Leatherface is getting the animated treatment as 1974’s Texas Chain Saw Massacre will be converted into animation with rotoscoping. If you’ve ever watched Tobe Hooper’s classic horror The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and wished it had a little more magic through animation, you’re in luck. Bloody Disgusting brings us news that a new version of ... A rotoscoped version of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre on the way
Leatherface is getting the animated treatment as 1974’s Texas Chain Saw Massacre will be converted into animation with rotoscoping.
If you’ve ever watched Tobe Hooper’s classic horror The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and wished it had a little more magic through animation, you’re in luck.
Bloody Disgusting brings us news that a new version of the original The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is being developed and brought to life via rotoscoping.
According to the press release the outlet received, “every frame will be illustrated by hand using the labor-intensive animation technique in which artists meticulously trace live-action footage frame by frame. Employing no artificial intelligence, the production relies exclusively on the craftsmanship and decades of experience of veteran artists to preserve the performances, atmosphere, and intensity of the original film while presenting audiences with a striking new visual experience.”
Most importantly, no AI will be used in the process.
“The original Texas Chain Saw Massacre is a masterpiece that changed cinema forever. Our goal is to honor its legacy by reimagining it through the timeless art of hand-drawn rotoscoping, giving audiences a completely new way to experience a film they thought they already knew,” Animation Director & Art Director Paul Beck said.
Beck also worked on Richard Linklater’s A Scanner Darkly. We recently covered the film’s tumultuous origin story in the latest edition of Film Stories magazine and we’ve still got a few bundles left where you can get the magazine and a signed LP of the film’s soundtrack.
Hooper’s film is widely – and rightfully – regarded as one of the most influential horror films of all time. The director used largely unknown actors and the marketing campaign advertised the film as being based on true events to give it an additional aura of mystery and terror. Obsession director Curry Barker is currently working on a new reboot of the franchise and A24 was also planning a TV series with Strange Darling director JT Mollner reportedly attached.
The animated version of the classic slasher is expected in 2027, but the 1974 version of The Texas Chain Saw is hitting cinemas for one night only in the US on 18th August to celebrate Texas Chain Saw Day. Lucky ticket holders can watch Leatherface tear through victims in glorious 4K and they will also see an exclusive featurette on the rotoscoping process, giving them a sneak peek at what we can expect from a rotoscoped slasher.
Hopefully that featurette will also pop up on the internet at some point and the animation will make its way to the UK cinemas, too.
