Yoda

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This article is about the Star Wars character. For other uses, see Yoda (disambiguation).
Yoda
Star Wars character
Yoda in The Empire Strikes Back
First appearanceThe Empire Strikes Back (1980)
Last appearanceStar Wars Rebels
– "Shroud of Darkness" (2016)
Created byGeorge Lucas
Portrayed byFrank Oz (puppeteer, Episodes I, V-VI)
Deep Roy (costume, uncredited, Episode V)[1][2][3][4]
Warwick Davis (costume, uncredited, Episode I)
Eric Jacobson (puppeteer, It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie)
Voiced byFrank Oz (Episodes I-III, V-VII, Star Tours—The Adventures Continue, Star Wars Rebels)
John Lithgow (The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi radio dramas)
Greg Berg (one episode of Muppet Babies)
Peter McConnell (Super Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back)
Corey Burton (Read-along storybook CDs)
Tom Kane (various TV shows and video games)
Eric Jacobson (It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie)
In-universe information
Speciesgreen gremlin
GenderMale
OccupationJedi Grand Master of the Order
Jedi Master of the High Council
AffiliationJedi Order
Galactic Republic

Yoda is a fictional character in the Star Wars space opera franchise created by George Lucas, first appearing in the 1980 film The Empire Strikes Back. In the original films, he trains Luke Skywalker to fight against the Galactic Empire. In the prequel films, he serves as the Grand Master of the Jedi Order and as a high-ranking general of Clone Troopers in the Clone Wars. Following his death in Return of the Jedi, he was the oldest Star Wars character ever, before having that record broken by Maz Kanata in Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Concept and creation

Frank Oz provided Yoda's voice in each film and used his skills as a puppeteer in the original trilogy and Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace. For some walking scenes in Episodes V and I, dwarf actors Deep Roy and Warwick Davis appeared in costume as Yoda (though neither was credited). While Frank Oz served as the primary performer, he was assisted by a multitude of other puppeteers, including:[5] Kathryn Mullen (Ep. V), Wendy Froud (Ep. V), David Barclay (Ep. V-VI), Mike Quinn (Ep. VI), David Greenaway (Ep. I & VI), Don Austen (Ep. I), and Kathy Smee (Ep. I). 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, several video games, and the series Star Wars: The Clone Wars.

The make-up artist Stuart Freeborn based Yoda's face partly on his own face and partly on Albert Einstein's.[6][7][8][9] In The Phantom Menace, he was redesigned to look younger. He was computer-generated for two distant shots, but remained mostly a puppet.[10] The puppet was re-designed by Nick Dudman from Stuart Freeborn's original design.

Rendered with computer animation in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones and Star Wars: Episode III – 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. His performance was deliberately designed to be consistent with the limitations of the puppet version, with some "mistakes" made such as the occasional ear-jiggling.[citation needed] Rob Coleman was responsible for the character's new incarnation to the series.

Yoda was recreated in CGI for the 2011 Blu-ray release of The Phantom Menace.[11] A clip of the new CG Yoda from The Phantom Menace was first seen in the featurette The Chosen One, included in the 2005 DVD release of Revenge of the Sith.[12] The 2012 theatrical 3D release of The Phantom Menace also features the CG version of Yoda.

Character overview

Grand Jedi Master Yoda is among the oldest and most powerful known Jedi Masters in the Star Wars universe. He was once on the Jedi Council. Series creator George Lucas opted to have many details of the character's life history remain unknown. Yoda's race and home world have not been named in any media, canonical or otherwise, and he is merely said to be of a "species unknown" by the Star Wars Databank. Yoda's speech syntax has been analyzed and discussed by academic syntacticians, who found it somewhat inconsistent, but could extrapolate that it has object–subject–verb word order.[13]

The films and expanded universe reveal that during 800 years, he had a hand in training almost every Jedi, including many of the most powerful Jedi such as 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 takes over as Obi-Wan's master); Ki-Adi-Mundi, Kit Fisto and eventually Luke Skywalker. During the animated series Star Wars: Clone Wars, set between Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith, he mentions that he trained another one of the leaders on the Jedi Council, Master Oppo Rancisis. In the Star Wars prequels, it is shown that he instructs several younglings in the Jedi Temple before they are assigned to a master. This was displayed in a scene in Attack of the Clones.

Appearances

Feature films

Original trilogy

The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Yoda makes his first film appearance in The Empire Strikes Back. Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) arrives on Dagobah to seek his guidance, having been instructed to do so by the Force ghost of Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guinness).

