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Skywalker Sound

Logo: http://www.bowers-wilkins.com/Downloads/Product/Brochure/ENG_FP29491_800-Diamond_brochure.pdf , page 20, Non-free logo, via Wikipedia3

Sound and music division of Lucasfilm

Skywalker Sound (formerly known as Sprocket Systems) is an American company devoted to sound effects, sound editing, sound design, sound mixing and music recording. Founded in 1975 as a division of Lucasfilm, the company's main facilities are located at George Lucas's Skywalker Ranch in Lucas Valley, near Nicasio, California.2 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 21, 2026.

Overview

1975Founded1

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Skywalker Sound (formerly known as Sprocket Systems) is an American company devoted to sound effects, sound editing, sound design, sound mixing and music recording. Founded in 1975 as a division of Lucasfilm, the company's main facilities are located at George Lucas's Skywalker Ranch in Lucas Valley, near Nicasio, California.2

Corporate structure

Skywalker Sound is part of a group headed by The Walt Disney Company. 353 entities, 33 countries on record. Switch between the flow chart and the network, and select any entity to see its details.

Built from parent and subsidiary links from GLEIF, the Global Legal Entity Identifier Foundation (CC0); subsidiaries listed in Exhibit 21 of annual reports filed with the SEC; subsidiaries, stakes and holdings from Wikidata (CC0). Each entity in the chart links to its source.

The story

Founded by George Lucas in 1975.1

History

Skywalker Sound was founded in 1975 as Sprocket Systems in San Anselmo, California.

While located in San Anselmo, Sprocket Systems occasionally came into contact with residents. For instance, Kentfield resident Pat Welsh was "discovered" while shopping at a camera store and went on to provide the voice for E.T. During the sound recording of Raiders of the Lost Ark, Harrison Ford practiced his bullwhip technique in the parking lot.

Sprocket Systems moved from San Anselmo following a dangerous flood in January 1982. The company changed its name to Skywalker Sound in 1987 after the company moved to Skywalker Ranch.

Skywalker Sound's staff of sound designers and re-recording mixers have either won or been nominated for an Academy Award for Best Sound and Best Sound Editing every year since Star Wars in 1977; in that year, Ben Burtt was given a Special Achievement Award, since the category for Sound Editing had not yet been established. Skywalker Sound has won 15 Academy Awards and received 62 nominations.

Mixing stages, editorial services, and scoring stages are all located in a central "Tech Building", with dining areas and living quarters in the vicinity but separate from the main work area.

In 2012, The Walt Disney Company acquired Skywalker Sound as part of its purchase of Lucasfilm.

1970s

Star Wars (1977)

More American Graffiti (1979)

From Wikipedia’s article on Skywalker Sound, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.4

Leadership

Who has led Skywalker Sound, and when. Pick a name to see everywhere that person has worked.

Subsidiaries and ownership

Parent company

Owners

From Wikidata.1

Timeline

  1. 1975Founded Founded1

Sources

The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.

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