Industrial Light & Magic

Industrial Light & Magic is a visual-effects, computer-animation, virtual-production and immersive-media studio founded by filmmaker George Lucas in 1975 to create the effects for Star Wars. Operating as the visual-effects and digital-production division of Lucasfilm Ltd. LLC, it works across theatrical features, premium episodic series, immersive entertainment, location-based experiences, advertising and large-format venue productions.

Its work spans pre-production concept design and Virtual Art Department services through full-pipeline digital asset creation, environments, creature and character animation, motion capture, simulation, compositing, stereo conversion and final color finishing. ILM also develops digital doubles, photogrammetry-driven set digitization, and effects work involving water, fire, destruction, cloth and grooming.

Real-time and immersive production

A central part of ILM's current practice is StageCraft, its real-time LED-volume approach to virtual production and in-camera visual effects. The platform combines real-time graphics with high-resolution LED environments for on-set production, while the studio's pipeline teams work with proprietary tooling, machine-learning development and USD-based workflows.

ILM's immersive work encompasses virtual, augmented and mixed reality storytelling, including narrative spatial entertainment and interactive experiences. Its commercial and experiential teams also contribute to high-concept brand projects and venue-scale spectacles.

Screen work

The studio's credits include the Star Wars saga; the Indiana Jones, Jurassic Park and Jurassic World franchises; Pirates of the Caribbean; Transformers; and Marvel productions. Feature work also includes The Abyss, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Forrest Gump, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Twisters, Wicked, Gladiator II and The Creator.

Episodic credits include The Mandalorian, Andor, Stranger Things, Silo, Severance, Percy Jackson and the Olympians and The Sandman. Its immersive and venue work includes ABBA Voyage, Dead & Company: Dead Forever, What If...? – An Immersive Story, Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy's Edge, Vader Immortal and CARNE y ARENA.

Across its history, ILM has contributed to major advances in motion-control photography, photorealistic computer animation, digital environments and real-time filmmaking.