MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE - FRIGHT FIGHTER 2026 | TRAVIS KNIGHT
Working on the Fright Fighter for Masters of the Universe 2026 was both exciting and challenging.
One of the biggest design challenges was avoiding the obvious comparison to the Ornithopter from Dune. Since both vehicles rely on articulated wings, I wanted to push the design in a different direction.
Under the direction of Production Designer Guy Hendrix Dyas, I explored additional mechanical movement, complex wing deployment, and more organic articulation with multiple rotating and folding components.
The goal was to create a vehicle that not only look unique, but also followed believable engineering logic so it could be faithfully realized by the VFX artists and the props team at BGI Supplies Ltd.
Due to the project's schedule, we focused on refining the overall form and the core transformation mechanism rather than exploring every possible variation
ven within those constraints, we were able to develop a fresh interpretation of the original Fright Fighter, giving the classic vehicle a new visual identity while preserving its iconic character.
This project allowed me to cross something off my professional bucket list. Not only did I have the opportunity to work on Masters of the Universe as the Lead Vehicle Concept Artist/Designer, but seeing the talented designers at Mattel adapt vehicle designs into physical toys has been an incredibly rewarding experience.
A huge thank you to everyone involved in bringing this project to life. Congratulations to the entire cast and crew on an incredible achievement. I truly believe this is one of the standout films of the summer, and I think more and more people will appreciate just how good it is as time goes on.
