(Source: www.rebelscum.com)
It appears the Star Wars saga has now moved to its logical conclusion. Starting with the 1977 movie that ushered in the special effects-driven summer blockbuster, George Lucas has gone more and more CGI with every consecutive installment. Now the new television series Star Wars: The Clone Wars is a completely CGI venture.
Mint in Box, a French fan site, managed to chat with Industrial Light & Magic animation supervisor Rob Coleman. Risking the Lucas' wrath, Coleman gave out these tidbits (thanks to Rebelscum for compiling some of these):
- - Currently, there are 15 episodes in various stages of production. "One, almost 2 episodes are fully completed."
- - George Lucas is heavily involved in every step of the production, from script to final completion (this may, or may not, be a good thing).
- - There was no rotoscoping involved in any of the images from the series. However, ILM did use motion capture.
- - Coleman is possibly directing 5 of the first 26 episodes. "I'm directing 3 of the first season and I have 2 more on my calendar when I get back."
- - "Our stuff is incredible compared to what's out there, I think the fans are going to go crazy . . ."
- - Some licensees have viewed footage from the new series and "they thought it was fabulous."
- - Script, character design and art direction done at ILM, the animation and rendering is done in Singapore. The final assembly of each episode is done at Skywalker Ranch.
You can check out both Rob Coleman's presentation and his interview with Mint in Box by clicking here.
Fun Fact: Harrison Ford (Han Solo) once infamously critiqued George Lucas' writing on the set of Star Wars by saying, "You can write this ****, George, but you sure as hell can't say it!"
