But we managed to do it.
Originally, Gizmo was set up early in the movie as Stripe, the leader of the gremlins. He was supposed to be another lovable creature but became evil by following the infamous “don’t feed them after midnight” rule. But Spielberg saw something special in Gizmo and insisted that he remain lovable throughout the film. This decision was a game-changer for movies
This movie would have been so different if Gizmo hadn’t left Gizmo behind! Spielberg’s love of lovable characters, such as the beloved aliens, shines through here.
The idea of this wide-eyed, innocent Mogwai turning into a terrifying gremlin would completely change the tone of the movie. Instead, making Gizmo the lovable hero created an emotional core that resonated with audiences and helped the film become a hit.
Of course, maintaining Gizmo’s star status isn’t easy. Dante recalls that back in 1984, they didn’t have the technology to easily create realistic puppets for the characters who were on screen for almost the entire movie.
It presents technical challenges, but is worth the effort. Gizmo became a cultural icon. Dante also shared more insights into Gizmo’s impact:
“And I think that’s one of the main reasons why this picture was so popular at the time, and one of the main reasons why Gizmo came out with this obviously very strange sequel.
“For years, people have bought Gizmo merchandise and named their pets after Gizmo. I met a woman in Switzerland who named her daughter Gizmo. It has become part of the culture.
Gizmo has earned a special place in the hearts of fans. From his constant presence in 1980s memorabilia to the endless merchandise still produced today, Gizmo’s legacy continues.
Spielberg’s instinct for becoming part of the story was instrumental in making the film. Gremlins Such an eternal blow.
Gizmo is once again at the center of new adventures in animation Secrets of the Mogwaithe characters gain fresh backstories and new depth.
Set in 1920s San Francisco and later the American West, this prequel explores different sides of Gizmo, adding layers to the character that Dante himself considers to be “validation” that Gizmo is always the hero of the story.
listen to us talk Gremlins In our secret level of podcasting.
