Stage23 Brings Ningaloo’s Gentle Giants to Life in Stan’s Whale Shark Jack

Stan Original Whale Shark Jack has made its Australian debut, with Stage23 delivering a complex blend of CG creatures, storm-driven ocean environments and seamless visual effects.

Set in the visually arresting West Australian Ningaloo region, the story revolves around the coastal town of Exmouth, where the red desert meets the sea. Exmouth is a gateway to both the Ningaloo Marine Park and Cape Range National Park, making it a hub for eco-tourism and marine adventure. The environmental narrative centres on the ‘Jacks’, the eight metre whale shark Big Jack, Juvenile Jack and ‘Baby’ Jack.

The screenplay for Whale Shark Jack was written by West Australian author Kathryn Lefroy, weaving a personal story that encompasses salient messages on conservation, preservation of endangered species and bio-diverse areas and highlighting First Nations’ connection to country. For Stage23, the challenge was not just technical but seamlessly honouring the location and creatures.

Produced by Miranda Edmonds and Timothy White, the film was directed by Miranda and Khrob Edmonds.

At the centre of Stage23’s work were two fully realised CG characters: the eight‑metre adult whale shark Big Jack, and Baby Jack, a juvenile whose design presented an exceptional creative and scientific challenge. The rendering of Baby Jack demanded a careful balance of research, anatomical accuracy and cinematic expression.

Particular attention was paid to close‑up anatomy, including the shark eye, where the CG asset needed to hold up under intimate scrutiny, while integrating seamlessly with live-action footage shot alongside real whale sharks at Ningaloo.

Beyond creature work, Stage23 delivered extensive environment and effects sequences that broaden the film’s scale and tension. The studio created storm- driven ocean systems, wild weather effects, matte paintings, sky and water replacements, and CG cloud fly‑throughs that expand the natural world beyond what could be captured on location.

In one key sequence, a dinghy battered by heavy swell and driving rain was shot on bluescreen, with Stage23 constructing a fully digital ocean environment around the action. In another, the team realised a night-time storm sequence featuring a yacht overwhelmed by a massive wave, a completely CG shot combining water simulation, rain, lighting and atmosphere.

A key underwater scene was filmed in the controlled environment of Perth’s ERGT pool, with a puppet Big Jack extensively augmented with CG taking centre stage during a pivotal moment in the story.

Director and producer Miranda Edmonds describes the film as both a celebration and a call to action, “Whale Shark Jack is our love letter to Exmouth and the magnificent whale sharks of Ningaloo Reef. We wanted to share the experience of being in the water with these gentle giants and make a film that the whole family can watch together. Most importantly, a film that reminds us that we're never too small to make a difference.”