This project was my half of a private swap with a TP member.
We decided to do a paired custom set and although she had some great matches on her list of likes, I kept coming back to Simba and Nala. I've seen people completely sculpt them as lions and I knew doing that was WAY beyond my skill level and yet, they kept gnawing at me (get it?)! After a couple of days, it hit me! Simba and Nala Broadway style!!! I've never seen them done this way and maybe you haven't either!
For those of you haven't had the opportunity to see the Broadway production, I'll just tell you that the costumes are amazing with beautiful African style clothing and patterns. It is a great show and you should totally go if you get the chance!
This is the picture I used for inspiration...
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loginI dyed my baits to be different flesh tones and then painted parts of the costumes like Simba's wrist band and red chest that mimics part of a mane just like in the Broadway show. I gave him Rafiki's cub drawing as a symbol. Both Simba and Nala have beads around their middle to be the beads/shells like the picture. Simba's pants are actually made from a G1 ponywear swimsuit bottom that I dyed a bit more brown and then added the pant legs.
The show used braided cloth or rope to make the lion's tails. Different productions of the show had variations in costume and I liked a pic I found that had multi-colored tails so that's what I did for these! Nala's symbol is a stylized sun. I began rerooting Nala's head with black dollyhair, but got about 1/3 done and it just didn't look right. So, I went with a more natural material (wool) for both of them. Of course, the human actors have short hair or hair styled close to their head, but I didn't have to be so limited for ponies! I made them POOFY because it's different, pretty, and fun!
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login The masks were the tricky part since I really am not good with clay! I started with Nala and after 4 different masks, I finally got one I liked! Simba's mask is so heavy that he tips over when it's on so, I had to put some weights in his back legs! Both masks (and clothes) are removable.
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loginI always send a LPS pet along with my customs so pony actors, Simba and Nala, have their own baby pony painted to be their daughter, Kiara!
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loginI've never done anything quite like these two and I'm excited about how they came out!
Oh, and thanks to Skeen for use of her Pride Rock playset for pictures!