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{{Short description|Fictional sword}}
<blockquote>''"Star Wars fans are nerds and George Lucas is a shitty filmmaker."'' &nbsp; &mdash; ]</blockquote>
{{For|the song|Lightsaber (song)}}
{{use mdy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2019}}
{{Infobox fictional artifact
| name = Lightsaber
| image = Lightsaber, silver hilt, blue blade.png
| caption = ]'s lightsaber
| alt = Lightsaber with blue beam
| first = ] {{no italic|(1977)}}
| first_type = blue
| creator = ]
| episode_creator =
| source = ]
| source_type = franchise
| company = ]
| type = Energy sword
| genre = ]
| traits =
| affiliation = {{ubl|]|]|]|]|] (])}}
| uses = {{ubl|Dueling|] bolt deflection|Cutting through solid materials|Deflecting ]|Light source}}}}
A '''lightsaber''' is a ] ] featured throughout '']''. A typical lightsaber is shown as a luminous laser sword about {{convert|3|ft}} in length emitted from a metal ] around {{convert|10.5|in|cm}} in length.<ref name="proparchives.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.proparchives.com/science-fiction/science-fiction-1970s/star-wars-a-new-hope/star-wars-a-new-hope-prop-light-sabre|via=proparchives.com|title=''Star Wars A New Hope'' prop light sabre|date=December 21, 1994|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120827103808/http://www.proparchives.com/science-fiction/science-fiction-1970s/star-wars-a-new-hope/star-wars-a-new-hope-prop-light-sabre|archive-date=August 27, 2012|url-status=dead|access-date=July 31, 2018}}</ref> First introduced in the ],{{EpIV}} it has since appeared in all 12 theatrical ''Star Wars'' films, with at least one lightsaber ] occurring in each installment of the "]". The lightsaber's distinct appearance was created using ] for the ], and with ] for the ] and ] trilogies.


In the ''Star Wars'' ], the lightsaber is the ] of the ]-wielding ] and the ]-wielding ]. However, the lightsaber can also be wielded by non-] characters as an ordinary weapon or tool.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hidalgo |first=Pablo |title=Star Wars: Lightsabers a guide to weapons of the force |publisher=Becker&mayer |year=2018 |location=Washington USA |pages=8 |language=English}}</ref> The Jedi use different colored lightsabers. The most common lightsaber colors are blue and green, but other colors also exist, those being purple, white, black, and yellow. The Sith wield exclusively red-bladed sabers to distinguish themselves from the Jedi. The color of a lightsaber's blade is given by kyber crystals. A kyber crystal has no color until it is approached by a Jedi. It then turns into a color determined by the wielder's connection to the ].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hidalgo |first=Pablo |title=Star Wars: Lightsabers a guide to weapons of the force |publisher=becker&mayer |year=2018 |location=Washington USA |pages=6 |language=English}}</ref> A lightsaber's hilt is built by its wielder and is, therefore, unique in design. There are several variations outside of the traditional single-bladed lightsaber, such as the double-bladed lightsaber (most famously wielded by ]), the curved-hilted lightsaber (wielded by ] and most famously by ]), ] lightsabers (used by ] and occasionally by Jedi), and the ], forged by the Mandalorian Jedi ], but primarily wielded by the non-Force-sensitive ] rulers of Mandalore (including ], Maul, ], ], and ]).
]
]


As presented in the early films, a lightsaber's energy blade can cut, burn, and melt through most substances with little resistance.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hidalgo |first=Pablo |title=Star Wars: Lightsaber a guide to weapons of the force |publisher=becker&mayer |year=2018 |location=Washington USA |pages=57 |language=English}}</ref> It leaves ] wounds in flesh, but can be deflected by another lightsaber blade, by ]s, or by the metal beskar (found in ]) and phrik (the metal used to create electrostaffs). The blade has even been used as a tool to weld metal. Other times, the lightsaber has been shown to cause bleeding wounds in the flesh, sometimes accompanied by burns. Some exotic saber-proof ] have been introduced in the ] as well as later episodic films. Lightsabers can also deflect ], allowing a wielder with Jedi reflexes to turn an enemy's own gunfire against them. An active lightsaber gives off a distinctive hum, which rises in pitch and volume as the blade is moved rapidly through the air. Bringing the blade into contact with another lightsaber's blade produces a loud crackle.
The '''lightsaber''' is the ] traditional, elegant weapon of the ] Knights in ]. It is something akin to its namesake, the ], however rather than a metal blade it is equipped with a blade formed from a tight loop of highly focused light, essentially a laser of immense power, able to penetrate and cut most solid materials with little or no resistance. They play a vital role in the ] ] and feature in the ], ] and ].


