Yoda

Template:Star Wars character Yoda is a fictional character from the Star Wars universe, who appears in all of the franchise's films except for Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. Frank Oz provided Yoda's voice in each film, and lent his skills as a puppeteer in the original trilogy and The Phantom Menace. For the radio dramatizations of The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, Yoda was voiced by John Lithgow, while Tom Kane voiced him in the Clone Wars animated series and several video games.

Yoda first appears in the saga in The Empire Strikes Back as a mysterious little creature who, as a Jedi Master, trains Luke Skywalker in becoming a Jedi. In the prequel trilogy, he serves as Grand Master of the Jedi Order. Additional fiction in the Expanded Universe fills in more details of his life.

History

Character overview

Yoda is portrayed as a wise and powerful Jedi master in the fictional Star Wars universe. George Lucas originally wished Yoda to follow his other characters in having a full name: Yoda Minch, but instead opted to have many details of the character's life history remain unknown. Yoda's race has never been stated in any media canonical or otherwise and he is merely stated to be of a "mysterious species" by the Star Wars Databank. Often his race is given as "unknown tridactyl species". It is presumed that he is the same species as Yaddle and Vandar Tokare given the strong visual similarities: Tokare appears almost identical to Yoda in depictions of the character.

Early in the development of Episode IV, George Lucas included a species called the Whills, a distant, omnipresent race who were to take the story-teller perspective. It has been postulated by fans that Yoda, Yaddle and Vandar Tokare are Whills; recently, there has been passing reference to a Shaman of the Order of the Whills in the novel adaptation of Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, confirming their continued canonical existence in the Star Wars universe, although not any link between Yoda and the Whills.

In fact, very little is reported of Yoda's life before the events of Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. He was trained by Jedi Master's N'Kata Del Gormo, and AD "The Darkness".

The films and Expanded Universe reveal that he had trained several notable Jedi, including Count Dooku, who is identified in "Attack of the Clones" as Yoda's old Padawan Learner; Mace Windu; Obi-Wan Kenobi (partially, before Qui-Gon Jinn took over with Obi-Wan's training); Ki-Adi-Mundi, Kit Fisto and eventually Luke Skywalker. (In between here, during the animated series Star Wars: Clone Wars, he mentions that he trained another one of the leaders on the Jedi Council, Master Oppo Rancisis.) The Star Wars prequel films explain that he instructed all younglings in the Jedi Temple before they were assigned to a master. This was displayed in a scene in Attack of the Clones.

The Phantom Menace

In the timeline of the films, Yoda first appears in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. In that film, Qui-Gon brings the young Anakin Skywalker to the Jedi Council, claiming that the boy is the "Chosen One" who will bring balance to the Force, and requests to train him once Obi-Wan has completed the trials necessary to become a Jedi Knight. As told to young Anakin Skywalker, "Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering." Yoda plays a key role in that body's initial decision to deny the request; he believes that the boy is clearly affected by his years as a slave, and that he still clings too tightly to the memory of his mother to be trained safely. Yoda thinks his future is clouded.

After Qui-Gon's death at the hands of Darth Maul, however, the Jedi Council rescinds their previous decision, despite Yoda's misgivings.

Attack of the Clones

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Yoda battling Count Dooku in Attack of the Clones.

In Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones, set 10 years later, Yoda is one of the many Jedi who is concerned about the emergence of the Separatists. After the second attempted assassination of Senator Amidala, Yoda orders that she be put under the protection of Obi-Wan's apprentice Anakin.

Yoda travels to the planet Kamino in order to obtain the clone army built for the Republic. Yoda is a key Republic general at the Battle of Geonosis, when the clone trooper Army of the Republic is first deployed. He leads the group which rescues Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker and Padmé Amidala from execution at the hands of the Confederacy of Independent Systems, the Separatists. At the climax of the battle, Yoda duels with Separatist leader and Sith Lord Count Dooku, who was once Yoda's Jedi apprentice. This confrontation ends with Dooku making his escape by threatening Yoda's injured comrades, Anakin and Obi-Wan. Although seemingly frail, the ancient Yoda demonstrates agility and mastery of lightsaber combat and acrobatics through the Force.

Clone Wars

During the Clone Wars micro series Yoda is made a General like many of the Jedi Knights and Masters. Yoda escorts Padmé on their journey to a planet, but Yoda senses several Jedi in distress on Illum. Using the Jedi mind trick to convince Captain Typho to take them to Illum, Yoda saves two Jedi Knights and finds a message from Count Dooku giving orders to destroy the Jedi Temple.

