Jurassic Park’s velociraptors, known for their unsettling appearance and spine-chilling sounds, owe their vocalizations to an unexpected source. You will never guess what it is!
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When creating a film all about dinosaurs one of the questions that needs answering is…what do they sound like? As it remains uncertain what dinosaurs sounded like, Gary Rydstrom, the film’s sound designer, had to get creative in bringing these prehistoric creatures to life.
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For instance, the mighty roar of the T-Rex was a combination of elephant, alligator, tiger sounds, with a touch of his own Jack Russell dog, Buster. The frilled spitting Dilophosaurus (a fan favourite) on the other hand, acquired its unique sound from swans, while the majestic Brachiosaurus’ calls were the result of donkeys’ sounds slowed down to a melodious croon like sound in the movie.
When it came to the velociraptors, Rydstrom delved into the realm of the real wild world. The vocal communication of the velociraptors in the iconic kitchen scene was crafted from the sounds of none other than….tortoises mating!
This peculiar blend of a bark, honk, and sneeze created an eerie and otherworldly effect, perfectly suiting a creature no one had ever encountered before.
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The choice of tortoises as the sound source had its practical benefits too as tortoises mating can be a leisurely affair, providing ample time for observation and recording. This allowed for a wide range of unique sounds to be captured that could be manipulated and edited to fit the velociraptors’ on-screen presence.
The use of tortoise mating calls also served another purpose – maintaining an air of mystery and alienness. Since the sounds were unfamiliar to most audiences, it added to the illusion of encountering a long-extinct and unfamiliar species, enhancing the suspense and thrill of the movie.
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While the final results were successful, recording the tortoises in the act posed a few challenges for Rydstrom who nevertheless captured the perfect sounds which paid off – the kitchen scene, with the velociraptor’s haunting calls, has become one of the most memorable and iconic moments in Jurassic Park!
The unexpected inspiration from tortoise mating calls allowed Gary Rydstrom to craft a truly original and eerie soundscape for the velociraptors in Jurassic Park and since then has set the bar for dinosaur calls in the Hollywood world. Thanks to Rydstrom’s ingenuity and the unwitting contribution of two passionate tortoises, the film’s legacy and impact continue to endure over time.
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Featured Image Credit: Jurassic Park/Universal Pictures
