But few have taken note that when the gang, which includes star Taylor Lautner's Jacob Black, turns into snarling four-legged counterparts in the second film based on Stephenie Meyer's best-selling series, the five are totally naked. Save for their fur coats, that is.

The main objective for visual effects supervisor Susan MacLeod, who teamed with Tippett Studio (Jurassic Park) to design the massive computer-generated werewolves, was to follow Meyer's lead and avoid the usual agonizing man-to-beast transformations favored by Hollywood.

Instead, these horse-sized lycanthropes explode mid-leap in a full-blown animal rage, with shreds of clothing flying like missiles off their bodies.

"It's a great invention of hers," MacLeod says of Meyer. "I really would have dreaded any Lon Chaney Jr.-Teen Wolf fur-growing."

She already had experience with shape-shifting creatures from working on 2007's The Golden Compass, also directed by New Moon's Chris Weitz. But none were quite so immense.

"They grow in volume from about 150 pounds to a half a ton," she says. "That was one of the first things we talked about to Phil Tippett," the Oscar-winning studio founder. "But he came back with an early test that made our day."

The digital wolves are meant to be as realistic as possible.

But also important was how each wolf's eyes reflect those of the actor.

You can also distinguish who's who by size and fur color. "Once again, that is from the books," MacLeod says. "We did not want to mess with success."

Fierce alpha male Sam (played by Chaske Spencer) sports black fur and is also the largest, although Jacob's russet-hued alter ego was built first since he has the most screen time. Smallest is Jared (Bronson Pelletier), who is a silvery gray. Embry (Kiowa Gordon) is dark brown, while Paul (Alex Meraz) is dark gray.

Lautner, meanwhile, gives his wild thing a paws up.

"It's really cool they used my personal eyes," he says. "I was blown away by the wolves. They are awesome."

Enlarge By Tippett Studio, Summit Entertainment Very special effects: Embry, left, Paul, Sam and Jared after their transformation into lycanthropes in New Moon.