The lightsaber has become one of the most widely recognized elements of the ''Star Wars'' franchise. In 2008, a survey of approximately 2,000 film fans found it to be the most popular weapon in film history.<ref>{{Cite news|author=Sophie Borland|date=January 21, 2008|title=Lightsabre wins the battle of movie weapons|work=]|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1576154/Lightsabre-wins-the-battle-of-movie-weapons.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1576154/Lightsabre-wins-the-battle-of-movie-weapons.html |archive-date=January 12, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=2008-01-26}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>Archived at {{cbignore}} and the {{cbignore}}: {{cite web|last=The Game Theorists|date=31 January 2016|title=Game Theory: ''Star Wars'' Lightsaber Vs ''Halo'' Energy Sword|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teHu8Njm5HE|via=]}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
==Lightsabers in the Star Wars universe==


==Prop construction==
Using "''frozen blaster''" technology, a blade of pure energy is created. The beam can cut through almost anything solid, except another lightsaber blade, the material ] and other force fields, an alloy used in Magna Guards' electrostaves called phrik, and Yuuzhan Vong ]s, serpent-like creatures used as melee weapons that, when snapped rigid, generate their own force fields. ] iron is known to resist the effects of a lightsaber.
{{quote box | quote=Covered with millions of tiny glass beads, has the property of reflecting light directly back to its source. It's the same material used for reflective road signs . | source=''—Special Effects: An Introduction to Movie Magic''<ref name="Special Effects"/>| align=right | width=25% }}
For the original '']'' film, the ] ]s were constructed by ] from old Graflex ] ] battery packs and other pieces of hardware. The full-sized sword props were designed to appear ignited onscreen, by later creating an "in-camera" glowing effect in post-production. The blade is a three-sided rod which was coated with a ] ] array, the same sort used for ].<ref name="Special Effects">{{cite book | title=Special Effects: An Introduction to Movie Magic | first=Ron | last=Miller | location=Minneapolis | publisher=Twenty-first Century Books | date=2006 | oclc=60419490 | isbn=9780761329183 | page=89 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JTIMIDNIVg8C&pg=PA89 | quote=...a material called Scotchlite. Covered with millions of tiny glass beads, it has the property of reflecting light directly back to its source. It's the same material used for reflective road signs (and the glowing light sabers in ''Star Wars'', which were sticks wrapped in Scotchlite).}}</ref> A lamp was positioned to the side of the taking camera and reflected towards the subject through 45-degree angled glass so that the sword would appear to glow from the camera's point of view.


Set decorator ] found the handles for the ] Flash Gun in a photography shop in ], in London's ].<ref>{{cite news|title=How the lightsaber was born|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/video_and_audio/must_see/42369174/star-wars-set-decorator-tells-how-lightsaber-was-born|access-date=20 December 2017|publisher=BBC|date=15 December 2017|type=video interview|archive-date=October 31, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181031160610/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/video_and_audio/must_see/42369174/star-wars-set-decorator-tells-how-lightsaber-was-born|url-status=live}}</ref> He then added cabinet T-track to the handles, securely attaching them with ]. Adding a few "]s" (surface details), Christian managed to hand-make the first prototype of a lightsaber prop for ] before production began. ] decided he wanted to add a clip to the handle, so that Luke could hang it on his belt. Once Lucas felt the handle was up to his standards, it went to John Stears to create the wooden dowel rod with front-projection paint so that the animators would have a glow of light to enhance later on in post production. Due to lack of preparation time, Christian's prototype and a second spare were used for the shooting in Tunisia, where filming on ''Star Wars'' began.<ref>Star Wars Insider magazine issue No 98 January 2008</ref> It was discovered, however, that the glowing effect was greatly dependent on the rod's orientation to the camera, and during the ]/] duel, they could clearly be seen as rods. Because of this, the glow would be added in post-production through rotoscoping, which also allowed for diffusion to be employed to enhance the glow.
The first '''Archaic Lightsabers''' were developed as a siege weapon. These required a separate power pack, which was often worn on the back. The power sources and components were miniaturized in the construction to create the simple weapon used in the later era. Using a lightsaber in combat takes skill, confidence and dexterity. Attunement to ] is very helpful as well.


