Jamy Wheless

Jamy Wheless is an award-winning animator, visual effects supervisor, and studio founder whose work has helped shape some of the most iconic characters in modern cinema. During his years at Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), he played a pivotal role in the animation and character performance development of legendary digital characters, including Yoda in the Star Wars prequels and Davy Jones in Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. His work under George Lucas’ leadership cemented his reputation as a creative force in performance-driven animation and cutting-edge visual effects.

After ILM, Wheless co-founded Lightstream Animation Studios before launching his newest venture, IGNITE Animation Studios, where he serves as CEO and Animation Director. Today, he leads global teams producing feature films, television content, immersive experiences, and next-generation AR projects.

Wheless co-directed the Academy Award–nominated animated short "The Pig on the Hill," narrated by Pierce Brosnan, and produced and directed the award-winning short film "ANDY A Dog's Tale," partnering with Jean Schulz. This film has now surpassed 16 million views on YouTube and continues to inspire audiences worldwide with an  "ANDY" children's book launch in 2025.