Hyperreactive fake babies: a precision art for the big screen

Behind some of the most convincing newborns in the cinema is not a maternity ward, but a quiet workshop on the outskirts of Paris. In Cinebe, a specialized brand under Studio Junon, craftsmen breathe lifeless silicone life and create hyperrealistic support babies with careful details.

An employee paints the head of a fake baby for cinema and television, which was created by CineBaby (Cinebaby), a specialized brand of the Studio Junon-A company, which was created visual effects in Saint-Denis, suburbs of Paris. (AFP)

A team of Cinebe in Saint-Denis, just outside of Paris, spends their days with making babies-but not the way they would expect. These are hyper-realistic propary babies that have been developed for films and television programs in which the use of a real child can be difficult or insecure.

A employee cleans fake babies made for cinema and television created by Cinebe in Saint-Denis, suburbs of Paris. (AFP)

An employee adds Mohair to create the hair on a fake baby head for cinema and television created by Cinebe (Cinebaby) in Saint-Denis, suburbs of Paris. (AFP)

The process is surprisingly detailed. Artists then start with silicone shapes and paint layers of paint to create lifelike skin tones. They add Mohair, string of beach to imitate baby hair, and even tiny details such as rosy cheeks and shiny toenails are not overlooked.

An employee uses Mohair to create hair on a fake baby head for film and television. This is produced by Cinebe (Cinebaby), a special brand of Studio Junon, a company with visual effects based in Saint-Denis, a suburb of Paris. (AFP)

An employee paints carefully and carefully the toenails of a lifelike baby doll for film and television of Cinebe (Cinebaby) in Saint-Denis, a suburb of Paris. (AFP)

Although they look incredibly real, these props meet a simple purpose – the scenes that are credible and at the same time offer flexibility on the set. Regardless of whether it is a close -up of the hand of a baby or a sleeping newborn in the background, cinebees creations play their role in stories.

A last amount of fake babies, dressed in different colors and outfits, arranges one after the other before being sent to a film in Saint-Denis, a suburb of Paris.

This photo shows fake baby hands that were made before the sewing process for cinema and television. It was recorded in Saint-Denis, a suburb of Paris. (AFP)

Co-owner and commercial director of Cinebe and Studio Junon Justine Ray Le Solliec posed with fake babies in their studio in Saint-Denis, suburbs of Paris. (AFP)

This photo shows the head, legs and arms of a false baby after being painted, but before they were assembled into the end product. The freshly applied color on the parts is dried. (AFP)

In the center of everything is Justine Ray Le SolliecCo-owner of Studio Junon, who helps to monitor this mixture of art and film magic. It is delicate, detailed work – but if it is done correctly, most spectators never realize that the baby is not real. And that is exactly the point.

Published by:

Nishwan Rasool

Published on:

4th February 2025