Interview

Animator

“The Mandalorian and Grogu” Animation Supervisor Hal Hickel on Reinventing Hutts and Building a Galactic Bestiary

Alien creatures have always been central to Star Wars, but “The Mandalorian and Grogu” pushes them to startling new extremes. ILM animation supervisor Hal Hickel reveals how his team transformed familiar species into tactile, breathing beings—reimagining Hutts as warriors, drawing from nature and mythology, and crafting creatures that audiences can practically feel.

By Hugh Hart  |  May 28, 2026
“The Mandalorian and Grogu” Early Buzz: A Charming, Action-Packed Return to Theaters

First reactions to “The Mandalorian and Grogu” are in, with critics praising Jon Favreau’s charming, action-packed return to the big screen for Pedro Pascal’s Din Djarin and his Force-sensitive companion.

By The Credits  |  May 15, 2026
Mando’s Unmasked in the Official “The Mandalorian and Grogu” Trailer

The official trailer for Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu finds Din Djarin and his tiny partner back in familiar territory—hurtling toward danger, brushing against the galactic underworld, and confronting threats that stretch far beyond their latest bounty.

By The Credits  |  February 17, 2026
New “Mandalorian and Grogu” Images Reveal AT-ATs, Alien Creatures & Sigourney Weaver

We just got a look at the first trailer for director Jon Favreau’s Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu, and now it’s time to parse a slew of new images from Favreau’s film. What we know about what Favreau, his co-writer Dave Filoni, and the rest of the stellar cast and crew have cooked up is scant, but the trailer is nonetheless revealing. There are creatures aplenty—mainly of the classic Star Wars type,

By The Credits  |  September 22, 2025
Baby Yoda Speaks in the First “The Mandalorian and Grogu” Trailer

The first trailer for director Jon Favreau’s Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu opens on Din Djarin’s (Pedro Pascal) spaceship the Razor Crest curising over a coastline. The next thing we see is one of those images that has made the Disney+ series The Mandalorian such a hit—we’ve got Mando and Baby Yoda doing some recon in a desert landscape, with the little guy sporting a little single-lens pair of binoculars to aid him.

By The Credits  |  September 22, 2025