Neimoidian
The
Neimoidians were a race of green skinned, noseless aliens. They shared many
similar features with the Duros race and were said to be distantly related.
Though Neimoidia was their home planet, they also controlled the colony planets
of Cato Neimoidia, Deko Neimoidia, and Koru Neimoidia.
The
Neimoidian culture was one of material wealth. Their clothing included
elaborate hats and cloaks and denoted the status and fortune of each
individual. Neimoidia was notably the head of the Trade Federation. As a founding
member of the Confederacy of Independent Systems (or the Separatists).
The
Neimoidians looked very different in early drafts of “The Phantom Menace”. They
were originally called “S'hatnarians” because George Lucas met William Shatner
at a bar and Shatner made Lucas promise to name a character after him.
Neimoidians also originally resembled B-1 battle droids- though in the final
draft of the Prequel Trilogy Battle Droids are modelled after the Geonosians.
Many
critics of the “Phantom Menace” noted that Neimoidians resemble the racial
stereotype of large Asian corporations. It is notable that in the German
version of the Prequels, Neimoidians are given French accents and in most other
Western European countries, they are given Russian accents.
Gungan
The
amphibious Gungan species made their homes in deep underwater cities. Though
the species could not breathe underwater, they could hold their breath for long
periods of time. Though many gungans were tall and lanky with stalk eyes
(Otolla) there was a subspecies that was short and heavy lacking eyestalks
(Ankura).
Gungans
were sometimes thought of as primitive by the humans that lived on the surface
of Naboo, but Gungans used plasma energy in their underwater cities and in
their weapons of war. Gungans also utilized various domesticated animals
including the kaadu, the falumpaset and the fambaa.
George
Lucas got the name of the species came from his son Jett who called his toy
trucks “Gungan”. Jett also came up with the name “Jar Jar”. It seems Lucas
relied on his toddler a lot to help him write “The Phantom Menace”.
Gungans
were inspired by hadrosaur dinosaurs (also known as duck-bills).
Toydarian
Toydarians
were a proud species from a planet filled with mud-flats. Though their webbed-feet
were evolved to help the species walk through the mud the species primarily
moved about through flight. Like Bumblebees, Toydarians do not look like they
should be able to fly, but a gut full of buoyant gasses combined with fast
flapping wings, helped Toydarians stay aloft. Toydarians were also thought to
be resistant to force influence over their mind.Toydarians lived in clans and the government was a monarchy . One of the more notable kings was Katuunko, who ruled during the last years of the Republic.
When the
character of Watto was being designed for “The Phantom Menace” he originally
looked more like a bird and at one point had tentacles. During the editing of
the film, editors found it hard to lip-sync Watto’s lines, so it was decided he
would speak out the side of his mouth.
Cerean
Cereans
are notable for their towering heads, which housed a pair of brains. Cerean
culture was built around the fact that females outnumbered males by a large
majority. This gender discrepancy was due to the fact that 20 females were born
for every one male, but also because males aged faster than females. It was due
to this fact, that the Jedi council allowed Cerean Jedi, such as Ki-Adi-Mundi
to marry. Each male Cerean would have one primary “bond wife” and four to ten
“honor wives”.
Ki-Adi-Mundi
was first introduced in the comic line “Star Wars: Republic” in December of
1998, six months before the release of “The Phantom Menace”. Though the comic
portrayed him as being in a polygamous marriage, the 2002 film “Attack of the
Clones” would establish that Jedi were not allowed to marry. Furthermore, some
guidebooks claimed that Ki-Adi-Mundi was not a Jedi Master, but the only Jedi
Knight on the Jedi Council. Dialogue from “Revenge of the Sith” would
ultimately contradict this fact as well.
Iktotchi
Hailing
from the windy moon of Iktotch, the Iktotchi were a hardy species. Both males
and females sported horns. Iktotchi were a force sensitive species and almost
every member of the race had the power of precognition (being able to glimpse
into the future). Iktotchi were also telepathic. The irony was that these
innate abilities would often be lessened if any Iktotchi were to leave their
homeworld. Despite this fact many Iktotchi would venture into the galaxy. The rest
of the galaxy were often frightened by Iktotchi due to both their gruff
appearance and unique abilities. Iktotchi were banned from casinos because of
the their precognitive abilities. The species were also found within the ranks
of both Jedi and Sith.
Saesee
Tiin was the first Iktotchi to appear on screen. However, the prequel
production team failed to ensure consistency between his apparences. The use of
several actors and several costumes caused Tiin to look different from film to
film and sometimes from scene to scene. This was true of most of the Jedi
Council characters, and in some cases, new characters had to be established to
deal with these inconsistencies. Tiin, however, appears in all three films and
was not assigned a new character based on his inconsistent apparence.
Kel Dor
The Kel
Dor were native to planet Dorin, where the atmosphere was rich with Helium.