While original trilogy hilts were typically constructed using found parts, during the prequel and sequel trilogies a different process was sometimes used. Hilts were first machined out of metal materials. Then casts would be made using the metal hilts to create resin copies that were used on screen.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sherwood |first=Seth |date=July 1, 2018 |title=The Lightsaber Prop Guidebook |url=https://wannawanga.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/SW_Lightsaber_Guide.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180310061412/http://wannawanga.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/SW_Lightsaber_Guide.pdf |archive-date=2018-03-10 |url-status=live }}</ref> The resin was often molded over a metal rod that a dueling blade could be attached to for fight sequences.
In the original film trilogy, lightsabers were limited to blue and green for the Jedi, while red-bladed lightsabers were associated with Dark Jedi Knights or ]. The various ] (EU) sources and the ] films opened up the spectrum of blade colors to include many variations of blue, green and red, as well as purple, orange, silver, turquoise, pink, bronze, yellow and possibly white and gold, among others. Note, however, that the expanded universe has no definitive information relating to the color of a lighsaber and its association with Jedi or Sith positions. The reason for less of a variety of colors for lightsaber blades is revealed throughout several forms of media. The Empire destroyed the caves that housed the lightsaber crystals Jedi used to focus energy and create their blade's unique color. Synthetic crystals were created to replace the natural crystals found in caverns, typically having either a blue or green color. ] primarily wielded a blue-bladed lightsaber, while ] famously uses a purple-bladed lightsaber. One lightsaber in particular, created by the Jedi student ] was violet with patterns of rainbow light rippling across its white core. The color of a lightsaber's blade is dependent upon the crystals used to focus it. Blue-bladed lightsabers are loosely associated with Jedi Guardians; green-bladed lightsabers are loosely associated with Jedi Consulars; yellow-bladed lightsabers are loosely associated with Jedi Sentinels; and red-bladed lightsabers are more closely associated with the Sith. However, each Jedi (or Sith) is free to choose whatever hue for their blade they wish or can acquire. Prior to the Battle of Ruusan, Jedi ignited lightsabers in every known hue. In the time after Jedi relied on more common Ilum crystals such as blue, and green. Mace Windu braved the natives of Hurikane to obtain the rare purple crystal. In the New Jedi Order Era, Jedi had a wide array of colors such as orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, and light blue.


=== Visual effects ===
The synthetic red crystals favored by the Sith can create a marginally more powerful blade than blue or green crystals, but are not as pure due to their artifical nature and can thus be undesirable as the focus of a lightsaber. The Sith apparently had a large supply of red crystals and they also favored red as symbolism for blood.
Korean ] ], who was working for ] at the time, was asked by his manager if he could animate the lightsaber in the live-action scenes of a film. After Shin accepted the assignment, the live-action footage was given to him. He drew the lightsabers with a ], an animation which was superimposed onto the footage of the physical lightsaber blade prop. Shin explained to the people from Lucasfilm that since a lightsaber is made of light, the sword should look "a little shaky" like a fluorescent tube. He suggested inserting one frame that was much lighter than the others while printing the film on an ], making the light seem to vibrate. Shin also recommended adding a ] sound on top of the other sounds for the weapon since the sound would be reminiscent of a magnetic field. The whole process took one week, surprising his company. Lucasfilm showed Shin the finished product, having followed his suggestions to use an ] knife to give the lightsaber a very sharp look, and to have sound accompany the weapon's movements.<ref>{{Cite news| title = Interview with Nelson Shin| publisher = ]| date = November 9, 2007| url = http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/10/18/talkasia.nelsonshin/index.html| access-date = July 27, 2008| archive-date = June 28, 2011| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110628201834/http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/10/18/talkasia.nelsonshin/index.html| url-status = live}}</ref>


===Sound===
==Lightsaber Types==
The lightsaber ] was developed by sound designer ] as a combination of the hum of idling ] in aged movie projectors and interference caused by a television set on a shieldless ]. Burtt discovered the latter accidentally as he was looking for a buzzing, sparking sound to add to the projector-motor hum.<ref name="Burttlaserdisc">{{citation|author=Burtt, Benn|author-link=Ben Burtt|title=] |publisher=] |quote=...the microphone passed right behind the picture tube and as it did, this particular microphone produced an unusual hum. It picked up a transmission from the television set and a signal was induced into its sound reproducing mechanism, and that was a great buzz, actually. So I took that buzz and recorded it with the projector motor sound and that fifty-fifty kind of combination of those two sounds became the basic Lightsaber tone."|year=1993}}</ref>


The pitch changes of lightsaber movement were produced by playing the basic lightsaber tone on a loudspeaker and recording it on a moving microphone, generating ] to mimic a moving sound source.<ref>{{cite news|title=Why We Still Love Star Wars: Lightsaber 101|work=]|date=December 3, 2017|pages=9|quote=The lightsaber wooshing sounds are created by waving a microphone in front of a speaker playing humming and buzzing noises.}}</ref>
The very rare '''Great Lightsaber''', similar to a standard lightsaber, had focusing crystals and a power supply producing a blade up to 300 centimeters (9.8 feet) in length.


