Ginormous robot spider invades Liverpool, England

Nope, we aren't sensationalizing anything -- that creature you see above really has made the streets of Liverpool its home. According to an in-the-know tipster, it's reportedly going to be stalking citizens and making all sorts of ruckus, possibly the kind involving pyrotechnics. So what's with England and these totally random stunts? First a full-sized UFO crashes in Potters Fields Park, now a gigantic spider shows up as part of La Machine. Be honest here: are any of you terrified?

[Thanks, Chay]

[blash Posted Sep 4th 2008 12:41AM]

SHIIIIIITTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT

RUNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 4th 2008 1:30AM]

Yeah looks like a Tachikoma. Even cooler if it was a blue one.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 4th 2008 1:56AM]

I wouldn't be surprised if this was a publicity stunt\filming for an upcoming Doctor Who or Torchwood episode.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 4th 2008 2:47AM]

It's part of the European Capital of Culture celebrations.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/liverpool08/

[shaundon Posted Sep 4th 2008 3:25AM]

To answer the question, I am indeed terrified

[Kissarmy Posted Sep 4th 2008 3:42AM]

The Spider is by the same people who did the "Sultans Elephant" a couple of years ago in London.
It was awesome - check out youtube vid. This is going to be even better.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQ2elHYRJf4

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 4th 2008 4:24AM]

Meh, it's Liverpool. It'll be stolen by the end of today!

[Rob Bourne Posted Sep 4th 2008 4:20AM]

Terrifying?

Just being in Liverpool is terrifying enough.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 4th 2008 1:02PM]

Being a liverpool lad myself, I was half expecting my gran to be trying to beat it to death with a rolled up newspaper

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 4th 2008 4:45AM]

I'll give 2 days before its on bricks.

[Rob Bourne Posted Sep 4th 2008 6:33AM]

2 days?

By that time even the bricks will have been swiped.

[Ethan Posted Sep 4th 2008 6:52AM]

It can destroy liverpool if it wants to.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 4th 2008 7:59AM]

I'll be there to see this on Friday when it starts moving. It's not advertising anything. It's just a large piece of artwork. Apparently it's going to take a bath in the docks ^^ xxx

[Cobatts Posted Sep 4th 2008 7:05AM]

Even with 8 legs, that pod makes it look more like a tachikoma than a spider.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 4th 2008 7:15AM]

"Be honest here: are any of you terrified?"

To be honest yes, because it seems to have a face on its arse

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 4th 2008 7:29AM]

It's by the same guy who did the Sultan's Elephant. If it is anywhere near as spectacular as that was, it will be amazing.

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&safe=off&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&q=sultans+elephant&spell=1

[Android Overlord Posted Sep 4th 2008 8:21AM]

This thing will actually start moving around the streets under its own power. Its there because liverpool is the culture capital of europe. We've just got to wait for it to "wake" up and it will actually move. The thing weighs 32 tons so its not hanging of the side of the building.

[Chefgon Posted Sep 4th 2008 7:48AM]

Just one more item on the long list of reasons I'm glad I don't live in England.

[CommentSystem Posted Sep 4th 2008 8:32AM]

lol, man i would like to see when it starts moving out of nowhere just to see how people would react

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 4th 2008 8:40AM]

I hope it's still there for you to witness that on Friday before some scally from Toxteth jacks it for a joyride

[pauljohno Posted Sep 4th 2008 8:49AM]

I've just been to see this today as it was getting moved to a new location in Liverpool. The spider can actually be "driven"! It holds 9 people who I assume are required to operate it. One seat is situated under the head while the other 8 are situated one under each leg. The spider will be at the Liverpool Arena tomorrow. On Sunday it will be driven/walked/whatever down to the Liverpool museums - which should be a strange sight!

[chriscross Posted Sep 4th 2008 9:17AM]

Going to see this thing actually move this saturday cause I live about 8 miles away (:

Maybe I'll put some photos on Flickr

[wharrad Posted Sep 4th 2008 9:22AM]

I wouldn't worry about it guys, going by the sign behind it it's not going to last until friday!

[drkschmoog Posted Sep 4th 2008 11:10AM]

http://b.imagehost.org/0330/DSC02843.jpg
I came back on the train from the lake district yesterday, and I randomly got a text off my Dad saying "take a picture of the spider", and I was like "wtf?". Then I came out of Lime street station and I was like "oooookay".

Liverpool is really trying hard to live up to it's "capital of culture" status, there's a huge super-super wide ad/info screen opposite that spider.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 4th 2008 1:08PM]

I'd hit it.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 4th 2008 2:30PM]

"I'd hit it"

You'd need a big slipper!

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 4th 2008 5:17PM]

Yeah it's a living thearter compagny called Royal DeLuxe, from my hometown on the west coast of France. Last time I was there, they were mounting the spider on its motored machine. It was really impressive, here are some more photographs of the monster :p

http://dl.free.fr/j5o2iMszW
http://dl.free.fr/j3a9lImJP

Among many other machines and feeries, they made a giant elephant last year, that's walking for the public a good half of the year. Budget for that public attraction was 10 million euros if I recall well, and it's supposed to be active for a decade :

http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=5HZmFomXluU&feature=related

Have fun!

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 4th 2008 7:48PM]

Decepticons transform!

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 6th 2008 1:43PM]

Im terrified of spiders, if that thing showed up outside my house or even in the town im in, i wudnt be in this town! id be gone faster than a cheetah!
Although its not real,,, i dont get it, what is it actually doing ? ive heard different stories..

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