Disney+ unveiled the much-anticipated next chapter of "Light & Magic," a documentary series that chronicles the rich history and groundbreaking achievements of Lucasfilm's renowned visual effects studio, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM). During a special presentation at the Star Wars Celebration in Tokyo on Friday, the captivating trailer and key artwork for the second season were revealed, giving the enthusiastic fans who had journeyed to Japan a sneak peek into the show's in-depth exploration of the studio's most transformative period – the transition to digital filmmaking. As the Tokyo event commenced, the three-part second season of the documentary series premiered on Disney+.
The attendees were delighted with video messages from director Joe Johnston and producer Ron Howard, as well as a thrilling highlight reel from the series. Following the screening, a panel discussion was held, moderated by actor and Star Wars alumnus Sam Witwer (the voice of Darth Maul in "Solo: A Star Wars Story"), featuring a star-studded line-up from the Lucasfilm brain trust. Among the esteemed panelists were Ahmed Best (the actor who portrayed Jar Jar Binks), Lucasfilm president and general manager Lynwen Brennan, ILM's design legend Doug Chiang, senior VFX supervisor John Knoll, ILM general manager Janet Lewin, and senior animation supervisor Rob Coleman.
The panel discussion was just one highlight of the bustling itinerary at the Japanese edition of the Star Wars Celebration, a biennial convention celebrating the myriad facets of Jedis, Siths, and other iconic creations from the distant galaxy. Earlier in the day, Ryan Gosling and director Shawn Levy created a buzz by unveiling the title and release date of their upcoming Star Wars spin-off film, "Star Wars: Starfighter." Subsequently, Jon Favreau, Star Wars expert Dave Filoni, Pedro Pascal, and Sigourney Weaver took the stage to reveal the first footage of "The Mandalorian & Grogu," the feature-length follow-up to the hit Disney+ series.
Produced by Brian Grazer and Ron Howard's Imagine Documentaries, Season 2 of "Light & Magic" focuses on a pivotal moment in the visual effects industry: the dawn of the digital era. The series meticulously traces ILM's various breakthroughs, including the creation of the first fully computer-generated characters and the technical challenges of digitally simulating natural elements such as water. According to the producers, the series captures how ILM redefined cinematic storytelling for a new generation, despite facing internal obstacles and widespread skepticism in the industry.
Directed by Johnston, the new season boasts an impressive team of executive producers, including Grazer, Howard, Justin Wilkes, Sara Bernstein, Lawrence Kasdan, Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy, and Carrie Beck, alongside Johnston himself. Jacqui Lopez, Ted Schillinger, and Michael Garcia serve as co-executive producers, with Meredith Kaulfers and Christopher St. John producing, and Nicole Pusateri overseeing the project.
The second season of "Light & Magic" is now streaming exclusively on Disney+, ready to be enjoyed by fans worldwide.