==Depiction==
The rare '''Dual-Phase Lightsaber''' is any lightsaber constructed to operate at two different blade lengths. Darth Vader's lightsaber is an example of this, as he has buttons on his hilt allowing him to change the blade length at will. Similarly, in '']'', Luke Skywalker adjusts the controls of his saber to produce a short, pencil-thin blade, which he uses to cut through the bolt of a door lock.
Lightsabers were present in the earliest drafts as mundane plasma weapons that were used alongside laser guns.<ref>{{citation|last=Lucas|first=George|title=The Star Wars, story synopsis|date=May 1973|url=http://maddogmovies.com/almost/scripts/starwarstreat_5-73.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160507210727/http://maddogmovies.com/almost/scripts/starwarstreat_5-73.pdf |archive-date=2016-05-07 |url-status=live|quote=An alarm sounds. The rebels are forced to fight their way out of the prison with "multiple lazer guns" and swords.|author-link=George Lucas}}</ref><ref>{{citation|last=Lucas|first=George|title=The Star Wars, rough draft|date=May 1974|url=https://maddogmovies.com/almost/scripts/starwars_rough5-74.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130418031358/http://maddogmovies.com/almost/scripts/starwars_rough5-74.pdf |archive-date=2013-04-18 |url-status=live|quote=Ten troopers break out of the ranks and take up the chase. Starkiller runs down a corridor and rounds a corner, reaching a dead end. The troops round the corner and confront the trapped Jedi.}}</ref> The introduction of ] in a later revision made the Jedi and the Sith supernaturally skilled; initially, they were only portrayed as swordsmen.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://io9.gizmodo.com/13-things-you-probably-dont-know-about-lightsabers-1567641737|title=13 Things You Probably Don't Know About Lightsabers|last=Bricken|first=Rob|date=April 25, 2014|work=gizmodo.com|access-date=22 December 2016|archive-date=January 1, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101190354/http://io9.gizmodo.com/13-things-you-probably-dont-know-about-lightsabers-1567641737|url-status=live}}</ref> The lightsaber became the Force-user's tool, described in '']'' by Obi-Wan Kenobi as "not as clumsy or random as a blaster. An elegant weapon, from a more civilized age".<ref>{{citation |last=Lucas |first=George |title=] |year=1977}}</ref> The source of a lightsaber's power is a '''kyber crystal'''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cinemablend.com/news/1601340/what-are-kyber-crystals-and-why-are-they-important-to-star-wars |title=What Are Kyber Crystals, And Why Are They Important To ''Star Wars''? |publisher=CinemaBlend |first=Eric |last=Eisenberg |date=December 18, 2016 |access-date=December 26, 2016 |archive-date=December 27, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161227061827/http://www.cinemablend.com/news/1601340/what-are-kyber-crystals-and-why-are-they-important-to-star-wars |url-status=live }}</ref> These crystals are also the power source of the ]'s superlaser.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.starwars.com/databank/death-star-superlaser|title=Death Star Superlaser|publisher=StarWars.com|access-date=February 26, 2021|archive-date=March 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210302144814/https://www.starwars.com/databank/death-star-superlaser|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite episode|series=]|title=]}}</ref>


In films such as '']'' and '']'', melee weapons such as the ] and plasma-lined blades deflect lightsabers.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Electrostaff|url=https://www.starwars.com/databank/electrostaff|access-date=2020-06-29|website=StarWars.com|language=en|archive-date=September 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920032602/https://www.starwars.com/databank/electrostaff|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Hidalgo|first=Pablo|title=Star Wars: The Last Jedi – The Visual Dictionary|publisher=DK Publishing|year=2017|isbn=9781465455512}}</ref>
The '''Electrum Lightsaber''' is simply a lightsaber with a hilt forged from gold-like ]. ]'s lightsaber in Episode II and III is an example of such kind.


