Image Engine’s Head of Technology Chris Banal was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii. He received his first computer while in grade school and hasn’t stopped experimenting since – he even partnered up with a friend in college to provide IT services to small offices.
Chris’ career in visual effects started in 2001, when he moved to Los Angeles and joined Digital Domain as a Technical Services Coordinator, providing end user technical support. In 2003 he went on to join Rhythm & Hues as a Hardware Technician, working his way up to become a senior member of the technology team. During this eight year period he contributed to such projects as the Academy Award winning Life of Pi and The Golden Compass.
In 2011, Chris moved on to become the Head of Technology at Rhythm & Hues’ new Vancouver studio. Chris hired the initial technology team and built out the new studio’s core infrastructure, which would be used to deliver shows such as X-Men: Days of Future Past, R.I.P.D., and Snow White and the Huntsman.
Chris moved over to Image Engine in 2014, where he took on the role of Head of IT, supporting the studio’s infrastructure on all projects. In 2020, Chris was promoted to Head of Technology, overseeing both the development and infrastructure teams’ operations.