Yoda does not initially identify himself to Luke and instead tests his patience by presenting himself as a comical and senile backwater individual, deliberately provoking both Luke and R2-D2 (portrayed by Kenny Baker). Luke is shocked when he finally realizes that this small, elderly creature is the powerful Jedi Master he was seeking. Finding that Luke has the same anger and recklessness which caused his father's downfall, Yoda is reluctant to teach him in the ways of the Force, and agrees only at Obi-Wan's behest. Before 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 and Obi-Wan warn him that he is not ready to face Vader and is being lured into a trap, but Luke leaves anyway, promising to return. When Obi-Wan laments that Luke is their "last hope," Yoda reminds him that "there is another".

Return of the Jedi (1983)

Yoda makes a brief appearance in Return of the Jedi, set a year after The Empire Strikes Back. Yoda, now sick and frail, 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, something Vader had told a shocked Luke in the previous film. Yoda then peacefully dies at the age of 900, his body disappearing as he becomes "one with the Force". He leaves Luke with the knowledge that "there is another Skywalker". Moments later, Obi-Wan's ghost helps Luke come to the realization that the "other" of whom Yoda spoke is Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher), who is his twin sister.

In the film's final scene, after the Empire has been defeated, Luke sees Yoda's spirit looking upon him with pride, alongside Obi-Wan and the redeemed Anakin Skywalker (Vader's former Jedi self).[14]

Prequel trilogy

Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999)
Yoda in the theatrical (top) and Blu-ray versions of The Phantom Menace

Yoda returns as a younger version of himself in the prequel trilogy beginning with The Phantom Menace. The film marked the final time Oz would portray the character as a puppet. However, in the 2011 Blu-ray release of The Phantom Menace, the Yoda puppet was replaced by a CGI character to match the later depiction of the character. In the film, which is set 35 years before The Empire Strikes Back, Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson) brings the young Anakin Skywalker (Jake Lloyd) to the Jedi Council. Qui-Gon is convinced that Anakin is the fabled "Chosen One" who will bring balance to the Force, and requests the boy be trained as a Jedi Knight. Yoda senses great fear in Anakin, especially his attachment to the memory of his mother, and foresees "grave danger" in his training. The council, led at the time by Yoda's former padawan Mace Windu (Samuel L. Jackson), initially rejects the request.

When Qui-Gon is mortally wounded in a duel with Sith Lord Darth Maul (played by Ray Park and voiced by Peter Serafinowicz), his dying request to Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) is that Anakin be trained as a Jedi. Obi-Wan, determined to fulfill his promise to his master, tells Yoda that he will train the boy, even without the council's permission. After failing in one last attempt to dissuade Obi-Wan, Yoda reluctantly gives his blessing to Anakin's training and informs Obi-Wan that the Jedi Council also agrees with him.[15]

Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002)
Yoda holding a lightsaber
Yoda's CGI appearance in Attack of the Clones

Yoda makes his first CGI appearance in Attack of the Clones. Set a decade after The Phantom Menace, Yoda, now in direct control of the Order's policy as Master of the High Council in addition to his traditional position as Grandmaster, is one of the many Jedi who are concerned about the emergence of the Separatists, a group of systems rebelling against the Galactic Republic. After the first attempted assassination of Senator Padmé Amidala of Naboo (Natalie Portman), Chancellor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) "suggests" that she be put under the protection of Obi-Wan, who is training Anakin Skywalker (now played by Hayden Christensen). At the climax of the film, Yoda arrives in time to save Obi-Wan and Anakin and defeats his former apprentice, Count Dooku (Christopher Lee), who nevertheless escapes. Although of great age, Yoda is shown to be incredibly agile and immensely skilled in lightsaber combat. This is the first movie in which Yoda appears in a lightsaber duel.

Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005)

In Revenge of the Sith, Yoda leads the Jedi Council in pursuing the mysterious Sith Lord Darth Sidious. Palpatine has by now amassed near-dictatorial emergency powers, and begins interfering in Jedi affairs by appointing Anakin as his personal representative on the Council. The Council grants Anakin a Council seat, but denies him the rank of Master, feeling that doing so would amount to giving Palpatine a vote in the Council. Embittered by the perceived snub, Anakin begins to lose faith in the Jedi.

Anakin seeks Yoda's counsel about his prophetic visions that someone close to him will die. Yoda, unaware of the intensity of Anakin's love for Padmé, his pregnant wife, tells him to train himself to let go of everything that he fears to lose. Unsatisfied, Anakin turns to Palpatine, who then reveals himself as Darth Sidious, and manipulates the young Jedi into becoming his Sith apprentice, Darth Vader, with the promise that the dark side holds the power to save Padmé from dying in childbirth.

