More than 60 million years ago, shortly after the dinosaurs became extinct, giant penguins swam the warm oceans around the ancient subcontinent of Zealandia.

"Squawkzilla and the Giants" presents the results of this research through life-sized models of the giant birds, and Canterbury Museum Director Anthony Wright says the exhibit is set to be a summer blockbuster for the Museum.

Earthstory's natural history artists began with hand-drawn visualisations of the five penguins and the giant parrot, based on the Museum's briefs. We then created detailed digital models in Zbrush software for 3D printing, and assembled the complete life-size reconstructions with internal framing and mounting hardware. The birds were then meticulously hand-finished with textures and colours, and custom glass eyes were fitted before all six sculptures were crated and flown first class to the Museum's Exhibition staff for installation.