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IMDbPro

Mike Elizalde(I)

  • Make-up Department
  • Puppetry
  • Visual Effects
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
81st Academy Awards
Mike Elizalde first became interested in monsters and creature effects as a young child watching films like Universal Studios' Frankenstein and Dracula. Armed with these early inspirations, he put together a portfolio of original makeup designs and, in 1987, joined the world of creature and makeup effects. Mike quickly established his career as a makeup effects designer, sculptor, and as one of the top animatronics engineers in his field.

In 1994, Mike and his wife Mary established Spectral Motion, Inc. as a means to serve the film, television, and theme-park industries independently. Their company is now a recognized world leader in makeup and creature effects design, and boasts global installations in major theme-park venues. Mike and his team were nominated for an Academy Award® for their work on Hellboy II: The Golden Army, for which the team also received their second Saturn Award nomination, and first award from the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror.

Memberships include: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the Screen Actors Guild, IATSE Local 706, and The Academy of Magical Arts/Magic Castle.
Born1960
  • More at IMDbPro
    • Contact info
    • Agent info
    • Resume
Born1960
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • View contact info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 9 wins & 8 nominations total

    Photos7

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    Known for

    Jamie Campbell Bower, Caleb McLaughlin, Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Noah Schnapp, and Gaten Matarazzo in Stranger Things (2016)
    Stranger Things
    8.6
    TV Series
    • Puppetry
    Brian Steele and Maxwell Jenkins in Lost in Space (2018)
    Lost in Space
    7.3
    TV Series
    • Special Effects
    • 2018

    Credits

    Edit
    IMDbPro

    Makeup Department



    • Untitled Border Town Thriller
      • creature effects: makeup effects
      • Pre-production



    • The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants (2025)
      The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants
      6.4
      • creature effects supervisor: Spectral Motion
      • 2025
    • Jacob Elordi in Frankenstein (2025)
      Frankenstein
      7.5
      • early concept development and sculptures (as Spectral Motion)
      • 2025
    • Alejandro Speitzer in Coyotl, Hero and Beast (2025)
      Coyotl, Hero and Beast
      5.4
      TV Series
      • creature effects (2022)
      • 2025
    • Ronald Binion in Imaginary (2024)
      Imaginary
      4.7
      • special effects makeup designer
      • 2024
    • Justice Smith in I Saw the TV Glow (2024)
      I Saw the TV Glow
      5.8
      • creature effects designer
      • 2024
    • Jason Momoa and Patrick Wilson in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2023)
      Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom
      5.6
      • creature effects
      • 2023
    • Malibu Horror Story (2023)
      Malibu Horror Story
      4.5
      • special effects makeup designer
      • 2023
    • Guillermo del Toro in Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities (2022)
      Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities
      7.0
      TV Series
      • creature effects supervisor: Spectral Motion
      • 2022
    • Jermaine Fowler, Sinqua Walls, Antoinette Robertson, Dewayne Perkins, Melvin Gregg, X Mayo, and Grace Byers in The Blackening (2022)
      The Blackening
      6.0
      • special effects head makeup
      • 2022
    • The Quest (2022)
      The Quest
      3.9
      TV Series
      • prosthetics designer
      • 2022
    • Stefanie Scott, Sofia Bryant, and Misha Osherovich in The Girl in the Woods (2021)
      The Girl in the Woods
      5.5
      TV Series
      • creature effects (2021)
      • 2021
    • Paul Rudd, Logan Kim, Mckenna Grace, Finn Wolfhard, and Celeste O'Connor in Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021)
      Ghostbusters: Afterlife
      7.0
      • additional animatronics: Spectral Motion
      • 2021
    • The Empty Man (2020)
      The Empty Man
      6.2
      • makeup effects designer
      • 2020
    • Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (2019)
      Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark
      6.2
      • creature effects supervisor: Spectral Motion
      • 2019
    • Velvet Buzzsaw (2019)
      Velvet Buzzsaw
      5.7
      • special makeup and creature effects creator
      • 2019

