From High School Doodles to Hollywood Blockbuster: The Artful Journey of Ryan Meinerding

Picture a high-schooler doodling his favorite character, The Thing, in the back of his notebook. He has no idea that one day, these sketchpad experiments will become the basis for blockbuster designs. Fast forward some years, and that very young artist is Ryan Meinerding, the mastermind behind the look of many Marvel Studios superheroes loved by millions today.

Today, Meinerding juggles various roles, including character designer, creative director, and head of visual development at Marvel Studios, and associate producer. Currently, he's batting for Marvel's latest, “Fantastic Four: First Steps,” a project that saw him and his Burbank-based team producing an impressive 3,600 pieces of concept art.

Taking us on a tour of his world, Meinerding shared the stages of his design process. Beginning with a simple pencil sketch to carve out basic ideas swiftly, followed by a transition to digital for the main storyline. This approach recently allowed him to overcome the challenge of creating a lovable, emotive Thing, despite the unusual design hurdle this large, rock-made character presents.

Superhero fandom dates back to Meinerding's high school days when he fell in love with the iconic Marvel character The Thing. Emulating the artistic design of Jack Kirby, the original designer of this character, turned into a thrilling challenge. From Kirby's initial mud-like man to the evolving, expressive rock formation, Meinderding admits crafting this larger-than-life character was indeed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

For “Fantastic Four: First Steps,” the team aimed to accomplish high levels of on-set practicality. Actions ranged from building a stand-in for The Thing to handpicking decorative rocks from landscaping places for authentic references. This hands-on approach towards authenticity was also observed in previous films, like "Captain America".

When Kevin Feige, Marvel Studios' president, acquired the "Fantastic Four" film rights in 2019, he set Meinerding on his dream project - The Thing. Multiple iterations later, Meinerding and his production designer, Kasra Farahani, settled on a retro-futuristic aesthetic for the film. Drawing inspirations from '60s sci-fi movies and artists like Syd Mead and Robert McCall, the result has been exciting enough to turn heads.

Despite the rocky exterior, conveying emotions through The Thing's iconic features was the winning point. Describing The Thing as "all eyebrows, eyes, and mouth," Meinderding emphasized the significance of each facial expression underlining the character's persona.

The design prowess didn't stop there. Perfecting the look of Reed's stretching powers, Sue's invisibility or visualizing the Surfer riding a neutron star wave was achieved through a collaborative brainstorming session. The collective knowledge of the team played a crucial role in evolving each character while respecting fan expectations.

Both Meinderding and Alexandra Byrne, the costume designer, agreed on a friendlier and more earnest look for the blue and white suits of the Fantastic Four. The effort was to teleport the audience back in time to a '60s sci-fi movie era which they successfully accomplished.

When it came to designing the mighty villain, Galactus, the challenge lied in finding the right balance between plunge viewers into awe without distracting from the plot. Achieving his colossal sense was a joyful challenge for Meinerding, one that again drew heavily from Kirby's original designs.

The Silver Surfer, played by Julia Garner, required careful consideration due to her reflective ability. The team had to design her in a way that respected her mirrored surface aesthetic while ensuring she looked real and part of the environment.

In all, Meinerding's journey from a young Marvel enthusiast to a significant contributor to the Marvel Cinematic Universe's visual evolution has been nothing short of inspiring. His dedication and creativity continue fueling our beloved superheroes' journey on the big screen.