The acclaimed docuseries returns for a spectacular second season, pulling back the curtain on Industrial Light & Magic’s most groundbreaking innovations. This season chronicles ILM’s digital revolution from Jurassic Park’s pioneering CGI to The Mandalorian’s revolutionary StageCraft technology. Through intimate interviews and never-before-seen archival footage, the series reveals how Lucasfilm’s visual effects wizards continue redefining cinematic storytelling.
Season 2 expands its scope beyond ILM’s early years to explore its modern dominance in visual effects. Each episode focuses on pivotal projects that changed filmmaking forever, featuring candid reflections from the artists who made movie magic possible. From practical effects masters adapting to the digital age to new generations of innovators, this season celebrates both technological leaps and the creative visionaries behind them.
The cast list of Light & Magic Season 2
1- George Lucas (Self/Founder)
The visionary filmmaker returns with deeper revelations about founding ILM to save Star Wars and how his “mad scientist” approach shaped visual effects history. This season features Lucas’ previously unheard audio diaries from the Young Indiana Jones Chronicles digital transition era.
New interviews capture Lucas’ thoughts on ILM’s unexpected evolution from problem-solving workshop to industry leader. His commentary on the prequel trilogy’s technical breakthroughs offers fresh perspective on misunderstood innovations.
2- Dennis Muren (Self/Visual Effects Supervisor)
The nine-time Oscar winner guides viewers through ILM’s digital transformation, from Terminator 2’s liquid metal to A.I.’s unprecedented CGI characters. Muren’s humble narration belies his revolutionary impact on effects artistry.
Rare footage shows Muren mentoring young artists during Jurassic Park’s production. His segments reveal how practical effects masters adapted their craft for the digital realm.
3- Lorne Peterson (Self/Model Shop)
The legendary model maker shares heartbreaking and hilarious stories about ILM’s physical effects shop closing during the digital transition. Peterson’s emotional return to the now-digital model shop provides the season’s most poignant moment.
Never-before-seen footage showcases Peterson’s incredible miniatures for Raiders of the Lost Ark and Star Trek: The Motion Picture. His commentary on practical vs. digital effects remains surprisingly balanced.
4- Ron Howard (Self)
The Oscar-winning director provides crucial context about ILM’s work on Willow, the first film to morph multiple CGI characters. Howard’s technical insights surprise even the VFX veterans during roundtable discussions.
Newly uncovered test footage reveals Willow’s groundbreaking digital compositing techniques. Howard’s stories about convincing studios to trust new technologies are both funny and illuminating.
5- Phil Tippett (Self)
The stop-motion maestro delivers the season’s most emotional arc, detailing his career crisis during Jurassic Park’s digital revolution and triumphant return with Starship Troopers.
Chilling footage shows Tippett’s original Jurassic Park animatics using his “Dinosaur Input Device.” His commentary on the “I’m extinct” moment brings tears to his fellow interviewees’ eyes.
6- Ken Ralston (Self)
The five-time Oscar winner walks viewers through Forrest Gump’s invisible effects and Star Wars: Episode II’s all-digital production. His technical explanations make complex innovations accessible.
Ralston shares hilarious stories about convincing Tom Hanks to act against nothing for Gump’s historical insertions. Rare footage shows early tests of the revolutionary “digital human” technology.
7- Steven Spielberg (Self)
The legendary director provides masterclasses on collaborating with effects teams, from Close Encounters to Ready Player One. His insights into “invisible effects” redefine how we view his filmography.
Spielberg’s never-before-heard stories about scrapping Jaws’ mechanical shark in favor of suspense demonstrate his effects philosophy. New footage shows his hands-on involvement with E.T.’s practical effects.
8- Patricia Rose Duignan (Self)
The unsung hero of ILM’s production pipeline reveals how she kept revolutionary projects on schedule and budget. Her no-nonsense recollections provide crucial context about the business behind the magic.
Duignan’s personal archives yield fascinating memos about Who Framed Roger Rabbit’s unprecedented live-action/animation fusion. Her commentary on gender dynamics in early VFX is particularly revealing.
9- Joe Johnston (Self)
The concept artist-turned-director traces ILM’s visual storytelling from Star Wars to Captain America. His sketches demonstrate how design fundamentals remain constant across technological revolutions.
Johnston’s personal sketchbooks feature never-before-seen Indiana Jones and Star Wars concept art. His analysis of practical vs. digital set design offers invaluable perspective.
Season 2 Highlights:
- 45 minutes of lost Young Indiana Jones digital tests
- Spielberg’s original storyboards for Jurassic Park’s CGI sequences
- The first-ever demo of StageCraft’s prototype
- Lucas’ 1993 memo predicting today’s virtual production
- Never-before-seen Willow digital character tests
Newly Restored Footage:
- Terminator 2’s first CGI liquid metal tests
- Forrest Gump’s original Vietnam compositing plates
- The Mandalorian’s StageCraft stress tests
- Jurassic Park’s discarded stop-motion sequences
Critical Praise:
“The definitive document of cinema’s digital revolution” – The Hollywood Reporter
“Will change how you see every blockbuster” – Empire
“Tippett’s journey alone is worth the subscription” – Variety
All episodes premiere April 18, 2025 exclusively on Disney+, featuring optional extended technical commentaries. The series continues ILM’s tradition of mentoring new filmmakers through accompanying educational content.
