
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When I think about sculpting figures for Disney’s theme parks, my mind goes to Blaine Gibson. The photo of him and Walt examining Abe Lincoln’s head remains ingrained in my memory. His incredible work on attractions set the stage for everything that followed. But the process has changed dramatically since the work of Gibson and Valerie Edwards. Artists now use digital tools to design the intricate figures and settings. A perfect example is the work of Jaime McGough, a creative director and digital sculptor. The process may have changed, but the skills are similar today.

Jaime is my guest on this episode of the Tomorrow Society Podcast to talk about his background and 12 years at Walt Disney Imagineering. Nancy Hickman saw something in Jaime’s work and hired him in 2009. We talk about his early projects including New Fantasyland and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at The Magic Kingdom. Jaime also explains how he got interested in digital sculpting and helps describe how tools like ZBrush support the designs for theme parks.

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge involved so many small details and was perfect for Jaime’s skills. He worked on the sculpt for Lieutenant Bek, a Mon Calamari character who plays a key role in Rise of the Resistance. He also sculpted the Nuna “space meat” pictured above for Ronto Roasters. It’s a good reminder of how much we take for granted from these complex spaces. We close the podcast by talking about the latest technological advances, key mentors for Jaime’s career, and his advice to aspiring designers. I really enjoyed the chance to talk to Jaime and learn more about his story.

Show Notes: Jaime McGough
Check out Jaime’s artwork, including ZBrush digital sculpting, on his ArtStation page.
Watch a video of Jaime’s digital sculpting process making Christmas ornaments.
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