Alien: Earth Special Effects Team Hint at Even Scarier Elements Arriving in the Next Season

How do Xenomorph eggs seem like? According to the special effects experts who developed them for the Alien: Earth series, they are heated and gooey. The Second Skin team worked closely with Wētā’s design team and the show’s creators to bring their concepts for multiple alien beings to the screen. For the series’ famous Facehugger eggs, this involved slathering the shells with plant-based glycerin, giving them a moist, biological texture.

Sarawut “Tor” Sakthamcharoen and Sarinnaree “Honey” Khamaiumcharean designed numerous of the terrifying creatures in Alien: Earth, including monstrous ticks, face-melting flies, and the audience-beloved creature t. ocellus, often called “Eye Midge” by the production team.

Behind the Scenes: Designing the Monsters

What other beings did you work on for the series? What was the creation process involve?

Sarawut "Tor" Sakthamcharoen: Actually, the monsters mentioned, such as the tick, eye creatures, fly hive, Xenomorph eggs, and embryo, were constructed in multiple versions than seen on screen — different sizes and forms for different shots. Additionally, we also created support creatures, such as a fake sheep for a collapse and death scene and a Xenomorph foam prop inside a bag. We also produced silicone dummies, a fake cat with the eyeball creature, realistic fur, and special effects for the Eye Midge sequence.

Sarinnaree “Honey” Khamaiumcharean: The our studio also supported the VFX department by creating a green chestburster. This was used on set to enable actors respond realistically and served as a reference element for the VFX team.

Upcoming Ideas: Terrifying Possibilities for Season 2

These tick creatures are particularly terrifying in Episode 5, but we only glimpse part of their life cycle. What are any ideas for how that could continue if there’s a second season?

Sakthamcharoen: I’m not entirely sure — that would be up to the filmmaker’s plan. But it’s clear: Audiences haven’t witnessed how they construct their homes.

Creating the Alien Fetus

Explain further about designing the Xenomorph embryo. How did you decide what it would appear as?

Sakthamcharoen: Actually, the initial design came from Wētā as a drawing. We found it impressive, but since it had to be functional, we needed to rework it, sculpting a three-dimensional version and printing multiple scales for selection. Once the scale was finalized, we proceeded with creating molds it to appear as translucent jelly, allowing the skeletal form of the Xeno embryo to be seen underwater.

Khamaiumcharean: Correct, the fetus concept started with Wētā. Our Second Skin team took their sketches and brought them into the practical world, ensuring the design could function on set and integrate with VFX work.

Contrasting the Xenomorph Eggs

From the first 1979 Alien film, the alien eggs have water that seems flowing upward. The eggs in Alien: Earth lack this element. Why did you omit it?

Sakthamcharoen: This aspect we never actually discussed with the filmmaker. But from what I understand, in the first Alien film, Ridley Scott used a smart filming technique — shooting upside down — to make water droplets appear to flow upward. The eggs were also coated with glycerin for a wet, organic look. In the series, since the location is on Earth, the decision may have been to keep the eggs more grounded in Earth’s gravity. This is only speculation.

Khamaiumcharean: We tried many approaches to reference the first 1979 Alien, but we also had to adapt certain features to fit the world of Alien: Earth. In instances, we introduced fresh ideas, and in different cases, we adjusted features to match the story and tone.

Nicknaming the Eyeball Creature

It’s said the “eyeball alien” is referred to as “t. ocellus”. But rumors suggest you refer to it as “Eye Midge”. Where did that nickname originate?

Sakthamcharoen: Honestly, we don’t really know where the name first came from, as we never asked about its source. The initial instance we encountered the term was from the VFX supervisor and the Wētā design team.

Honey: We’re not exactly sure where the name first came from. But I think it became a useful term so that our international team could quickly grasp and discuss the physical traits of the creature.

Biggest Challenges in Monster Creation

Which was the largest obstacle you faced while working on the monsters for the show? How did you overcome it?

Tor: I’d say the main difficulty was certainly constructing the alien eggs and handling the dissecting sequences. It was something we had never done before, so there was much experimentation. We really have to thank our crew — they pushed through with great dedication, making it possible.

Khamaiumcharean: For me, the biggest challenge was designing and building the Xenomorph eggs. The Second Skin team had to make various types — flexible, rigid, openable models, even mechanical and hand-operated designs. We additionally designed the inside structures of the eggs in a manner that viewers have never seen in any Alien film. Moreover, maintaining the eggs undamaged in Thailand’s hot climate was a significant challenge.

Favorite Creatures

Which non-alien being is your favorite?

Tor: I really like the fly. Its scale makes it somewhat adorable — large and bulky, similar to a huge insect. It’s got a proboscis like an elephant and eyes like a spider, which makes it both strange and endearing.

Khamaiumcharean: Absolutely the eyeball creature. It’s one of the cleverest beings in the series. Although there was extensive effects involved, the practical version we created looked adorable and bizarre at the same time.

Memorable Scenes

What monster moment from this season of the series is your most liked?

Sakthamcharoen: My preferred has to be the eyeball creature and Shmuel scene. That scene was thrilling, and from my perspective, it was a special blend of monster and effects design — something we’re really proud of.

Khamaiumcharean: My favorite scene was the giant fly ejecting acid onto Issac. Since Issac is a synthetic body built to be extremely strong, watching how it reacts to the corrosive substance really demonstrates both the monster’s nature and its terrifying force.

Teamwork Approach

How was the creation method like for designing new alien creatures in the series with such a large, global crew? Was there a lot of back and forth with the producers?

Honey: From my experience, the process was very collaborative. The original monster ideas originated with the director and Wētā, but once they reached us, it was our responsibility to translate those concepts into physical models that could function on set. That meant experimenting with supplies, creating prototypes, and finding ways to combine prosthetics with VFX. There was a lot of back and forth with both the director and the effects lead — we would show tests, refine using input,