Palpatine later transforms the Republic into the tyrannical Galactic Empire, proclaiming himself emperor for life, and orders the clone troopers to kill their Jedi generals. At this time, Yoda is on Kashyyyk, overseeing the battle between the Separatist forces and a combined command of clone troopers and Wookiees. Through the Force, Yoda feels the deaths of each of the Jedi as they are assassinated by their own troops. After swiftly killing the clone troopers instructed to kill him, he escapes with Wookiee leaders Tarfful and Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew), and returns to Coruscant, where he and Obi-Wan fight their way into the Jedi Temple to stop a trap for all surviving Jedi. Inside, they discover that all the Jedi inside, younglings included, have been slaughtered. They then discover a holographic recording, revealing Vader as the assassin. Yoda decides to face Palpatine, sending Obi-Wan to kill his former Padawan. Obi-Wan tells Yoda he will not kill Vader, asking instead to go after Palpatine. However, Yoda insists knowing that Palpatine would be too powerful for Obi-Wan. He also tells Obi-Wan that the Anakin he knew no longer exists, having been "consumed by Darth Vader."

Subsequently, Yoda battles Palpatine in a lightsaber duel that wrecks the Senate Rotunda. However, in the end neither is able to overcome the other and Yoda is forced to retreat. He goes into exile on Dagobah so that he may hide from the Empire and wait for another opportunity to destroy the Sith. At the end of the film, it's revealed that Yoda has been in contact with Qui-Gon's spirit, 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 Vader and Palpatine in remote locations. Other than the ancient Jedi Master, only the Organas, the Lars family, R2-D2 (Kenny Baker) and Obi-Wan know of their true identities.[16]

Sequel trilogy

Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)

In The Force Awakens, set 30 years after Return of the Jedi, Yoda's voice is heard by the young scavenger Rey (Daisy Ridley) after she discovers Luke Skywalker's lightsaber.

Television series

Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008)

Yoda appears in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, voiced by Tom Kane. In the prequel film Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Yoda assigned Anakin Skywalker his young Padawan Ahsoka Tano as he believes that she will help Anakin grow as a person with a higher sense of responsibility. He believes Anakin is ready to teach Ahsoka, but to let her go when the time comes, it will be a greater challenge. Throughout most of the series, Yoda spends his time on Coruscant with the Jedi Council. But occasionally leaves for certain tasks, such as negotiations with King Katuunko on Rugosa, and a confrontation with Asajj Ventress's droid army.

In the final arc of the final season, Yoda hears Qui-Gon Jinn speaking to him from beyond the grave. Yoda flees the Jedi Temple with R2-D2 to travel to Dagobah, the planet he would make his home when he enters exile after events of Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, to find answers. Shown cryptic visions of the fall of the Jedi, Yoda learns he has been "chosen" to learn how to manifest his consciousness after death as a Force ghost. But Yoda is required to be tested by a group of spirit priestesses in order to overcome trials and temptations on his pilgrimage. During the final stages of his journey on Moraband, Yoda manages to pass the priestess' test of facing an illusion of Darth Bane. But Yoda's final test was to resist an attempt by Darth Sidious and Dooku to lure him to the dark side with a false vision of Sifo Dyas. After a lengthy metaphysical battle with Sidious, sacrificing himself to save Anakin's life, Yoda awakens from the vision and passed the test. He is told that Qui-Gon will teach him the means to manifest his consciousness after death while hearing what will be his last words, as well as the breathing of Darth Vader and the cries of his children. Yoda is informed his training will resume in time, and the elderly Jedi master is left with reassurance that regardless of what the future holds, there will still be a new hope.

Star Wars Rebels (2014)

Yoda was heard in the Star Wars Rebels episode "Path of the Jedi" with Frank Oz reprising the role for the first time since Revenge of the Sith.[17] He communicates with Padawan Ezra Bridger and his master Kanan Jarrus during their experience in an ancient temple on Lothal, and helps the pair do some soul-searching to analyze their true motivations. He appears for the first time, in season 2 "Shroud of Darkness" where he tells Ezra he should find Malachor, where Ahsoka sees him after so long.

Comics

Yoda appears in the "Kanan" comic by Marvel. Kanan has flashbacks to his childhood, and remembers Yoda training him in the Jedi Temple.

