Have you ever wondered what a real-life Mario Kart would look like, or how heavy Aquaman’s trident really is? Hacksmith Industries takes fictional ideas from comics, movies and video games and creates real working prototypes.

Netflix challenged the Hacksmith team to breathe life into a weapon from their new animated series. Maya and the Three, an animated fantasy, follows a spirited princess with the heart of a warrior as she embarks on a mission to fulfill an ancient prophecy and save humanity from the wrath of vengeful gods. 

The weapon, otherwise known as Maya's Eagle Claw, required many different materials, including wood, rock, glass, metal and LED lights. The team turned to A&M Wood Specialty to help find the right wood for this project. 

“Everyone had a great time filming at A&M. What stood out was that the shop had a cool aesthetic with a lot of character. The selection was more extensive than if we had gone to a big box store," said Josh Winker, content director for Hacksmith Entertainment. 

After touring the shop and browsing A&M's extensive selection of specialty hardwoods, the Hacksmith chose Chechen wood, a dense material with natural luster and beautiful coloration, for the face plates of the Eagle Claw. The team used a CNC machine to create the unique detail needed to help bring the design to life. 

"Seeing the entire process come together, from concept to the finished design was really interesting. It's amazing to see how many disciplines they use within their work," said Mike Wilson, Division Manager at A&M Wood Specialty. "We are really looking forward to working with their team again in the future." 

Watch the Hacksmith Industries video, The Sharpest Weapon We've Ever Made, to see how Maya's Eagle Claw went from a fictional idea to a real life weapon.