"The artist responsible for Star Wars: Skeleton Crew reveals that their understanding of a lightsaber surpasses what most people imagine."
In the vast galaxy of Star Wars, a new series has emerged as one of the best TV shows for visual effects (VFX). Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, a Disney production, has captured the attention of viewers with its stunning VFX, thanks in part to the contributions of DNEG.
Chris McLaughlin, Visual Effects Supervisor at DNEG, led the team that worked on creating the VFX for three episodes of Star Wars: Skeleton Crew. McLaughlin found it a great opportunity for DNEG to get involved in the Star Wars universe, as it has traditionally been the domain of Industrial Light & Magic (ILM).
The team at DNEG took a crew of about 800 artists on a journey to create animation and environment elements for the series. They worked in a bit of a secretive environment, even internally, due to project secrecy.
One of the standout features of the show's VFX is the lightsaber. Unlike the Kylo Ren lightsaber in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, the lightsaber in Star Wars: Skeleton Crew has a unique frequency of flashes and a slightly purple hue with a hint of cyan and blue. Chris McLaughlin, along with Production Visual Effects Supervisor John Knoll, observed a connection with Star Wars: The Force Awakens, noting the Kylo Ren lightsaber's cross hilt and malfunctioning appearance.
John Knoll, a top visual effects supervisor at ILM, has a long-standing role in visual effects for Star Wars projects, including working on Star Wars: Skeleton Crew. He provided weekly reviews for the visual effects of the series and shared individual shots from other episodes for reference during the creative process.
Chris Balog, Associate Visual Effects Supervisor at Lucasfilm, also provided input on the detail of the lightsabers for Star Wars: Skeleton Crew.
For those interested in getting into visual effects, DNEG and Framestore offer advice on how to break into the industry. Additionally, there is a guide available on the best 3D modelling software for those looking to start their VFX journey.
Star Wars: Skeleton Crew is more than just a TV show; it's a testament to the power of collaboration and the art of visual effects. With its unique VFX and connection to the Star Wars universe, it's a series not to be missed.