Legends

Star Wars: Clone Wars (2003)

Yoda appears in the 2003 Cartoon Network animated television series Star Wars: Clone Wars, voiced by Tom Kane. In the show, Yoda is made a General, like many of the Jedi Knights and Masters. Yoda escorts Padmé on their journey to an unspecified planet, but Yoda senses several Jedi in distress on Ilum. Using the Jedi mind trick to convince Captain Typho to take them to Ilum, Yoda saves two Jedi Knights and finds a message from Count Dooku giving orders to destroy the Jedi Temple on Ilum. In the animated series' final episode, Yoda fights side by side with Mace Windu to defend Coruscant, which is under attack from the Separatists. The two Jedi Masters realize too late that the battle is a distraction; Separatist leader General Grievous truly intends to kidnap Palpatine. The Jedi Master's effort to stop Grievous fails, and Palpatine is taken hostage, thus setting the stage for Revenge of the Sith.

Comics

Yoda acts as a supporting character in Dark Horse Comics' Clone Wars tie-in comic books. He is also an important character in several novels set in the Star Wars universe, particularly Yoda: Dark Rendezvous.

In popular culture

In 2007, Yoda was selected by Empire magazine as the 25th greatest movie character of all time.[18] On their list of the 100 Greatest Fictional Characters, Fandomania.com ranked Yoda at number 60.[19]

Yoda also appears in Disney's Star Tours: The Adventures Continue attraction, where he is voiced by his original voice actor, Frank Oz.[20]

A lifesize statue of Yoda greets visitors to Lucasfilm's Letterman Digital Arts Center in San Francisco's Presidio, the headquarters of Industrial Light and Magic.

American musician and parody artist "Weird Al" Yankovic used the character as inspiration for a parody of The Kinks' "Lola", in a song entitled "Yoda."

Merchandising

  • TomTom has included a "Yoda" voice as one of the Celebrity GPS voicings in their "Star Wars" voice series.[21]

Lego

  • Lego's Yoda minifigure was the first of their figures to have a shorter than usual height, created by giving the toy shorter legs.[22] Yoda appears in television series based on the Lego Star Wars toys, created by the Lego company, among them Lego Star Wars: The Yoda Chronicles, Lego Star Wars: The Padawan Menace, Star Wars: The New Yoda Chronicles, and Lego Star Wars: Droid Tales. Depicting Yoda training Padawans, but then feeling a disturbance in the Force and rusheing off to fight the Dark Side. In an episode, Yoda remembers the time he and Ben Kenobi helped the now-grown up Padawans get the holocrons from the Imperial-controlled Jedi Temple Academy.

See also

References

  1. ^ "The Making of Yoda".
  2. ^ "Cut Scenes: Dogabah".
  3. ^ "Dogabah Second Unit Still".
  4. ^ "Deep Roy as Yoda".
  5. ^ "Those Yoda Guys".
  6. ^ "Star Wars make-up artist Stuart Freeborn dies aged 98". BBC News. 2012-03-04. Retrieved 2013-02-06.
  7. ^ "Stuart Freeborn, Yoda's maker, dies". The Guardian. Retrieved February 8, 2013.
  8. ^ "British make-up artist Stuart Freeborn, who created Yoda, dies aged 98". The Times. Retrieved February 7, 2013
  9. ^ Hauptfuhrer, Fred (9 June 1980). "Yoda Mania: America Falls in Love with the 26–Inch, Green, Pointy-Eared Sage and his Master Puppeteer, Frank Oz". People. Retrieved December 17, 2012. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |newspaper= (help)
  10. ^ Desowitz, Bill (2002-06-14). "Yoda as We've Never Seen Him Before". Animation World Magazine. Retrieved 2008-11-13.
  11. ^ "Yoda Goes CGI in 'Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace' on Blu-ray". Hi-Def Digest. 2011-08-25. Retrieved 2011-08-26.
  12. ^ Gould, Chris. "Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith". dvdactive. Retrieved 2009-03-04.
  13. ^ Pullum, Geoffrey K. (2005-05-18). "Language Log: Yoda's syntax the Tribune analyzes; supply more details I will!". Itre.cis.upenn.edu. Retrieved 2013-02-08.
  14. ^ Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
  15. ^ Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
  16. ^ Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
  17. ^ Exclusive: Yoda Returns for Star Wars Rebels
  18. ^ "Empire's The 100 Greatest Movie Characters". Empire Magazine. Retrieved 2010-05-21. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  19. ^ "The 100 Greatest Fictional Characters". Fandomania.com. Retrieved 2010-05-21.
  20. ^ Cole, Carolyn (July 23, 2012). "Frank Oz to 'Star Wars' fans: Do the Yoda impression I won't". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
  21. ^ "Star Wars™ voices now available for TomTom devices". Starwars.tomtom.com. Retrieved 2013-02-08.
  22. ^ Martell, Nevin (2009). Standing Small: A Celebration of 30 Years of the Lego Minifigure. DK. p. 69.
  • 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

Look up Yoda in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

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