---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We ended up realizing that's not an…"
description: "\"We ended up realizing that's not an economical way to create creatures, putting people in green leotards and figuring it out later. You can maybe do th..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c0/d-b-weiss-18501_avatar_we-ended-up-realizing-that-s-not-an-econ_2370773.jpg"
---

#  We ended up realizing that's not an economical way to…

![“We ended up realizing that's not an economical way to create creatures, putting people in green leotards and figuring it out later. You can maybe do that if you're making 'Avatar,' but we need to know what the creatures look like before we turn on the camera.” quote by D. B. Weiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c0/d-b-weiss-18501_avatar_we-ended-up-realizing-that-s-not-an-econ_2370773.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c0/d-b-weiss-18501_avatar_we-ended-up-realizing-that-s-not-an-econ_2370773.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c0/d-b-weiss-18501_avatar_we-ended-up-realizing-that-s-not-an-econ_2370773.jpg)

> “We ended up realizing that's not an economical way to create creatures, putting people in green leotards and figuring it out later. You can maybe do that if you're making 'Avatar,' but we need to know what the creatures look like before we turn on the camera.”

[D. B. Weiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-b-weiss/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Creating creatures without pre‑visual design is costly and inefficient; planning visual concepts early saves time and budget.

**In simple terms:** Plan creature looks before filming.

Key Takeaway

Design first, film later.

Themes

production budget visual design

Mood

pragmatic focused

Type

practical industry.

When to use this quote

- film production
- game development
- animation studios
- budget planning

Key Concepts

pre‑visualization creature design cost efficiency

Questions to Reflect On

- How could early concept art improve your workflow?
- What tools help visualize creatures before filming?

A Different Perspective

Skipping design can lead to re‑shoots and wasted resources.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Avatar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/avatar/) [Avatar Need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/avatar-need-5837810/) [Create](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/create/) [Create Creatures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/create-creatures-5823618/) [Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/green/) [Leotards Figuring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leotards-figuring-5837811/) [Look](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look/) [Making Avatar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making-avatar-4097813/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/)

## Related quotes

> [I think its pretty clear that film is the pre-eminent art form of our age. If Michaelangelo or Leonardo Da Vinci were alive today…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/i-think-its-pretty-clear-that-film-is-the-pre-eminent-art-form-of-our/)

[Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/)

> [Why would some all powerful being create creatures capable of reason and then demand that they act in a manner contrary to their creation?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-charles/why-would-some-all-powerful-being-create-creatures-capable-of-reason/)

[Josh Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-charles/)

> [The Avatar appears to be human and we are misled into thinking of him in these terms but the Avatar himself warns us against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sathya-sai-baba/the-avatar-appears-to-be-human-and-we-are-misled-into-thinking-of-him/)

[Sathya Sai Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sathya-sai-baba/)

> [I want to be in 'Avatar'. I want somebody to hire me to be Superman, a Chinese Superman or Spider-Man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-chan/i-want-to-be-in-avatar-i-want-somebody-to-hire-me-to-be-superman-a/)

[Jackie Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-chan/)

> [After 'Avatar' ended, I spent a lot of time watching MMA and kickboxing fights on UFC, WEC, DREAM, and K-1.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-konietzko/after-avatar-ended-i-spent-a-lot-of-time-watching-mma-and-kickboxing/)

[Bryan Konietzko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-konietzko/)

> [When you have a fully-realized Avatar, it's like Superman, and how do you make that interesting?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-konietzko/when-you-have-a-fully-realized-avatar-it-s-like-superman-and-how-do/)

[Bryan Konietzko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-konietzko/)

> [I see myself as an avatar of curiosity and doubt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-conover/i-see-myself-as-an-avatar-of-curiosity-and-doubt/)

[Adam Conover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-conover/)

> [When you think about it, 'Avatar' is almost completely an animated movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ridley-scott/when-you-think-about-it-avatar-is-almost-completely-an-animated-movie/)

[Ridley Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ridley-scott/)

> [“The Higher Self does not need a walk-in at the Avatar Level or any level because the Higher Self already exists as a consciousness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-bravandt/the-higher-self-does-not-need-a-walk-in-at-the-avatar-level-or-any/)

[Deborah Bravandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-bravandt/)

> [Avatar is a watershed movie. We'll always refer to Lawrence of Arabia in the same way. We'll always look at Avatar and say, "That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shatner/avatar-is-a-watershed-movie-we-ll-always-refer-to-lawrence-of-arabia/)

[William Shatner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shatner/)

> [“We, through the cerebral cortex, add the consciousness, spirit and rationality, to this dolphin brained human body avatar. We control our destiny and this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-michel/we-through-the-cerebral-cortex-add-the-consciousness-spirit-and/)

[Kevin Michel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-michel/)

> [When you are the avatar for the writer/director, a lot of times, I just trusted him. If he had a choice, even if it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-bomer/when-you-are-the-avatar-for-the-writer-director-a-lot-of-times-i-just/)

