Maleficent: Experienced Costume, Makeup & Hair Design

Anna B. Sheppard, Costume Designer

Two-time Oscar nominated costume designer Anna B. Sheppard (Schindler’s List, The Pianist, Inglorious Basterds, Captain America: The First Avenger, The Book Thief) will be designing the costumes for Maleficent, set to be released in theaters May 30th. She graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, Poland and by all accounts now makes her home in London.

Sheppard was nominated for Academy Awards for Schindler's List and The Pianist, and nominated for the Critics Choice Award and won the Saturn Award for Inglorious Basterds.  Sheppard was also nominated for the Saturn Award for Captain America: The First Avenger.

Angelina Jolie as Maleficent

The costumes for Maleficent are already getting a lot of attention.  This Disney film, starring the Oscar-winning actress, Angelina Jolie (Girl, Interrupted and Changeling) as the title character, will tell the tale of how the famous villain of Sleeping Beauty became so evil and cruel.  

Jolie, in both the trailer and pre-released photos, appears be the perfect visual selection for the wicked character, and finally we'll learn Maleficent's story.  Now an actress, producer and director, Jolie is very respected in Hollywood and chooses the films she does carefully.  

Elle Fanning as Princess Aurora

The supporting cast seems very capable, with Elle Fanning (Dejavu, Super 8, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) as Princess Aurora, Brenton Thwaites (The Blue Lagoon, The Awakening) as Prince Phillip, Sharlto Copley (District 9, Elysium, Oldboy) as Stefan, Juno Temple (Atonement, The Dark Knight Rises) as Thistletwit, and Ella Purnell (Never Let Me Go) as a Teen Maleficent. The film will also be introducing Vivienne Jolie-Pitt as the Toddler Princess Aurora.

Take a look at the latest trailer here:

Rick Baker,  Makeup Artist

Seven-time Academy Award-winning makeup artist Rick Baker will be leading the makeup team on Maleficent.  He's won Oscars for his incredibly unique and industry-changing makeup on the following films, and he certainly has the experience and talent to win another Oscar for this one:

           Rick Baker's Oscar Wins:

•  An American Werewolf in London, 1982
•  Harry and the Hendersons, 1988
•  Ed Wood, 1995
•  The Nutty Professor, 1997
•  Men in Black, 1998
•  How the Grinch Stole Christmas, 2001
•  The Wolfman, 2011

In fact, after his work on An American Werewolf in London in 1982, the Academy created a new category for "Best Makeup and Hair Design"; Baker was the very first winner.  It's been 32 years ago, and it's still arguably the best werewolf transformation ever.  Haven't seen it?  Watch it below:

In November of 2012, Baker received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his exemplary career to date, and it's located directly in front of the Guinness Book of World Records. His star's located there because he's in the Guinness Book of World Records twice; once for having the most Oscar wins, and again for having most Oscar nominations for "Best Achievement in Makeup".  He's been nominated a total of twelve times has seven wins.

Jolie shows her power as Maleficent

Maleficent is one Disney movie that is sure to have lots of action, as can be seen in the previews.  However, it may be a bit darker than some of the previous Disney films.  It is rated PG for action, adventure and drama.  The PG rating comes as a result of "sequences of fantasy action and violence, including frightening images," according to IMDB. 

There's one thing we can all count on; Sheppard and Baker and their team of experts will give us quite a visual show.  I'm really excited to see this one and see what kind of costume design and special effects the team brings to the table. How about you? 

 
            pictures and movie rating/release date information courtesy of IMDB.com               

pictures courtesy of www.walkoffame.com, www.hollywood.com

preview and transformation scene courtesy of YouTube.com