The Wendigo: A Beast of Isolation
The Wendigo originally pronounced WEE-jih-goh meanwhile the modern pronunciation WEN-dih-goh is a cannibalistic creature from various Northeastern tribes in Northern America. The creature itself represents the weakness of hunger, greed, or the psychological breaking point of starvation, the embodiment of isolation, corruption and selfishness. The creatures both act as a cautionary tale and a warning to those who may end up alone.
The Wendigo is also often depicted as having an insatiable appetite, where the more humans it eats the hungrier it becomes. Additionally, some sources suggest that the Wendigo would also grow in size as it ate. The physical appearance has changed over time with each depiction solidifying its modern interpretation rather than its original depiction. Its more modern designs are often confused with the Wechuge (WEH- chu-jih) which is described as an animal-human hybrid, corpse-like, icy, giant that also has glowing eyes, antlers and claws. The Wechuge is also from a different culture entirely, the Athabaskan tribes. However, the Wendigo originally is depicted as a very slim humanoid with stretched skin revealing its protruding ribs, long bone like claws and its lack of hair. Its lips are often chewed off revealing its monstrous-like teeth. It's often accompanied by the smell of rotting flesh and is described as a chaotic hunter.
However modern versions of the Wendigo design are shown to look more animalistic than human with fur, horns or antlers and a skull for a face. When coming up with my design, I will lean in on the more humanoid appearance and add elements of leather and fur to reflect that it's from colder climates. Despite this, I am keeping the horns in my design due to two reasons: to make it appear taller and to give a nod to the modern adaptations of it. While making the costume I decided to use my current techniques I use for the Wendigo.
I had previously made a costume based on the Wendigo back when I was younger, but I wanted to update it and have it closer to the original Wendigo description. I accomplished this by a mix of sculpting, 3d printing and adding fabric and paints. I took a skull like based and sculpted on gums, torn lips/nose, and added realistic eyes. The eyes were made using ping pong balls, nail polish, a glossy sealant and red yarn. Behind the eyes I used window screen mesh to be able to look out the mask and then I covered it all with paint. After adding the white splotches of paint I covered it with 2 layers of pantyhose to give it the illusion of thin stretched skin. Then I finalized it with red paint and 2 tall, curved horns that gave it height and the monstrous look the modern Wendigo has. Then I took an old life sized skeleton and took its ribs to use for the torso using the same method for the fabric to appear thin and stretched. Then I made an attachment that allows me to put on and remove the ribs. Then I sewed ripped fabrics to make it appear like the Wendigo was once human and wore some clothing before their transformation.