Spellbound

Overview

Working on Spellbound at Skydance Animation presented unique challenges and opportunities that pushed both technical and creative boundaries. What started as a standard lighting assignment evolved into something much more significant—a chance to redefine how we approached quality and efficiency across the entire production.

One of the most defining moments of the project was successfully delivering a 60-shot complex sequence as the sole owner. This marked a studio-first milestone—the first time an individual artist at Skydance Animation had owned and delivered a sequence of this scale independently. The responsibility required not just technical execution, but careful planning, creative problem-solving, and maintaining consistency across dozens of shots while meeting tight production deadlines.

Beyond individual shot work, I took on a technical leadership role that had movie-wide impact. The render quality standards needed elevation, so I overhauled our denoise and sampling strategies across the entire production. What began as optimization work on my own sequences became the new standard for render quality that other artists adopted. This initiative didn't just improve visual fidelity—it also streamlined our pipeline and reduced iteration time for the entire lighting department.

Innovation came through bridging the gap between traditional cinematography and CG workflows. I introduced DoP-inspired tools that gave lighters more intuitive creative control, bringing the language and methodology of cinematography into our technical pipeline. These tools enhanced both creative expression and workflow efficiency, allowing artists to think more like cinematographers and less like technical operators.

Mentorship became an integral part of my role throughout production. I worked closely with over 10 artists, sharing knowledge about lighting techniques, render optimization, and creative problem-solving. This collaborative approach contributed to my consistent ranking as a top-tier contributor in departmental reviews—recognition that reflected not just individual output, but the broader impact on team growth and project success.

Gallery