In Gard, 3D printing reveals Pokémon, manga and Star Wars characters

The Pokémon Charmander, made by Kevin and Karel Hangard is almost finished. – Jenny Bernard

Flying saucer created by Kévin Hangard and used by Rémi Gaillard in some of his hoaxes. – Kévin Hangard

Luffy from One Piece, life-size at the King jouet store in Alès. – Kévin Hangard

Based near Alès, Kévin and Karel Hangard are creators of life-size characters. Meet the artists.

“Me, it's the structural work and she's the finishing touch“, says Kévin Hangard, looking with a smile at Karel, his wife.

In a village house in Méjannes-lès-Alès, Kévin and Karel Hangard have set up their workshop for creating characters and objects of all kinds, 2Kprops, created five years ago. A special workshop because the computer design, 3D printing, gluing, sanding and finishing operations are scattered all over the house. The same goes for the creations: manga heroes, rockets, figurines, costumes. For Karel Hangard, who defines herself as an artistic creator, notably of 'Live size&#39 (Editor's note: life-size creations), “ the most difficult thing is sometimes finding the real dimensions of the model.”

“I'm a late geek”

When we ask Kévin Hangard where this passion comes from, he answers after reflection: “I'm a late geek“. After being a mountain hunter and tree surgeon, the enthusiast listened to his desire to create and tried wood sculpture with a chainsaw and then with self-hardening clay. Characters from Star Wars, Harry Potter, and Warcraft emerged from the ground. The acquisition of the first 3D printer and requests from those around him changed the situation and led him and his wife to professionalize the activity.

The enthusiast carried out this activity alongside his job as an employee at Dinopedia, a place that did not disorient him. Some of the dinosaurs on sale at the shop at the bottom of the park are also part of his creations. “There is also Bob, our life-size raptor, at the upstairs shop. Previously, he was on display at Alès mangas and King jouet. Today, he is with his peers."

A meticulous work

"Once the pieces have been created and glued, there is a lot of work to remove the streaks caused by printing", explains the artist who works mainly with PLA (Editor's note: polylactic acid), a biodegradable plastic material.

The latest creation ? "I am finishing Charmander“, Karel Hangard specifies. Who ? No doubt for Pokémon fans who know this reptile-like character who can evolve into Charizard. “There are still a few details, especially in the eyes and the flame of the tail”. The couple sells their creations by word of mouth to individuals all over the world (France, United States, Australia, Germany, Algeria, etc.) and to professionals. Luffy, the main character of One Piece, proudly sits life-size at the entrance to the King Jouet store in Alès. Their expertise and taste for detail allow them to meet all of their customers' requests. "The only limit is imagination", says Karel Hangard.

A passion that infects the family

Parents of three children, the passion has almost contaminated the whole family. Passionate about the world of cosplay (Editor's note: the practice of embodying a fictional character), the family is a member of the international Mercs association, the goal of which is to bring together members who have created their own Mandalorian costume, a people from the Star Wars saga. “The outfit is worn at conventions, such as manga fairs, the profits of which are donated to associations. We are the first European family of the association and Jack, our youngest, was the first child registered when he was 3 years old.” The major was not contaminated by the passion which turned towards law studies but Livia, 17 years old, who is studying to be a hairdresser, nevertheless likes to create original hairstyles since she took a bun incorporating creations from her father's 3D printer for her final CAP exam.

Creations and contact on his instagram account: 2Kprops.

Dinosaurs, various characters and even Rémi Gaillard's flying saucer!

Famous for his unusual videos and for his slogan “It's by doing anything that you become anyone“, it was to the services of K&eacutevin Hangard that Rémi Gaillard called for the manufacture of the flying saucer, visible in several videos and which contributed to trap several motorists. A diameter of four meters, so no 3D printing for its manufacture but a wooden frame fully mastered by the artist, who is also a cabinetmaker by training. No more danger in the countryside surrounding Montpellier, “Rémi sold it to someone who made a chicken coop out of itr".

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