Animaris Rhinoceros Transport: Not your typical day at the beach

We know this unhinged, genius Dutch artist created these At-At-Walker-looking creatues just so he could play lion-master with his walking stick (argh, stay back unruly beasts!), but that's definitely the first thing we would do if we encountered one of these creatures lumbering around the beach. The artist created these skeleton things, which he named Animaris Rhinoceros Transport, out of a steel skeleton and polyester skin and since they're almost 5 meters tall they actually move (must look at the videos) by wind power. The Animaris' weigh about 2 tons each and can carry passengers, though the artist says that he's going to make living quarters in the beast since travel can only be accomplished during strong winds. Right, good thinking, the artist also wants to set the beasts free on nearby beaches so that they can "live their own lives". Alright so he's completely loopy, but in that brilliant "It's Alive!" kind of way.

[Via Near Near Future]

[Bill @ Dec 19th 2005 1:57AM]

I want one. Where can I get the plans?! The sound of that thing crawling along calls to my inner mech like a whale song calls to a young blue whale.

I bet if I built one right now I could probably walk all the way to Nevada in time for next year's burning man.

[frambooz @ Dec 19th 2005 1:57AM]

If you like this, be sure to check out the guy's website, there's lots more where that came from:

http://www.strandbeest.com

"Strandbeest" translates to "beach animal" or "beach beast".

[fdisk @ Dec 19th 2005 1:57AM]

Am I the only one who thinks these look like giant versions of the replicators from Stargate SG-1?

[fdisk @ Dec 19th 2005 1:57AM]

After having seen them walking in the video, they don't look like replicators. And I'll take two please. . .

[PixelBrat (Amy Walters) @ Dec 19th 2005 1:57AM]

All I can say is WOW, I need one of these!

[Scott Johnson @ Dec 19th 2005 1:57AM]

This guy has gone completely mad!

[photogeek @ Dec 19th 2005 1:57AM]

suppose they add a big fan on the back of it? kinda like a hovercraft with legs? just how do you steer that thing, anyway?

[crimsontiger6 @ Dec 19th 2005 1:57AM]

like wow man, dig that wacky kooky artist guy

[crimsontiger6 @ Dec 19th 2005 1:57AM]

i'll bet he gets all the wacky kooky artist babes too.

[polvo @ Dec 19th 2005 1:57AM]

Can't wait for these to be on woot

[Tom Lawton @ Dec 19th 2005 1:57AM]

I think this guy is my new role model and I'm gonna follow the herd.

[Burner Dragon @ Dec 19th 2005 1:57AM]

I went to the website but i get a Forbidden access error. anybody able to download the videos and mirror them elsewhere?

[aeo @ Dec 19th 2005 1:57AM]

Videos don't work for me either. Forbidden.