Strange Beast Signs Manchester Duo Baz&Ben for Worldwide Representation
January 21, 2026
Picturemill, the LA-based titles specialists whose credits span from Anaconda to K-Pop Demon Hunters, set a grand and hopeful tone for the newest iteration of the Star Trek franchise with this intricate CG sequence.
William Lebeda and David Midgen, CD and EP at Picturemill: “It was narratively important to establish this show is a beginning. Taking place after Star Trek: Discovery and the cataclysmic events of The Burn, the Federation begins to rebuild, beginning with Starfleet Academy.
“Alex Kurtzman, co-showrunner and EP at Secret Hideout, had a vision: a metaphor of these new cadets as the seeds of a new Federation, growing into the next generation of Starfleet officers.
“Matchmoving between the buildings and the tree growing integrated the two halves of the story in an emotional and satisfying way.”
“From this concept we discussed seeing just the campus being built, but it felt too cold. Though spectacular, that kind of purely architectural timelapse (which we have discussed with Alex K before on other projects) can lack some emotional connection.
“And seeing the tree grow alone, out of context, felt like it missed some of the scope and scale of the Academy and the series itself. Matchmoving between the buildings and the tree growing integrated the two halves of the story in an emotional and satisfying way.
“Our 3D team consisted of both Maya and Blender artists working with VFX teams from the show. We referenced Star Trek blueprints, set builds, and 3D visualizations of the Academy buildings to capture the angles and elements to bring to life.
“We referenced the tree on set as well as the growth stages of a sakura [cherry blossom] to accurately capture the sense of timelapse growth. Though this is a fantasy tree, growing in a building of the future, it is grounded in reality.”
Client: Secret Hideout
Production: Picturemill
CD: William Lebeda
EP: David Midgen
Art Director: Dustin Reno
Producer: Erica Alston
3D Team: Jon Block, John Bellas, Angus Lyne, Seth Strong
2D animator/Compositor: Nelson Yu, Jason Marconi, Sonia Kiran, Ryan Vazquez
Editor: Dustin Frost, David Midgen
Storyboards: Rob McCallum
Music: Jeff Russo