As the Clone Wars progress Yoda fights alongside Mace Windu in the Battle of Coruscant while trying to understand, with Master Windu, the logic behind the Separatists attack on the Republic Capital. The two Jedi Masters realize that this is a distraction for General Grievous to kidnap the Chancellor. Windu goes onto a Clone Hanger to try and prevent the kidnapping, but fails to do so.

Revenge of the Sith

In Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, Yoda leads the Jedi Council in seeking out the mysterious Sith Lord Darth Sidious. Yoda uses his sensitivity and power with the Force to discover the Sith Lord's identity, ultimately concluding that Sidious is someone within Supreme Chancellor Palpatine's inner circle. Palpatine himself sidetracks the mission, however; by now, the Chancellor has amassed near-absolute power in the Galactic Senate, and begins interfering in Jedi affairs. He appoints Anakin as his personal representative on the Council, which would effectively grant the Jedi Knight the rank of Jedi Master. The Council denies Anakin the promotion fearing that giving Palpatine's representative the rank would be tantamount to giving Palpatine a vote in the Council. Embittered by the perceived snub, Anakin begins to lose faith in the Jedi.

Earlier, Anakin seeks Yoda's counsel about his prophetic visions that someone close to him will die (he does not identify the person as Padmé, his secret wife and pregnant with his child, as emotional attachments are a violation of the Jedi Code). Yoda, unaware of the intensity of Anakin's love for Padmé, tells him to "Train yourself to let go of everything you fear to lose." Unsatisfied, Anakin instead turns to Palpatine, who reveals himself as Darth Sidious, and manipulates the young Jedi into becoming his Sith apprentice — Darth Vader — with the promise that, with powers only the dark side can give, he can save his wife.

When Palpatine, now self-appointed Emperor of the Galactic Empire, implements Order 66, Yoda is on Kashyyyk, overseeing the battle between the Separatist forces and a combined command of clone troopers and Wookiees. Through the Force, he feels the deaths of each of the Jedi as they are slain by the very troops they commanded. He swiftly kills the clone troopers sent to dispatch him, escapes with the help of Wookiee leaders Tarfful and Chewbacca, and returns to Coruscant, where he and Obi-Wan fight their way into the Jedi Temple to stop a trap for any Jedi who also survived Order 66. Upon discovering a holographic recording revealing Anakin as the assassin, Yoda sends Obi-Wan to kill his former Padawan. Obi-Wan tells Yoda he cannot fight Anakin, but Yoda insists, saying, "To fight this Lord Sidious, strong enough you are not."

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Yoda absorbing Darth Sidious' Force lightning.

Subsequently, Yoda battles Palpatine in a titanic struggle that wrecks the Senate building. The fight seems evenly matched between the two, neither able to overcome the other. Unable to defeat the Sith Lord, Yoda is forced to retreat and go into exile so that he may hide from the Empire and wait for another opportunity to destroy the Sith.

Meanwhile, Anakin is defeated by Obi-Wan, losing his limbs and nearly burning to death. The cybernetic enhancements Palpatine administers to save his life render him a cyborg. At the end, it is revealed that Yoda has been in contact with Qui-Gon's spirit. Although this is given little attention in the film, the novelization revealed that Yoda actually becomes Padawan to the deceased Jedi Master's Force ghost, learning the secret of immortality from him and passing it on to Obi-Wan.

Yoda is also instrumental in deciding the fate of the Skywalker children after Padmé dies in childbirth, recommending that Luke and Leia be hidden from Darth Vader and Palpatine in remote locations. Other than the ancient Jedi Master, only the Organas, the Larses, and Obi-Wan Kenobi know of their placement. Described in the novelization, Obi-Wan wishes to have both Yoda and himself take one child each to separate locations and train the children in the ways of the Force. However, Yoda realizes that there are other ways to learn discipline than just Jedi training, and that Luke and Leia will need to be trained differently if they are going to defeat the Empire. In addition, the twins' anonymity would be more difficult to protect if the Sith were to discover the remaining Jedi Knights before Luke or Leia were ready. Leia is sent to live with the Organas on Alderaan, Yoda retreats to Dagobah, and Kenobi delivers the infant Luke to his family on Tatooine, remaining there to watch over him.

The Empire Strikes Back

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Yoda trains Luke Skywalker on Dagobah.

In Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, set 22 years after Revenge of the Sith, Luke Skywalker arrives on Dagobah to seek Yoda's guidance. This happens after Luke is instructed to do so, by the Force-ghost of Obi-Wan Kenobi (Obi-Wan had sacrificed himself in a duel with Vader in A New Hope).

After initial reluctance, Yoda agrees to teach Luke in the ways of the Force. Prior to finishing his training, however, Luke chooses to leave Dagobah in order to confront Darth Vader and save his friends from the Empire's grasp at Bespin. Yoda insists to Luke that he is being lured into a trap, and that he must stay to complete his training. However, Luke cannot forsake his friends who are in danger. He promises to return to complete his training.

Return of the Jedi

Yoda's final chronological appearance is in Return of the Jedi, set a year later. Yoda, sick and greatly weakened by old age, informs Luke that he has completed his training but will not be a Jedi until he confronts Darth Vader; he also confirms that Vader is Luke's father, which the Sith Lord had told a shocked Luke in the previous film. Yoda then dies at the age of 900 and becomes "one with the Force." He leaves Luke with the knowledge that "there is another Skywalker." Moments later, Obi-Wan's Force ghost helps Luke come to the realization that the sibling Yoda spoke of is none other than Leia.

Yoda (center), one with the Force after 900 years, looks upon Luke with pride, along with the spirits of Anakin Skywalker (left) and Obi-Wan Kenobi (right).

When the Emperor tries to kill Luke with Force lightning, Vader redeems himself and once again becomes Anakin Skywalker. By killing his master to save his son, he fulfills the prophecy and brings balance to the Force. Anakin dies in his son's arms as the Death Star crumbles around them. Later that night, Luke sees his father's spirit looking at him with pride and gratitude, in the company of Obi-Wan Kenobi and their once and future master, Yoda.

Powers and abilities

Traditionally recognized as the most senior Jedi Master in the order, of which he was Grand Master, Yoda possessed tremendous potential and power in the Force. He was capable of great acts of telekinesis as demonstrated when he lifted Luke Skywalker's sunken ship out of a swamp, or his suspension of a massive stone pillar over Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker. He can also foresee events with great clarity and feel everything going on around him; in Attack of the Clones, he senses Anakin's murderous rampage through a Tusken Raider camp, while in Revenge of the Sith he feels the death of every Jedi killed by Order 66. He can dissipate, create, and deflect Force lightning; and effortlessly uses the Force to throw large objects such as Darth Sidious and Senate pods about. Yoda also obtains the power of immortality through the force along with Qui-Gon, Anakin Skywalker, and Obi-Wan. It should be noted that other Jedi (and Sith alike) possess these powers as well.

As a lightsaberist, he was traditionally recognized as one of the greatest swordsman in the galaxy, his skill only matched by Mace Windu. Yoda completely mastered all but one lightsaber form, Va Paad. He is the definitive master of Ataru. Allowing the Force to overcome his limitations of old age and short stature, he utilized blindingly fast somersaults, leaps, and flips in midair alongside the rapid bladework of Ataru to overcome such skilled opponents as Dooku, and was the only Jedi by Episode III (besides Mace Windu) capable of rivaling Darth Sidious. Yoda has a miniature green bladed lightsaber that is scaled down to his size.

Personality and traits

The films portray Yoda as a stern but benevolent teacher of the Jedi. Among the members of the Jedi Council, Yoda is known to have a penchant for mischief and practical jokes. In the prequel films, Yoda is almost always competent and serious, although he does show his playful side when instructing the younglings in Attack of the Clones. By the time of the original trilogy he affects a lighter manner, joking casually in a way he earlier did not. Yoda never shows any anger.

Yoda walks with the aid of his trademark Wookiee carved wooden cane, called a gimer stick, which in the original trilogy he chewed on for sustenance. In the prequel films he used a hovering chair to keep pace with his companions.

Language

Yoda speaks "Galactic Basic" in a distinctive manner by using anastrophe, that is, placing verbs (and more frequently, auxiliary verbs) at the end of a clause, and inverting the object and subject. In linguistic typology this is the "Object Subject Verb" format. A typical example of this pattern is from Return of the Jedi: "When 900 years old you reach, look as good you will not." Yoda also occasionally speaks in Object Verb Subject format. For example: "Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter."

Yoda's speech pattern has been the source of much parody. He uses this style of language much less in the original trilogy, while he rarely speaks without anastrophe in the prequel trilogy.

