Archive

Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith

[Lucasfilm/20th Century Fox]

Director: George Lucas
ILM Visual Effects Supervisor: John Knoll, Roger Guyett
ILM Animation Director: Rob Coleman
ILM Visual Effects Art Director: Alex Jaeger, Aaron McBride
ILM Visual Effects Producer: Janet Lewin, Jill Brooks
ILM Studios: San Francisco

Case Study

Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith

Release Date: May 19, 2005

As the Clone Wars near an end, the Sith Lord Darth Sidious steps out of the shadows, at which time Anakin succumbs to his emotions, becoming Darth Vader and putting his relationships with Obi-Wan and Padme at risk.

By the time the third episode of these 2000-shot visual extravaganzas moved into the pipeline, the ILM Star Wars machine was running as smooth as Sith. An eight-minute continuous space battle with digital ships? No problem.

385 computer-generated characters? Bring them on!

CG fire? Why not?

Digital environments with live action actors, real and digital effects, and practical elements, Of course. After three of these mega effects films, the crew at ILM could handle anything… including visual effects shots for an astonishing 17 additional films that released in 2005.