The Road to Episode Infinity: Aliens of The Phantom Menace

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

http://roadto7.blogspot.com/2018/06/the-aliens-of-cantina_1.html

The Aliens of “The Empire Strikes Back"

http://roadto7.blogspot.com/2018/06/the-aliens-of-empire-strikes-back-what.html

The Aliens of Jabba’s Palace

http://roadto7.blogspot.com/2018/07/aliens-of-jabbas-palace.html

The Aliens of Max Rebo’s Band

http://roadto7.blogspot.com/2018/08/the-aliens-of-max-rebos-band.html

The Aliens of the Battle of Endor

http://roadto7.blogspot.com/2018/08/the-aliens-of-battle-of-endor.html

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