[Matt Bomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-bomer/)

> [The new 'Avatar' BluRay is a lesson in filmmaking. It really is inspiring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-leterrier/the-new-avatar-bluray-is-a-lesson-in-filmmaking-it-really-is-inspiring/)

[Louis Leterrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-leterrier/)

> [“Doyle: "What is it now, then?" Cordelia: "Isn't java supposed to be a coffee?" Doyle: "Ready to abandon the the Web project?" Cordelia: "No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-passarella/doyle-what-is-it-now-then-cordelia-isn-t-java-supposed-to-be-a-coffee/)

[John Passarella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-passarella/)

> [I believe in my heart that 'Avatar' is going to be the revolutionary sci-fi movie for this generation, in this era.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laz-alonso/i-believe-in-my-heart-that-avatar-is-going-to-be-the-revolutionary/)

[Laz Alonso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laz-alonso/)

## More by D. B. Weiss

> [We do have pictures on the wall, in our office in Belfast where we spend half our time. All the head shots are on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-b-weiss/we-do-have-pictures-on-the-wall-in-our-office-in-belfast-where-we/)

[D. B. Weiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-b-weiss/)

> [I like to think of myself as a 'Mord the jailer' type.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-b-weiss/i-like-to-think-of-myself-as-a-mord-the-jailer-type/)

[D. B. Weiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-b-weiss/)

> [We've been given this great gift, this huge canvas of these beautiful books by George Martin, and the idea of telling this whole epic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-b-weiss/we-ve-been-given-this-great-gift-this-huge-canvas-of-these-beautiful/)

[D. B. Weiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-b-weiss/)

> [Who doesn't love 'Frogger?' It draws its power from our shared memories of powerlessness. Wherever we are now, at one time or another we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-b-weiss/who-doesn-t-love-frogger-it-draws-its-power-from-our-shared-memories/)

[D. B. Weiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-b-weiss/)

> [Being away from home for six months of the year and seeing your kids grow up on Skype all that time - I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-b-weiss/being-away-from-home-for-six-months-of-the-year-and-seeing-your-kids/)

[D. B. Weiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-b-weiss/)

> ['Confederate,' in all of our minds, will be an alternative-history show. It's a science-fiction show. One of the strengths of science fiction is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-b-weiss/confederate-in-all-of-our-minds-will-be-an-alternative-history-show/)

[D. B. Weiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-b-weiss/)

> [A lot of people go in and have to create their own characters, and they do fine with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-b-weiss/a-lot-of-people-go-in-and-have-to-create-their-own-characters-and/)

[D. B. Weiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-b-weiss/)

> [Man, 'Hill Street Blues' was on when I was 12, and I remember feeling I'd never seen anything like it. It was that far…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-b-weiss/man-hill-street-blues-was-on-when-i-was-12-and-i-remember-feeling-i-d/)

[D. B. Weiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-b-weiss/)

> [I think that everything starts to go to hell when you start smelling your own farts and complimenting yourself on how great they smell.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-b-weiss/i-think-that-everything-starts-to-go-to-hell-when-you-start-smelling/)

[D. B. Weiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-b-weiss/)

> [You realize, no matter how great, books are not shows or movies; each operates on their own different rules. 'Game of Thrones' is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-b-weiss/you-realize-no-matter-how-great-books-are-not-shows-or-movies-each/)

[D. B. Weiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-b-weiss/)

> [Jason Momoa became a really good friend of ours when he played Khal Drogo. We loved hanging out with Momoa, and suddenly we couldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-b-weiss/jason-momoa-became-a-really-good-friend-of-ours-when-he-played-khal/)

[D. B. Weiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-b-weiss/)

> [One of the trickiest things about 'Game of Thrones' is just seeding those first couple of episodes with that basic information that people need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-b-weiss/one-of-the-trickiest-things-about-game-of-thrones-is-just-seeding/)

[D. B. Weiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-b-weiss/)

> [A geek is a person, male or female, with an abiding, obsessive, self-effacing, even self-destroying love for something besides status](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-b-weiss/a-geek-is-a-person-male-or-female-with-an-abiding-obsessive-self/)

[D. B. Weiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-b-weiss/)

> [I was reading scripts, doing coverage, for CAA. Reading hundreds and hundreds of scripts across the board, from blind submissions to 'Brokeback Mountain'. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-b-weiss/i-was-reading-scripts-doing-coverage-for-caa-reading-hundreds-and/)

[D. B. Weiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-b-weiss/)

> [Would I have watched another season of 'Breaking Bad'? Of course. Would I have watched another two seasons of 'Breaking Bad'? Of course. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-b-weiss/would-i-have-watched-another-season-of-breaking-bad-of-course-would-i/)

[D. B. Weiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-b-weiss/)

[Explore all 34 D. B. Weiss quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-b-weiss/)