Away from their homeworld the species wore masks to filter the air from
oxygen-rich environments and also to protect their eyes.
The Kel
Dor were a species often sensitive to The Force. Before making contact with the
Republic, the Force Sensitive Kel Dor were known as Baran Do sages. A sensory
organ in their heads, caused Kel Dor to have heightened reflexes.
The Kel
Dor culture was tied to the windiness of the planet Dorin. The names given to
infants were often similar to the sounds that the wind would make and many of
their oral traditions centered around “wind spirits”. The surnames, however,
were often descriptions of ancient family trades or jobs.
The Kel
Dor Jedi Master Plo Kloon appears in all films of the prequel trilogy. Though
his lightsaber is never shown on screen, it was portrayed as being yellow in
the game “Jedi Power Battles” and was also yellow in the first release of his
Hasbro action figure.
Lannik
The
Lannik were easily identified by the size of their ears, which were large. Though the galaxy at
large viewed the Lannik as quick-tempered and arrogant, the species were
usually fearless and clear-headed in combat.The Lannik were discovered by Human and Duros explorers. When advanced technology was first brought to the planet, a civil war erupted because there were disagreements about how to integrate the technology into traditional Lannik society.
The
Lannik Jedi Master, Even Piell, was portrayed by actress Michaela Cottrell in
“The Phantom Menace” and archive footage was used for the “Attack of the
Clones” council scenes. Even Piell did not appear in “Revenge of the Sith” and
his death is featured in “The Clone Wars” animated series.
Zabrak
The
Zabrak were a species of near-humans recognized for their short horns and the
fact that many (including Darth Maul) had facial tattoos. Zabraks tended to
have strong sense of self which caused outsiders to see the species as
single-minded. On their homeworld of Ironia, Zabraks learned a style of martial
arts which focussed on hand-to-hand combat. Many Zabrak would take their names
from the animals on their homeworld.
Though
the most famous Zabrak in “The Phantom Menace” was Darth Maul, there was also a
Jedi Council member named Eeth Koth. Though Koth was supposed to return for
“Attack of the Clones”, inconsistencies in the character design eventually led
to the retcon creation of a new character named “Agen Kolar”. However, the
original Koth can still be seen in “Attack of the Clones” by means of archive
footage. The new character, Agen Kolar would return for “Revenge of the Sith”.
Other famous Zabrak include the bounty hunter, Sugi, and her niece, Jas Emari.
Quermian
Quermians were tall and long-necked. Some say they were created through the modification of DNA and based on the smaller Xexto race. Others say that Quermia evolved in isolation on a terraformed planet where they had no natural predators. This caused them to be a exclusively peaceful species.
Quermians
had a second brain in their chest cavity, which allowed them to solve
complicated math problems. Quermians did not have noses, but did have an
olfactory gland in their hands. Quermians were able to read others by their
body language and sometimes through telepathy.
Yareal
Poof was the Quermian Jedi Master featured in “The Phantom Menace”. Poof did
not appear in “Attack of the Clones” because the Kaminoans also had long necks
and the production team wanted to avoid confusion.
Thisspiasian
The
Thisspaisian were an obscure race, uncommon in the Galaxy at large. They were
notable for their long snake-like bodies and full beards. Though Thisspiasians
did not sleep very much, they did need to enter long periods of mediation each
day, to stay sane. Thisspasians traditionally enjoyed eating live animals,
although they consumed vegetation as well.
Oppo
Rancisis was the Thisspiasian Jedi Master featured in “The Phantom Menace”. It
wasn’t until “Attack of the Clones” that viewers were shown Rancisis had a
snake-like tail. The character was designed by storyboard artist Benton Jew and
was based on the depiction of an old-bearded man featured on a Chinese Calendar
that hung in the home of Jew’s grandparents.
Star Wars Aliens
The Aliens of the Cantina
The Aliens of “The Empire Strikes Back"
The Aliens of Jabba’s Palace
The Aliens of Max Rebo’s Band
The Aliens of the Battle of Endor
Flipping Heads
https://roadto7.blogspot.com/2018/09/flipping-heads.html
The Aliens of the Phantom Menace
https://roadto7.blogspot.com/2018/10/aliens-of-phantom-menace.html
The Aliens of the Phantom Menace
https://roadto7.blogspot.com/2018/10/aliens-of-phantom-menace.html
The Aliens of Attack of the Clones
The Aliens of Revenge of the Sith
Expanded Universe Aliens
https://roadto7.blogspot.com/2018/12/10-species-from-old-expanded-universe.html
https://roadto7.blogspot.com/2018/12/10-species-from-old-expanded-universe.html
Aliens of Podracing
Aliens of Ralph McQuarrie
Aliens of Rogue One
Aliens of The Last Jedi
Aliens of Solo
Aliens of Endor
The Most Obscure Aliens of the Original Trilogy
Aliens of the Mandalorian
Bonus Aliens
Aliens of Star Trek
