Heaviest mechanical puppet

The Dragon of Calais weighs 65.3 tonnes (72 tons) and stretches for a nose-to-tail length of 25 m (82 ft). Manipulated by 17 controllers, this fire-breathing mechanical monstrosity was designed by François Delarozière of La Machine (France) with the elements in mind – fire, water, air, and earth – for the city of Calais in France, which Delarozière describes as “a windswept city between the sea and the earth”.The puppet draws upon nature for its design: it’s based on the forms of an iguana and komodo dragon, and the body is the blue-green colour of the sea, shifting in tone “depending on the weather, the sun and the rain”, he explains. It’s sculpted from wood, leather, metal – including copper – and canvas, and can fire jets of water, fire or smoke from its mouth.The dragon enjoyed its first public outing in the city on 1–3 November 2019.

“Dragons are the world’s gatekeepers,” proclaimed La Machine at the time of its debut. “It is they who maintain balance. Dragons exist in all shapes and colours, they possess enormous powers and every dragon is unique. The Dragon of Calais is fire, air, earth and water… he has always watched over the lands and seas of the north. Dragons only appear to humans in situations of extreme need, to settle a conflict or to allay an evil. They are naturally benevolent but can also be wild and unpredictable.”