Inside ILM: Creating the Razor Crest

Join us as we journey behind the scenes of the Emmy™ Award-winning visual effects behind the first season of The Mandalorian. We’ll pull back the curtain on one of our favorite bounty hunter’s ship, the infamous Razor Crest and look at the distinctive former military ship from its initial concept design in Doug Chiang’s Lucasfilm art department through to ILM artists building the ship in the digital realm and as a practical miniature for filming. We’ll also look at the parallel development of the custom motion control camera system created by ILM Visual Effects Supervisor, John Knoll to allow for the first motion control shots to film at ILM in 15 years. We hope you enjoy this look ‘Inside ILM’.

[souleatingpanda]

May you live forever, shiny and chrome. 2019-2020 my favorite character.

[Gopic]

lets not forget that not only can john knoll do machining, but he also wrOTE PHOTOSHOP that man is incredible

[glyph]

I love the Mandalorian. It looks and feels like “proper” Star Wars.. I didn’t know why.. now I know. This is wonderful.

[brianjl]

There's sort of this bias that physical effects are always better than digital, but they both have their place. The fact that you can't tell the difference between the miniature and digital shots is telling - and amazing. It shows how far tehcnology has come, and just how ahead of their time ILM has always been. It's cool that so many have been there for so long - it must be a great place to work!

[leokimvideo]

Old motions control to the rescue. Amazing how it's now almost forgotten artform of effects work. That silver & chrome model was incredible.

[paulpisters]

The Razor Crest became my next Millennium Falcon. These designs are extremely emotional and get a grip in your mind like a classic sports car. I don’t know what it is that make these ships so exceptional, they become real. As is if they really exist. A big respect to all the people that made this possible.

[chrisaguilera]

Imagine working at this place? Literally a geeks haven.

[meepmeep]

Someday, the razor crest and grogu puppet they used in this show will be put in a museum.

[tribution]

Rest in peace Razor Crest, I loved you.

[zeroomens]

Thank god for The Mandalorian and all the people behind it.

[STormnNormn]

I still can’t help but see the Serenity in that ship.

[MrTony-rxtk]

Lucasfilm I STRONGLY suggest you consider using more practical ships in the future because the Crest looks stunning

[AbiNubli]

Amazing. They're all senior-level but still getting their hands "dirty"

[LordTreeko]

There are so many reasons to love star wars, small things like this is one of them, as an artist, you appreciate and love other forms of art, and this always brings a smile to my face

[melvincollins]

Finally, The Mandalorian feels like a well done Star Wars effort since the original trilogy. Where the universe feels lived in, and the characters are interesting.

[dannyr]

There's something special hearing The Mandalorian used miniatures for some shots, ILM back using old school techniques. The power of CG is more vast of course, but seeing a physical model feels so satisfying!

[raoulduke]

the ILM spirit is strong in this promotional video!

[SharpDesign]

Doug Chiang. I lost count of how many times I watched him on behind the scenes.

[dakroland]

I have watched The Mandalorian Season 1 front to back at least a dozen times, and I still can't tell you which shots are CG and which are the practical model. Kudos ILM, for not only rediscovering your roots, but blending it all in such a way that it looks like absolute pure cinema magic. I can't wait to see season 2.

[raimee]

I knew the Razor Crest was a physical model. But I just couldn't find which shots they were. Amazing stuff happening behind the scenes. I second another commenter....I NEED a model kit!