Industrial Light & Magic details VFX approach for The Mandalorian and Grogu

Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) animation supervisor Hal Hickel has detailed the visual effects approach for ‘The Mandalorian and Grogu,’ emphasizing a blend of digital animation and traditional stop-motion techniques. Speaking at the VIEW Conference, Hickel explained that the production drew significant inspiration from stop-motion pioneer Phil Tippett, often using his methods as a creative reference for creature movement.

Key production elements included the use of physical puppets for certain sequences, such as a battle between two giant droids, which were later integrated with digital effects like fire and smoke by ILM. For the opening AT-AT battle, the team utilized animation tests originally developed for ‘Rogue One’ to replicate the lighting, texture, and weight of the original trilogy’s stop-motion feel. To emphasize the massive scale of the walkers, the animation was designed to move slowly.

Other technical challenges involved the redesign of Rotta the Hutt to move more dynamically than previous iterations and the use of mechanical rigs to simulate the bouncy, unpredictable movement of the AT-RT vehicle. Director Jon Favreau reportedly requested an action style described as ‘less James Bond, more Jackass,’ focusing on perilous and chaotic escapes.