This mask wasn't created
to look like just any dog.
It was actually made to be identical
to this specific dog.
The facial structure was sculpted precisely
with this pup in mind,
replicating its exact nose and snout.
Although lots of people think all dogs
of the same breed look alike,
the artists who work with
Shindo Michika Planning Office
are experts at seeing the small, unique details.
Every angle carved in the sculpture
of the face is the same as the angle
on the pet they've been tasked to recreate.
Each clump of hair is placed specifically
to mimic the natural growth of hair
that the real animal has,
and if any part of the process is done wrong,
it won't look like the animals in the photos.
So, how do they do it?
To start, the structure of the face
is sculpted out of clay.
The artists who work on the sculpture
have to know how a dog's face is shaped
beneath all the fur
and apply that information to
each animal they recreate.
This is one of the most vital steps
to capture the features specific to this dog.
The artists use it as a
basic foundation of the mask.
Because clay itself is too heavy
to be used as the actual mask,
it's used to create a silicone mold.
Once the mold is created,
it's used to make a cast
using a gauze-like material.
The process done here is similar to paper-mache.
It might not look like anything special yet,
but once the hair is added,
everything starts coming together.
Large strips of hair are crafted by hand
and glued down to the base of the mask.
The hair grows outwards,
just like hair on a real dog,
and each strand varies in color.
For this mask, the team has created hair
with strands of white along with the black.
The parts closer to the eyes
with shorter hairs are trimmed carefully.
Next, they make the ears.
They're made separately from the head
and take a bit of practice to get right.
While the back of the ear is made
with one large piece of hair,
the inside is placed more precisely.
A large clump of hair is separated
into smaller sections
and placed bit by bit
to recreate the growth of real hair.
After that's done, the ears are sewn
onto the rest of the mask.
The eyes are crafted next.
Each eye is created using a mold
and painted brown and black,
matching the photograph of the pup.
They're solid except for in the center,
which has a hole
to allow the person wearing the mask to see.
Once all the pieces are in their proper place,
the finishing touches are added.
The hair is painted in spots around the face
with a brown color
to capture the varying colors
that run in the dog's coat.
Then, with a small curling iron,
the artist goes back in and curls
small sections of hair on the ears,
face, and the back of the head.
This final touch
gives the poodle its lifelike curl,
matching it to its real-life companion.