We are excited to share the next video in our 2024 VIEW Conference video series, produced in partnership with
FilmCat. Hal Hickel, Animation Director at ILM, chats with CGW Managing Editor Kendra Ruczak about his work on legendary franchises including
Pirates of the Caribbean and
Star Wars at the 25th annual VIEW Conference in Turin, Italy.
Hickel shares insights into how he launched his career, his approach to character animation and visual effects, his Oscar-winning work at ILM (including Jurassic Park: The Lost World,
Rango,
A.I.: Artificial Intelligence,
Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones,
Iron Man,
Pacific Rim,
Rogue One,
The Mandalorian, and more), the challenges of animating the iconic character of Davy Jones in
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (widely considered to be one of the most visually stunning CGI characters in cinematic history), advice for aspiring animators and VFX artists, and much more.
Mentioned in the video:
ILM (Industrial Light & Magic):
ilm.com
At VIEW Conference 2024, CGW teamed up with FilmCat to interview a stellar lineup of leading creative professionals about their work in visual effects, animation, and much more. The exclusive video series features behind-the-scenes insights into the year's top films and shows—plus inspiring career advice from across the industry.
Watch a preview to see what's coming soon, including interviews with Kelsey Mann (Director, Inside Out 2), Chris Sanders (Director,
The Wild Robot), Shannon Tindle (Director,
Ultraman: Rising), and more:
For the past 25 years, the VIEW Conference has celebrated the latest achievements in computer graphics technology, including VFX, animation, game design, storytelling, virtual production, interactive & immersive media, VR/AR/mixed reality, artificial intelligence, real-time rendering, and beyond. Offering an unrivaled program of speakers, panels, workshops, and masterclasses, the conference immerses attendees in an inspiring, inclusive environment as they expand their industry knowledge, meet their heroes, and advance their careers.
With a stellar lineup of award-winning directors, animators, artists, and game designers from around the globe, the 2024 VIEW Conference brought industry professionals, students, and enthusiasts together to explore their creative visions for the future. Registration for the 2025 conference is now open:
viewconference.it/pages/registration
Video © Danial J. Smith