    Puppetry



    • Annabelle Wallis in Malignant (2021)
      Malignant
      6.2
      • puppeteer
      • 2021
    • Jamie Campbell Bower, Caleb McLaughlin, Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Noah Schnapp, and Gaten Matarazzo in Stranger Things (2016)
      Stranger Things
      8.6
      TV Series
      • puppeteer: Spectral Motion
      • 2016
    • John Hurt, Ron Perlman, Selma Blair, Ladislav Beran, Doug Jones, Karel Roden, Brian Steele, and Rupert Evans in Hellboy (2004)
      Hellboy
      6.9
      • puppeteer
      • 2004
    • Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith in Men in Black II (2002)
      Men in Black II
      6.2
      • puppeteer
      • 2002
    • Wesley Snipes in Blade II (2002)
      Blade II
      6.7
      • lead puppeteer
      • 2002
    • Arachnid (2001)
      Arachnid
      4.0
      • puppeteer
      • 2001
    • Haley Joel Osment in A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)
      A.I. Artificial Intelligence
      7.2
      • puppeteer (uncredited)
      • 2001
    • Bridget Fonda, Brendan Fraser, Rose McGowan, John Turturro, Giancarlo Esposito, Frat Fuller, Frit Fuller, Joseph S. Griffo, Chris Kattan, Jody St. Michael, and Brian Steele in Monkeybone (2001)
      Monkeybone
      4.8
      • puppeteer
      • 2001
    • John Alexander in Mighty Joe Young (1998)
      Mighty Joe Young
      5.7
      • puppeteer
      • 1998
    • Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith in Men in Black (1997)
      Men in Black
      7.3
      • puppeteer
      • 1997
    • Eddie Murphy in The Nutty Professor (1996)
      The Nutty Professor
      5.7
      • puppeteer
      • 1996
    • Natasha Henstridge in Species (1995)
      Species
      5.9
      • puppeteer (as Winston Mike Elizade)
      • 1995
    • Jim Carrey, Tommy Lee Jones, Nicole Kidman, Val Kilmer, and Chris O'Donnell in Batman Forever (1995)
      Batman Forever
      5.5
      • puppeteer (uncredited)
      • 1995
    • Tim Allen and Eric Lloyd in The Santa Clause (1994)
      The Santa Clause
      6.6
      • lead puppeteer: Amalgamated Dynamics, Inc.
      • lead puppeteer (uncredited)
      • 1994
    • Charles Grodin and Martin Short in Clifford (1994)
      Clifford
      5.6
      • puppeteer
      • 1994

    Visual Effects



    • Marlon Wayans, John Michael Higgins, Kelly Rowland, Rob Riggle, and Priah Ferguson in The Curse of Bridge Hollow (2022)
      The Curse of Bridge Hollow
      5.6
      • creature effects: Spectral Motion
      • 2022
    • Emma, Paul, Daniel, Brian, and James in The Old Age Sword: The Movie (2020)
      The Old Age Sword: The Movie
      Video
      • visual effects producer
      • 2020
    • Sweet Home (2018)
      Sweet Home
      8.1
      TV Series
      • practical creature effects supervisor: Spectral Motion
      • 2018
    • Will Ferrell, Steve Carell, David Koechner, and Paul Rudd in Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (2013)
      Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues
      6.3
      • creature effects
      • 2013
    • Jeff Bridges and Ryan Reynolds in R.I.P.D. (2013)
      R.I.P.D.
      5.6
      • creature design consultant
      • 2013
    • Pacific Rim (2013)
      Pacific Rim
      6.9
      • visual effects (uncredited)
      • 2013
    • Bailee Madison in Don't Be Afraid of the Dark (2010)
      Don't Be Afraid of the Dark
      5.5
      • creature design consultant
      • 2010
    • The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008)
      The Day the Earth Stood Still
      5.5
      • design consultant
      • 2008

    Property Department



    • Michael Carbonaro in The Carbonaro Effect (2014)
      The Carbonaro Effect
      7.5
      TV Series
      • specialty props
      • 2015

    • In-development projects at IMDbPro

    Personal details

    Edit
    • Official site
      • Spectral Motion
    • Alternative names
      • Mike Elizade
    • Born
      • 1960
      • Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico
    • Spouse
      • Mary ElizaldeMay 23, 1992 - present (2 children)
    • Publicity listings
      • 1 Interview
      • 1 Article

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