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12 Zodiac Signs Reborn As Terrifying Monsters By Damon Hellandbrand
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We’re all familiar with the Zodiac signs that have been part of human culture since the Babylonian era. Alongside the twelve star sign names came their classic symbols, each inspired by the constellations above. But just because these characters have stood the test of time doesn’t mean there aren’t bold new ways to reimagine them.
Damon Hellandbrand, a talented U.S.-based artist, has taken this challenge to a surreal new level. He transforms each zodiac sign into a twisted, nightmarish fantasy creature in his series of digital artworks. Most of his creations are literal interpretations. Leo becomes a monstrous lion, Pisces a sinister pair of fish, and Taurus a hulking ox-like beast. Even the air signs of the Zodiac: Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius — have been reimagined as eerie, otherworldly figures that look like they stepped out of a dark fairytale.
Hellandbrand does much of his unique art with various digital illustration programs. Still, some scary monsters are born as pencil drawings or watercolors – or “basically whatever medium I’m in the mood for.” He writes that he is inspired by artists like Ralph McQuarrie, Boris Vallejo, and Frank Frazetta, and it’s easy to imagine that Guillermo Del Toro might also be among his influences. Read on for Hellandbrand’s answers to Bored Panda’s questions about his zodiac signs as monsters below!
More info: dhellandbrand.com | DeviantArt (h/t: gallowboob)
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Aries
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“I have a fondness for anything fantasy related or anything that doesn’t exist in reality,” Damon Hellandbrand told Bored Panda, “and mythology certainly has that in spades.”
Taurus
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“I also think because those were some of the first stories I remember as a child in the school that they just stuck with me.”
Gemini
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“I basically took what I knew the signs represented regarding their name (i.e., Cancer = Crab, Leo = Lion, Pisces = Fish, etc.) and proceeded to illustrate them as human/animal hybrids creating the Zodiac monsters.”
Cancer
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“I did this by doing a black, and white pencil drawing on paper and then scanning the illustration into a drawing/painting program called Corel Painter to color and paint.”
Leo
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“I didn’t do as much research on these dark Zodiac signs as I should have and I’ve gotten a lot of responses as such, so needless to say I’ll be making a few new pieces to redeem myself.”
Virgo
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Libra
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Scorpio
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Sagittarius
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Capricorn
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Aquarius
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Pisces
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There is a beast with heart of cold stone that dashes like lightning, shreds flesh from bone. // Bewitched by this beast, I fell to my knees. My mouth babbled madness and mumbled soft pleas. // I stared down the ravenous, gnashing dark maw of a cute cuddly kitten with yarn in its paw
Read less » Dovas
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There is a beast with heart of cold stone that dashes like lightning, shreds flesh from bone. // Bewitched by this beast, I fell to my knees. My mouth babbled madness and mumbled soft pleas. // I stared down the ravenous, gnashing dark maw of a cute cuddly kitten with yarn in its paw
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What do you think ?
BounthavySananikone 10 years ago
Gemini is creepy but I think Libra is creepier. Leo looks the best. Just pure awesomeness. Aries looks like a DBZ char.
BrixieBrix 10 years ago
I am not a gullible moron. I am, in fact, a wizard. I do wizard things all the time. Wizard yoga. Wizard Olympics. Wizard your mom.
Noor 10 years ago
I consider myself pretty lucky in the scary department with Libra. That one is freaky!
Rimzim Basu 10 years ago
I agree! :D Face looks like something from Alien, lol! :D But scary, no doubt!
DanaCarole 10 years ago
I said the same thing... and it made me sad. Maybe Sagittarius are just too damned awesome in their own right that no change could be made.
MelindaBailey 10 years ago
Sagittarius is already the scariest sign. The only one that carries a weapon.
MaxPirozkov 10 years ago
I agree Sagittarius ,looks majestic instead of from the nightmarish realm
SteRíkharðsson 10 years ago
If I saw a horse coming at me with a bow and arrow I'd be scared shitless.
JamesIreland 10 years ago
I know, I've seen scarier baked beans. I, as a fellow Sagittarius am very disappointed.
IsabelleRam 10 years ago
Yeah, Sagittarius should have been way more bad-a*s. Wouldn't want to mess with Libra and Pisces just made me laugh. LOL
MonicaBing 10 years ago
Yes, and mine too. That's because a horse is so noble that it is impossible to make him look scary <3
DávidBurghardt 10 years ago
I call and raise with one Nuckelavee: http://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/pathfinder/images/2/2b/Nuckelavee.jpg/revision/latest?cb=201004201
AberranFox 10 years ago
I feel the same way it looks rather normal some are not scary but the rest are at least creepy.
Darby Murphy 10 years ago
So you wanna see that swimming at you in the water? lol perspective. They did leave out the second fish, which really woulda added creepy!
10 years ago
centaurs are rapists, how are you not scared? Pisces is a f*****g mermaid how does that scare you?
ChuckJones 10 years ago
In mythology, mermaids would ensnare sailors by singing.. sailors would drown by trying to follow them and then eaten by the mermaids.
FroggyLove 10 years ago
I feel like he forgot to add the second fish with Pisces but he did right with gemini.... kind feel cheated as a Pisces
DesiiRamos 10 years ago
I thought pisces looked the most magestic. But i love mermaids so count it or not lol
CarlyLindsey 10 years ago
i felt the same. I am a Pisces, and I was looking at how awesome all the other ones were; got all excited, then it just like "derp, mermaid"
KushjeeKamalSinghRajput 10 years ago
From now i am not proud to be an Aquarian .ewww..My sign looks ugly more than scary. Thank you. :(
CodyShiranai 10 years ago
On top of that, it's all wrong. Aquarius is an Air Sign, it's the "Water BEARER", carries waters of life, isn't water itself (wind carries).
