When you watch a Disney movie or a stunning Netflix title sequence, you might not think about the artistry that goes into every glimmer and shadow. However, for Pasquale Giardino, a 3D Lighting Artist with over 15 years of experience in the industry, light is where magic truly happens. His passion for detail, composition, and storytelling through light has brought some of our favorite characters and worlds to life in projects such as Moana 2, Godzilla vs. Kong: The New Empire, and Stranger Things 4.
Pasquale’s story starts with a childhood dream: working on animated movies. Growing up, he was always drawn to photography and illustration, and these interests eventually led him to the world of lighting and compositing. Even though he started out studying Computer Science at the Università degli Studi di Salerno, Pasquale quickly realized his heart wasn’t in it. “I was doing something that I didn’t like,” he admits. Everything changed in 2006 when he stumbled upon a 3D school in Florence, Italy.
“Thanks to my parents, I took this class where I started learning 3D software like Maya. Afterwards I moved to Rome where I attended a VFX master class where I learned an overall approach to the production pipeline and VFX and I started to work on some projects with small studios as an apprentice. I am so grateful for that! I think doing an apprenticeship is very important."
In these small studios, Pasquale wore many hats and learned a great deal. But it was lighting and compositing that really captured his imagination. “I was fascinated by lighting and compositing as they are fundamental parts in art,” he says. The big turning point came with a job offer in Canada – suddenly, those childhood dreams of working on major films were coming true.
For Pasquale, lighting and compositing are much more than technical steps; they’re about emotion and storytelling. The approach is different depending on the project. In VFX, he focuses on making CG elements blend seamlessly with real footage. Animation, on the other hand, is all about using light to set the mood and guide the audience’s feelings. “Animation is more about putting together all the elements in order to create the mood and the emotions you would like to transmit to the audience,” he explains.
His creative process is a blend of careful study and inspiration drawn from a wide range of art forms. He looks at the sequence he’s working on, checks out the surrounding shots, and draws ideas from master photographers and painters, especially those who are experts at portraits and lighting. “My inspiration comes from art in general as art is around us,” he says. Observing real life and how light interacts with the world is a big part of his process.
Working at Disney means collaborating with a lot of talented people. Pasquale is quick to point out how every department is connected and how each project brings its own unique challenges. For him, the most important qualities aren’t just technical skills, but attitude and mindset. “The attitude and mindset to me are the most important qualities,” he emphasizes. He encourages aspiring artists to really look at the world around them and notice how light shapes everything.
One project that stands out for Pasquale is Moana 2. Seeing his name in the credits alongside Disney legends was a dream come true: a full-circle moment for the kid who always wanted to work on animated films.
Of course, having the right tools helps too. Pasquale has been a fan of Wacom tablets since the very beginning of his career. “With Intuos Pro everything is easy. I can paint with light, telling stories and convey emotions in a very beautiful and efficient way,” he says. For him, Wacom products are essential for staying creative and meeting deadlines.
Pasquale’s journey is proof that with passion, dedication, and the right mindset, dreams really can become reality, one beautifully lit frame at a time.
About the artist
Pasquale Giardino is a 3D lighting artist with over 15 years of experience in lighting, compositing, texturing, and shader development, who has worked for companies such as Disney and Netflix.
Want to see more of Pasquale’s work or learn more about his journey? Check out his website or his ArtStation, check out the projects he's worked on via IMDB, or follow him on Instagram or LinkedIn.
