"Are We Ready for This?" is the first episode of Season 2 of the documentary series Light & Magic, released on Disney+ on April 18, 2025.[2]
Official description[]
After a decade away from Star Wars, George Lucas returns to ILM with a new impossible task.
Synopsis[]
The episode hosts several interviewees including Industrial Light & Magic veterans John Knoll, Jim Morris, Jean Bolte, Chrissie England, and John Knoll along with George Lucas, Jon Favreau, James Cameron, Ahmed Best and Robin Gurland.
A digital pioneer[]
To cement ILM's role as a leader in digital technology, Lucas invests in computer editing systems such as EditDroid and ProTool. Lucasfilm also started a Computer Division. Following the success of Jurassic Park, ILM began hiring more digital staff including animation supervisor Rob Coleman, who became a leader in training newer animators. During the 1990s, ILM works on films such as Casper and Dragonheart, creating iconic characters such as Casper and Draco. Coleman talked about working with voice actor Sean Connery to bring Draco to life.
Confident that digital technology has advanced enough following the success of Dragonheart, Lucas embarks on creating The Phantom Menace in 1995. Lucas also recruited Rick McCallum as his producer. While planning the budget, McCallum estimated that it would cost US$61 million to do the special effects for The Phantom Menace. Knoll also created a "Rebel Unit" to work on the computer graphics for the movie. In addition, ILM invested in silicon graphic laptops and Mac computers to create the movie's visual effects.
Knoll also talks about ILM's work on the The Star Wars Trilogy Special Edition, which involved replacing certain scenes with digital visual effects. ILM also inserting scenes showing Greedo shooting first and Han Solo meeting Jabba. Lucas also recruits Doug Chiang as the lead concept artist for The Phantom Menace. Chiang is also joined by several newer artists including Jay Shuster, Ed Natividad and McCaig. Together, they work on creating the droids, aliens, vehicles and locations of The Phantom Menace
Creating Jar Jar Binks[]
Chiang described the Gungan Jar Jar Binks as the first completely CGI character. Dennis Muren says that Binks was challenging because he had to interact with the characters. Artist Terryl Whitlatch recalls that her cartoon sketch became the inspiration for Binks. She recalled that Binks went under various designs and was inspired by various animals. Chiang says that Lucas wanted Binks to be comedic and regarded him as a risky character. Lucas used a series of story boards to convey his ideas for The Phantom Menace to ILM staffers.
Binks' actor Ahmed Best talks about being recruited by casting director Robin Gurland after performing stomp dancing in San Francisco. During his audition at Skywalker Ranch, Gurland selected him because his mannerisms and movements matched Binks. Lucas also drew inspiration from Hollywood comedian Buster Keaton to help Best bring Binks to life.
During filming, Best performed in life action while wearing fake hands and a head set which could be animated over. Knoll and Coleman talked about the challenges with animating Binks' special effects. Later, Best wore a tight body suit during filming with targets that were tracked by camera; an experimental technology. Animators used the targets to construct a skeletal system to Binks. Coleman was not keen on making Binks too goofy but Lucas insisted to Coleman and Best that the character be dopey.
Podracers[]
The Phantom Menace had a total of 2,000 CGI shots. For the podracing scenes, Lucas drew inspiration from the chariot races of the 1959 Ben-Hur film. Coleman and Knoll described the podracers as consisting of cockpits with twin booms. Computer graphics were used to create them. For the podracing crash scenes, ILM drew upon Formula One car crashes as references.
In addition to the digital effects, ILM also built several physical models of the Mos Espa Grand Arena and Mos Espa podrace circuit. In addition, a life-size model of Anakin Skywalker's Podracer was also built. Lucas and Martin Smith visited the set and were impressed. Best and the ILM team talk about being excited about their accomplishments but not being prepared for the critical and fan reception to The Phantom Menace.
Credits[]
| Cast | Uncredited cast | Crew | Uncredited crew | Special thanks |
Cast
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Appearances[]
| Characters | Organisms | Droid models | Events | Locations |
| Organizations and titles | Sentient species | Vehicles and vessels | Weapons and technology | Miscellanea |
Notes and references[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4
Light & Magic on Disney+ (backup link)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1
Star Wars (@starwars) on Twitter (post): "See how @ILMVFX changed movie making. Light & Magic Season 2 is coming to @DisneyPlus April 18." (backup link)
