Xindi-Insectoid

File:Xindi-Insectoid.jpg

A Xindi-Insectoid

A dead hatchling

Xindi-Insectoids were members of the multi-species Xindi race.

Physiology

The Insectoids, like all Xindi species, had distinctive ridges on their cheeks. They were, as their name suggests, insect-like in appearance. Their average life-expectancy was estimated in twelve years. It was easy to find on their ships individuals about ten years old, who were probably considered "elders".

They were genderless and reproduced asexually. Also because of their insectoid nature and the shortness of their lifespan, they were strongly concerned over the survival of their offspring. They protected their young by making a hatchery brig attached to their ships and shielded it in case of danger, even at the expense of the ship's life support. Each individual was able to produce large clusters of eggs.

The eggs could not survive out of the ship and were equipped with a gland capable of producing a powerful and subtle neurotoxin. If an unexpected presence were detected, the clusters would spray the substance on the intruder, causing in the latter an instinctive, obsessive interest in protecting and taking care of the hatchling. (ENT: "Hatchery")

Language

The Insectoid language was a clicking dialog that was the most unusual and complex of all Xindi, save that of the Aquatics. In fact, there were 67 dialects of the Insectoid language. Insectoid had names that grew longer and more difficult to pronounce as they grew older. (ENT: "The Council")

Philosophy and external affairs

Insectoids interpreted raised voices as a sign of hostility. They were quick to make decisions and were often in alliance with the Reptilians. Both species used to trade their technology between each other and usually agreed on all decisions. (ENT: "The Council")

Appendices

Appearances

• ENT:
  • "The Xindi"
  • "Rajiin"
  • "Proving Ground"
  • "Doctor's Orders" (hallucinatory)
  • "Hatchery" (deceased & hatchlings only)
  • "Azati Prime" (voice only)
  • "The Council"
  • "Countdown"

Background

In common with the Xindi-Aquatics, the Insectoids were intended to be created with CGI and the process of designing them began with sketches done by visual effects producer Dan Curry. ("Visual Effects Magic", ENT Season 4 DVD special features; [1]) This artwork was then provided to Eden FX, who were tasked with building the CG model for the Insectoids. Recalling the conceptual artwork, one of Eden's CG artists, digital effects supervisor John Teska, stated, "That was a sketch of the character, and a couple of revisions for the head close-up and things like that. I had a pretty good idea of what they looked like before we started building." ("Visual Effects Magic", ENT Season 4 DVD special features)

Wireframe versions of two Insectoid characters

John Teska created the digital model for the Insectoids. ("Visual Effects Magic", ENT Season 4 DVD special features; [2]) "It was several weeks of first working up the geometry, building this basic polygonal, you know, polygon cage, sort of like low [resolution] at first, just to work out proportions and what they looked like," said Teska. "Then, building this elaborate skeleton that would basically allow us to move them like a character, like a puppet on the screen." ("Visual Effects Magic", ENT Season 4 DVD special features) Teska also animated the Insectoids. Robert Bonchune, effects supervisor at Eden FX, commented, "The Xindi insects are kind of his baby, so when they come along we usually give them to him, 90 per cent of the time, at least on the shows I supervise." (Star Trek Magazine issue 118, p. 30)

Unlike the Aquatics, stand-ins were used for the Insectoids, to give the directors and animators references for CGI placement. [3] The decision to use this procedure was inspired by the success of the CG character Golem from The Lord of the Rings films, he having commonly been "played" by actor Andy Serkis. "I decided, I want to go into this with the same idea," explained visual effects supervisor Ronald B. Moore. The stand-ins who "played" the role of the Insectoids were Evan English and Tarik Ergin. They wore special suits, which helped to track their movements for such episodes as the season 3 premiere "The Xindi" – the only episode wherein Moore used motion-control because the production staffers wanted to digitally replicate even the minutest actions of the performers. "So, Dan [Curry] came up [...] as only Dan can do, with roles of tape and started putting grids all over these guys," Moore continued. "We got black suits made for them. And put the grids on, so we could follow them [....] [We] didn't exactly know what we were up against, with these guys." As it turned out, the animators did so well at replacing the stand-ins with the CGI that it was evident motion-control was not required. Moore was impressed with the use of stand-ins. Although aware that the actors were intentionally playing different characters, he believed that viewers can also see behavioral differences in the roles. ("Visual Effects Magic", ENT Season 4 DVD special features)