## More Avatar quotes

> [I believe in my heart that 'Avatar' is going to be the revolutionary sci-fi movie for this generation, in this era.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laz-alonso/i-believe-in-my-heart-that-avatar-is-going-to-be-the-revolutionary/)

[Laz Alonso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laz-alonso/)

> [“Doyle: "What is it now, then?" Cordelia: "Isn't java supposed to be a coffee?" Doyle: "Ready to abandon the the Web project?" Cordelia: "No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-passarella/doyle-what-is-it-now-then-cordelia-isn-t-java-supposed-to-be-a-coffee/)

[John Passarella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-passarella/)

> [The new 'Avatar' BluRay is a lesson in filmmaking. It really is inspiring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-leterrier/the-new-avatar-bluray-is-a-lesson-in-filmmaking-it-really-is-inspiring/)

[Louis Leterrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-leterrier/)

> [When you are the avatar for the writer/director, a lot of times, I just trusted him. If he had a choice, even if it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-bomer/when-you-are-the-avatar-for-the-writer-director-a-lot-of-times-i-just/)

[Matt Bomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-bomer/)

> [“We, through the cerebral cortex, add the consciousness, spirit and rationality, to this dolphin brained human body avatar. We control our destiny and this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-michel/we-through-the-cerebral-cortex-add-the-consciousness-spirit-and/)

[Kevin Michel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-michel/)

> [Avatar is a watershed movie. We'll always refer to Lawrence of Arabia in the same way. We'll always look at Avatar and say, "That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shatner/avatar-is-a-watershed-movie-we-ll-always-refer-to-lawrence-of-arabia/)

[William Shatner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shatner/)

> [“The Higher Self does not need a walk-in at the Avatar Level or any level because the Higher Self already exists as a consciousness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-bravandt/the-higher-self-does-not-need-a-walk-in-at-the-avatar-level-or-any/)

[Deborah Bravandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-bravandt/)

> [When you think about it, 'Avatar' is almost completely an animated movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ridley-scott/when-you-think-about-it-avatar-is-almost-completely-an-animated-movie/)

[Ridley Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ridley-scott/)

> [I see myself as an avatar of curiosity and doubt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-conover/i-see-myself-as-an-avatar-of-curiosity-and-doubt/)

[Adam Conover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-conover/)

> [When you have a fully-realized Avatar, it's like Superman, and how do you make that interesting?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-konietzko/when-you-have-a-fully-realized-avatar-it-s-like-superman-and-how-do/)

[Bryan Konietzko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-konietzko/)

> [After 'Avatar' ended, I spent a lot of time watching MMA and kickboxing fights on UFC, WEC, DREAM, and K-1.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-konietzko/after-avatar-ended-i-spent-a-lot-of-time-watching-mma-and-kickboxing/)

[Bryan Konietzko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-konietzko/)

> [I want to be in 'Avatar'. I want somebody to hire me to be Superman, a Chinese Superman or Spider-Man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-chan/i-want-to-be-in-avatar-i-want-somebody-to-hire-me-to-be-superman-a/)

[Jackie Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-chan/)

> [The Avatar appears to be human and we are misled into thinking of him in these terms but the Avatar himself warns us against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sathya-sai-baba/the-avatar-appears-to-be-human-and-we-are-misled-into-thinking-of-him/)

[Sathya Sai Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sathya-sai-baba/)

> [I've written before that the president is our national avatar - a stand-in for what we believe we are, or want to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-reid/i-ve-written-before-that-the-president-is-our-national-avatar-a-stand/)

[Joy Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-reid/)

> [The only sci-fi movie that I've ever been offered that, had circumstances been different, I would have definitely done, was 'Avatar.' And I literally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-damon/the-only-sci-fi-movie-that-i-ve-ever-been-offered-that-had/)

[Matt Damon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-damon/)

[Browse all 114 Avatar quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/avatar/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "We ended up realizing that's not an economical way to create creatures, putting people in green leotards and figuring it out later. You can maybe do that if you're making 'Avatar,' but we need to know what the creatures look like before we turn on the camera.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "D. B. Weiss"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-b-weiss/we-ended-up-realizing-that-s-not-an-economical-way-to-create/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Avatar"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-b-weiss/we-ended-up-realizing-that-s-not-an-economical-way-to-create/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c0/d-b-weiss-18501_avatar_we-ended-up-realizing-that-s-not-an-econ_2370773.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c0/d-b-weiss-18501_avatar_we-ended-up-realizing-that-s-not-an-econ_2370773.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c0/d-b-weiss-18501_avatar_we-ended-up-realizing-that-s-not-an-econ_2370773.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“We ended up realizing that's not an economical way to create creatures, putting people in green leotards and…” — D. B. Weiss",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "D. B. Weiss",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-b-weiss/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "We ended up realizing that's not...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-b-weiss/we-ended-up-realizing-that-s-not-an-economical-way-to-create/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-b-weiss/we-ended-up-realizing-that-s-not-an-economical-way-to-create/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