Load More Replies...
DanielRiquelmeAbazola 10 years ago
“I basically took what I knew the signs represented in terms of their name (i.e. Cancer = Crab, Leo = Lion, Pisces = Fish etc)"
MysticMerman 3 years ago
Notice the water is underneath the creature and its tentacles are holding (bearing) jugs of water.
SharenDowdy 10 years ago
It actually is not represented correctly. While Aquarius is the sign of the "water bearer," it is ultimately an air sign. Fail.
Devon Rittersdorf 7 years ago
And actually you are, ultimately wrong. Yes it is an air sign, but it is described as being a lover of water and she was given the gift of carrying a magical jug of never-ending water. So I think that considering the illustrator made the image based off a name, what the actual signs image is doesn't even actually mater. Plus, what do you want? Some weird bird or multi-legged humanoid with a water jug?? Get real, the current Aquarius design is pretty good.
JenniferReeves 10 years ago
Agreed. It looks like the illegitimate love child between an octopus an Jabba the Hut.
JacobBrown 10 years ago
in reality it needs to be a mix of Virgo and Pisces maybe not as beautiful as virgo or fish like as pisces but a balanced mix
KomalKohok 10 years ago
I agree, as stunning these are Saggitarius didn't pack the punch. It looks indecisive, and not ferocious at all!
Load More Replies...
BounthavySananikone 10 years ago
Gemini is creepy but I think Libra is creepier. Leo looks the best. Just pure awesomeness. Aries looks like a DBZ char.
BrixieBrix 10 years ago
I am not a gullible moron. I am, in fact, a wizard. I do wizard things all the time. Wizard yoga. Wizard Olympics. Wizard your mom.
Noor 10 years ago
I consider myself pretty lucky in the scary department with Libra. That one is freaky!
Rimzim Basu 10 years ago
I agree! :D Face looks like something from Alien, lol! :D But scary, no doubt!
DanaCarole 10 years ago
I said the same thing... and it made me sad. Maybe Sagittarius are just too damned awesome in their own right that no change could be made.
MelindaBailey 10 years ago
Sagittarius is already the scariest sign. The only one that carries a weapon.
MaxPirozkov 10 years ago
I agree Sagittarius ,looks majestic instead of from the nightmarish realm
SteRíkharðsson 10 years ago
If I saw a horse coming at me with a bow and arrow I'd be scared shitless.
JamesIreland 10 years ago
I know, I've seen scarier baked beans. I, as a fellow Sagittarius am very disappointed.
IsabelleRam 10 years ago
Yeah, Sagittarius should have been way more bad-a*s. Wouldn't want to mess with Libra and Pisces just made me laugh. LOL
MonicaBing 10 years ago
Yes, and mine too. That's because a horse is so noble that it is impossible to make him look scary <3
DávidBurghardt 10 years ago
I call and raise with one Nuckelavee: http://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/pathfinder/images/2/2b/Nuckelavee.jpg/revision/latest?cb=201004201
AberranFox 10 years ago
I feel the same way it looks rather normal some are not scary but the rest are at least creepy.
Darby Murphy 10 years ago
So you wanna see that swimming at you in the water? lol perspective. They did leave out the second fish, which really woulda added creepy!
10 years ago
centaurs are rapists, how are you not scared? Pisces is a f*****g mermaid how does that scare you?
ChuckJones 10 years ago
In mythology, mermaids would ensnare sailors by singing.. sailors would drown by trying to follow them and then eaten by the mermaids.
FroggyLove 10 years ago
I feel like he forgot to add the second fish with Pisces but he did right with gemini.... kind feel cheated as a Pisces
DesiiRamos 10 years ago
I thought pisces looked the most magestic. But i love mermaids so count it or not lol
CarlyLindsey 10 years ago
i felt the same. I am a Pisces, and I was looking at how awesome all the other ones were; got all excited, then it just like "derp, mermaid"
KushjeeKamalSinghRajput 10 years ago
From now i am not proud to be an Aquarian .ewww..My sign looks ugly more than scary. Thank you. :(
CodyShiranai 10 years ago
On top of that, it's all wrong. Aquarius is an Air Sign, it's the "Water BEARER", carries waters of life, isn't water itself (wind carries).
Load More Replies... DanielRiquelmeAbazola 10 years ago
“I basically took what I knew the signs represented in terms of their name (i.e. Cancer = Crab, Leo = Lion, Pisces = Fish etc)"
MysticMerman 3 years ago
Notice the water is underneath the creature and its tentacles are holding (bearing) jugs of water.
SharenDowdy 10 years ago
It actually is not represented correctly. While Aquarius is the sign of the "water bearer," it is ultimately an air sign. Fail.
Devon Rittersdorf 7 years ago
And actually you are, ultimately wrong. Yes it is an air sign, but it is described as being a lover of water and she was given the gift of carrying a magical jug of never-ending water. So I think that considering the illustrator made the image based off a name, what the actual signs image is doesn't even actually mater. Plus, what do you want? Some weird bird or multi-legged humanoid with a water jug?? Get real, the current Aquarius design is pretty good.
JenniferReeves 10 years ago
Agreed. It looks like the illegitimate love child between an octopus an Jabba the Hut.
JacobBrown 10 years ago
in reality it needs to be a mix of Virgo and Pisces maybe not as beautiful as virgo or fish like as pisces but a balanced mix
KomalKohok 10 years ago
I agree, as stunning these are Saggitarius didn't pack the punch. It looks indecisive, and not ferocious at all!
Load More Replies... 
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