What's interesting is Rick Baker was initially the lead artist on The Howling. As he started working on the project he noticed his designs were looking like what he planned for another project he waa also going to work on (American Werewolf in London). So he backed off and took a supervisory roll instead.
Both The Howling and AWIL set standards for the genre. Werewolves were no longer simply depicted as men with minimal physical changes like fangs and some hairy faces with full sets of clothes on still. But actual beast who would double in size and height with digitgrade legs. AWIL changed how they transformed on film. Painful sequences that involved bones cracking and massive body morphing, versus slight make-up changes over changing frames.
Both The Howling and AWIL set standards for the genre. Werewolves were no longer simply depicted as men with minimal physical changes like fangs and some hairy faces with full sets of clothes on still. But actual beast who would double in size and height with digitgrade legs. AWIL changed how they transformed on film. Painful sequences that involved bones cracking and massive body morphing, versus slight make-up changes over changing frames.