Inside ILM: Creating the Razor Crest

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Published 2020-09-24

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’.

All Comments (21)

@souleatingpanda 3 years ago

May you live forever, shiny and chrome. 2019-2020 my favorite character.
@glyph2011 3 years ago

I love the Mandalorian. It looks and feels like “proper” Star Wars.. I didn’t know why.. now I know. This is wonderful.
@Gopic21 3 years ago

lets not forget that not only can john knoll do machining, but he also wrOTE PHOTOSHOP that man is incredible
@chrisaguilera1564 3 years ago

Imagine working at this place? Literally a geeks haven.
@paulpisters668 2 years ago

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.
@tribution 3 years ago

Rest in peace Razor Crest, I loved you.
@leokimvideo 2 years ago

Old motions control to the rescue. Amazing how it's now almost forgotten artform of effects work. That silver & chrome model was incredible.
@brianjl7477 3 years ago

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!
@meepmeep2706 3 years ago

Someday, the razor crest and grogu puppet they used in this show will be put in a museum.
@EthanEDITS1 3 years ago

Imagine their pain when Jon Favreau said they were going to blow the thing up.
@STormnNormn2027 3 years ago

I still can’t help but see the Serenity in that ship.
@AbiNubli 3 years ago

Amazing. They're all senior-level but still getting their hands "dirty"
@jonnyb123 3 years ago

THIS is what Star Wars is all about.
@zeroomens9438 3 years ago

Thank god for The Mandalorian and all the people behind it.
@MrTony-rx7tk 3 years ago

Lucasfilm I STRONGLY suggest you consider using more practical ships in the future because the Crest looks stunning
@melvincollins8104 3 years ago

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.
@SharpDesign 3 years ago

Doug Chiang. I lost count of how many times I watched him on behind the scenes.
@Nerdhaunt 3 years ago

Damn they shot it on a 5D 😂 And some people complain about not having proper equipment to create a vlog
@dakroland 3 years ago

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.
@rburke17 3 years ago

Inside ILM: Destroying the Razor Crest