Animating Yoda

Yoda's appearance was originally designed by British makeup artist Stuart Freeborn, who based Yoda's face partly on his own and partly on Albert Einstein's; his eyes were inspired by the latter. Yoda was voiced by Frank Oz. In the original Star Wars trilogy, he was realized as a puppet (controlled by Oz). Contrary to common belief, Yoda was never constructed as a Muppet; in fact he was designed almost entirely independently from Jim Henson's company, aside from minor consulting.

In The Phantom Menace, he was redesigned to look younger. He was computer-generated for two distant shots, but remained mostly a puppet. The puppet was re-designed by Nick Dudman from Stuart Freeborn's original design. However in a featurette in Attack of the Clones, Lucas comments that many found the redesign made Yoda look fake.

Rendered with computer animation in Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith, Yoda appeared in ways not previously possible, including his participation in elaborate fight scenes. In Revenge of the Sith his face appears in several big close-ups, demanding highly-detailed CGI work. Despite the use of advanced technology, his performance was deliberately designed to match the puppet version, with some "mistakes" made such as the occasional ear-jiggling. Rob Coleman was the man responsible for the character's new incarnation to the series.

According to many Lucasfilm reports, Yoda has been redone in CGI for a later release of The Phantom Menace. This edition will most likely be part of a future release of the Star Wars saga. A clip of the new CG Yoda from The Phantom Menace can be seen in the featurette The Chosen One, included in the DVD release of Revenge of the Sith. The new version of the film has yet to be announced.

Yoda in popular culture

Parody artist "Weird Al" Yankovic released the song "Yoda" on his 1985 album Dare to Be Stupid. The music was set to the tune of "Lola" by The Kinks, but with lyrics that roughly sketch Luke Skywalker's first meeting with the Jedi Master in The Empire Strikes Back ("I met him in a swamp down in Dagobah"). Along with Mark Jonathan Davis's "Star Wars Cantina," the song received significant radio airplay in the run-up to the 1997 release of the Star Wars Special Edition VHS box set and the 1999 release of The Phantom Menace, the first Star Wars film in more than 15 years. A CGI animation of Yoda also appeared at the 2003 MTV Movie Awards. He heaped praise on Lucas: "A Mensch, you always are." As he went on too long, the orchestra tried to drown him out, but the Jedi Master quenched the orchestra with a simple Force gesture. "Play off Yoda, no one does," he scoffed.

References

• The Jedi Apprentice series by Dave Wolverton and Jude Watson
• Episode I: The Phantom Menace, 1st edition paperback, 1999. Terry Brooks, George Lucas, ISBN 0-345-43411-0
• Episode III: Revenge of the Sith - Novelization, 1st edition hardcover, 2005. Matthew Woodring Stover, George Lucas, ISBN 0-7126-8427-1
• The Annotated Screenplays, softcover, 1997. George Lucas, Leigh Brackett, Lawrence Kasdan, Laurent Bouzereau, ISBN 0-345-40981-7
• The Courtship of Princess Leia, 1995. Dave Wolverton, ISBN 0-553-56937-6
• Mission from Mount Yoda, 1993. Paul Davids, Hollace Davids, ISBN 0-553-15890-2
• A Guide to the Star Wars Universe, 2nd edition, 1994. Bill Slavicsek, ISBN 0-345-38625-6
• The Essential guide to Characters (Star Wars), 1st edition, 1995. Andy Mangels, ISBN 0-345-39535-2
• The New Essential Guide to Characters, 1st edition, 2002. Daniel Wallace, Michael Sutfin, ISBN 0-345-44900-2
• Star Wars: The Visual Dictionary, hardcover, 1998. David West Reynolds, ISBN 0-7894-3481-4
• Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith: The Visual Dictionary, hardcover, 2005. James Luceno, ISBN 0-7566-1128-8
• Star Wars Roleplaying Game: Revised Core Rulebook, hardcover, 2002. Bill Slavicsek, Andy Collins, J.D. Wiker, ISBN 0-7869-2876-X
• Star Wars Roleplaying Game: Power of the Jedi Sourcebook, hardcover, 2002. Michael Mikaelian, Jeff Grubb, Owen K.C. Stephens, James Maliszewski, ISBN 0-7869-2781-X

External links

• Yoda in the StarWars.com Databank
• Yoda on Wookieepedia, a Star Wars wiki
• Yoda at The World of Star Wars