Star Wars fans get a rare peek behind the magic curtain of visual effects on the recently released visual-effects reel from Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Created by LucasArts’ in-house VFX and animation studio Industrial Light & Magic, also known as ILM, this video peels back the digital layers to show fans how the final images were pieced together.
Unlike behind-the-scenes footage of days past with spaceships dangling from strings, a glimpse of how the effects were pieced together to bring Star Wars: The Force Awakens doesn’t detract from the final product or sense of awe one feels in watching the film. If anything it makes the final film much more impressive by showing just how much has to come together to create the detailed and complex visual sci-fi environment Star Wars: The Force Awakens delivers.
Industrial Light and Magic used a blend of physical sets, green-screen technology, highly detailed animation and visual effects to create what finally makes the screen. Animated characters like Jar Jar Binks, that irritated fans to no end, are thankfully a relic of the past. The animation and visual effects used now by ILM is so realistic that most cannot perceive the difference between an animatronic character and animation.
Industrial Light and Magic commented on the release of the visual reel and said, “We are pleased to share a sample of the visual effects work created for Star Wars: The Force Awakens. The history of ILM leads all the way back to 1975 and origins of Star Wars and The Force Awakens gave us the opportunity to once again push the boundaries of what is possible in character animation and visual effects while combining cutting edge practical effects and physical sets.”
Industrial Light and Magic studios in San Francisco, Singapore, Vancouver, and London contributed to the film. ILM also partnered with Hybride, Base FX, and Virtuos.
