Or “sneakers” if you’re American. This week’s SFX quiz is about footwear, not personal gym instructors
Today we get to the real soul of science fiction and fantasy with sports-related footwear based on some of the biggest SF&F franchises. On the the following pages you simply have to identify the films, TV shows or characters (we’ll indicate which) that have spurred the imagination of the trainer designers. All are either officially licensed products, or (in some cases) commercially-available shoes “inspired by” their source material. Some TV shows or films may be the answer to more than one question. In certain cases we’ve done some hamfisted photoshopping to disguise more obvious clues.
On the other hand, some of the trainers were unPhotoshoppable, but we thought it would be a shame not to feature them (because their either great or wonderfully hideous), hence the bonus gallery below.
As usual, please don’t use the comments section to post actual answers, but feel free to boast how well you’ve done, or highlight ones that are giving you particular headaches (or even admit you own a pair).
We’ve now put up the answers – as usual they will be in invisible text (so you can still play along if you haven’t been trying to guess already), so highlight the are under the image to reveal the answers.
The original Adidas Tron trainers (out PR guy owns a pair… he won’t say if he’s ever worn them)
These look like they should be ancient, but Adidas only issues them last years, and we think they’re hideous in so many ways.
Hellboy 2 trainers, released by Adidas in 2008, which came with “a collection of three extra footbeds, plus lace jewels, a mini-comic and unique tongue branding.” Impressed?
Two pairs of Kick-Ass trainers. We wouldn’t be seen dead in the Nike ones, by the Vans pair prove you can do things a bit more tastefully (though when you’re talking green and yellow, taste is a relative concept).
The Star-Wars X Adidas Originals Samba X-Wing 2. That’s a mouthful for a trainer that actually ain’t at all bad.
A typically subtle offering from the Japanese. These are Batman trainers by Ubiq.
Anyway, that’s enough limbering up. Now it’s time for you to do some work and get on with the quiz…
1 Name the film…
Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back – these are AT-AT trainers and Dagobah trainers
.
.
2 Name the film
Avatar
.
.
3 Name the franchise
Transformers
.
.
4 Name the film
Back To The Future
.
.
5 Name the film
The Dark Knight (these are one of those “inspired by” rather than “officially lisensed” pairs, and we can’t see it ourselves)
.
.
6 Name the film
Tron Legacy
.
.
7 Name the TV show
Lost – Dharma shoes
.
.
8 Name the film
(This one is very, very difficult. Possibly impossible. They were designed by somebody from the music business, and one particular slightly odd feature was inspired by the costumes in a famous SF movie…)
Okay, these were design by Kanye West for Louis Vuitton and apparently the bit at the back was inspired by Dune . Don’t take our word for it: here’s Kanye himself: “I was inspired a lot by the movie Dune —remember those big padded collars they wore? Well I did that padded look as a flap at the back.”
.
.
.
9 Name the film
The Goonies
.
.
10 Name the franchise
The Lord Of The Rings
.
.
11 Name the film
Iron Man 2 (we’re going to be mean and not allow Iron Man, because the War Machine trainers mean it has to be Iron Man 2 – oh, okay, we’ll give you a half if you said Iron Man )
.
.
12 Name the TV show
Lost – Oceanic Airlines trainers (the inner soles depicting Australia and The USA was the clue; a flight from Sydney to LA)
.
.
13 Name the film
Star Trek
.
.
14 Name the characters
C-3PO and R2D2
.
.
15 Name the franchise
Hellboy 2 (though we’ll give you Hellboy )
And that’s your lot. Check back on Monday for answers or CLICK HERE to go back to the start of the feature.
