Sound Designers Used Whale Songs to Create Alien Voice

Creating a voice for an alien character might sound impossible, but two Hollywood sound wizards found their answer in the songs of whales and the chirps of birds.

Oscar-winning sound editor Ethan Van der Ryn and Oscar-nominated Erik Aadahl faced an unusual challenge for the hit film "Project Hail Mary." They needed to create a completely believable alien language for Rocky, the stone-skinned extraterrestrial who becomes best friends with astronaut Ryland Grace, played by Ryan Gosling.

The duo started by consulting with Andy Weir, author of the bestselling novel. Weir described Rocky's voice as whale-like when serious and more bird-like when excited or irritated. Armed with this vision, the sound designers began their creative journey.

"With the sound, we're trying to paint a picture of what is Rocky's sonic soul," Van der Ryn explained. The team worked from day one until the final 20 minutes of production, constantly refining every chirp and tone to strike the perfect balance between musical and visceral.

The process wasn't easy. Van der Ryn and Aadahl crafted hundreds of sounds to fill out the movie's soundscape, including the tricky problem of what to play during space scenes. Weir surprised them by saying he had no problem with sound in the vacuum of space, explaining it's all about perspective.

Why This Inspires

The sound designers' dedication shows how creativity thrives when science meets imagination. They could have taken shortcuts or relied on computer-generated effects, but instead they turned to Earth's own remarkable creatures for inspiration. Their painstaking work helped audiences connect emotionally with an alien character, proving that the universal language of friendship transcends even species barriers.

For Aadahl, meeting Weir was more exciting than encountering any Hollywood celebrity. "To me, he's just a god," he admitted, reflecting the mutual respect between scientists and artists that made this project special.

The film's success demonstrates that audiences crave stories grounded in real science while still leaving room for wonder.