===Types===
There are also variant lightsabers with shorter handles and blades (known as '''Short Lightsabers''' or '''lightdaggers''') that can be wielded as offhand secondary weapons or as the primary lightsaber of a small Jedi like ]. Some Jedi who fight with two lightsabers use the smaller version in the offhand (or weaker hand) such as ] ].
Lightsabers are depicted as hand-built as part of a Jedi's or Sith's training regimen. Each lightsaber is unique, though some may bear resemblance to others, especially if there is a connection between the builders. The hilt of most lightsabers are straight and predominantly cylindrical, though there are other lightsaber hilt types. The first film appearance of a dual-bladed lightsaber (first depicted in the comic series '']'') was in '']'', wielded by ]; it consists of two regular lightsabers joined at their butt ends each producing a blade independently. ], beginning with the character's first appearance in '']'', is shown to have a lightsaber with a curved hilt. The video game '']'' introduced two other variants: a lightsaber pike (a lightsaber with a shorter blade but a long handle, resembling a spear) and a ]-style lightsaber with right-angle hilt. Additionally, in several spin-off series such as '']'' and '']'', special variants of the lightsaber have been depicted - such as the lightsaber-blaster wielded by ].


The ] adds several lightsaber types, including short<ref name="KOTOR1">{{cite video game|title=] |developer=] |publisher=] |date=November 19, 2003 |platform=PC }}</ref> and dual-phase (adjustable length) weapons.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Anderson |first=Kevin J. |author-link=Kevin J. Anderson |title=] |publisher=] |series=] |year=1994}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Foster |first=Alan Dean |author-link=Alan Dean Foster |title=] |publisher=] |year=1979}}</ref> In ''Star Wars Rebels'', Ezra Bridger's original lightsaber is a hybrid that features a fully functional ] built into the handle. ], introduced in '']'', uses a lightsaber that features two ] blades, giving it the appearance of a ]. His blade also has an unstable, fiery appearance, explained in canon reference books as stemming from a cracked kyber crystal.<ref>{{cite web |last=Pinchefsky |first=Carol |title=Kylo Ren's janky lightsaber, explained |url=https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/kylo-rens-janky-lightsaber-explained |website=SyFy Wire |access-date=October 18, 2019 |date=December 31, 2015 |archive-date=November 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112003032/https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/kylo-rens-janky-lightsaber-explained |url-status=dead }}</ref> The Inquisitors of the ] are depicted as wielding a unique variation of a double-bladed saber, mounted on a rotating ring enabling the blades 360 degrees of rotation and short-term flight capability. More obscure lightsaber variations, such as the "lightwhip", an elongated flexible blade used in a matter akin to a ], the "lightclub", an enlarged standard lightsaber, and the "shoto", a dramatically smaller variation often paired with a standard sized saber have also made appearances.
], with a double-bladed lightsaber, battles ] and ] on ]|380px|left|thumb]]
'''The Double-Bladed Lightsaber''' or "saber-staff" is a unique variant in which the handle is about three times the length of a standard lightsaber and has two beam emitters; one at each end. The beams can be activated and deactivated independently, allowing for a lot of versatility. This weapon was invented by the ] ] nearly four thousand years before the ]. Kun's 'saber was notable in that he was able to carefully adjust both its length, from half a meter to one and a half meters, as well as its intensity, allowing the blades' power to vary from that of a deadly blade to an intangible, harmless beam of light. The double-bladed lightsaber proved to be a very popular weapon among the ] and ] of ]'s new ]. Besides Exar Kun, notable wielders of this weapon include ], ], ], ], ], ], (possibly ]), and ] the dark warrior. Use of double-bladed lightsabers as primary weapons has been frowned upon by the Jedi because of their aggressive nature and usage. Though most Jedi double-bladed lightsabers are used for training purposes, some Jedi do specialize in their use as weapons.


===Colors===
Other lightsaber variants include the massive '''lightclub''' wielded by the Dark Jedi ], and the '''lightwhip''', a rare and exotic weapon used by ], ], ], and Lady ].
Lightsabers in the first two released films, ''A New Hope'' and '']'', had blades that were either blue (for the Jedi) or red (for the Sith). ]'s new lightsaber in '']'' was colored blue during the initial editing of the film, and appears so in both an early movie trailer and the official theatrical posters; it was later changed to green in the film's final edit after initial viewings and screen tests by the filmmakers, who felt that it would better stand out against the blue sky of ] in outdoor scenes, and this color change is also reflected in the film's re-release posters. ]'s purple-bladed lightsaber, as first seen in ''Attack of the Clones'', was requested by the actor ], who believed the color, which is his personal favorite, would make his character be easily recognized among other Jedi.{{Efn|] and ] had previously been depicted in {{nowrap|spin-off}} works with purple lightsabers.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Harrison|first=Paul|date=August 22, 2015|title=Ki-Adi-Mundi - EI - Basic Research Droids Reviews|url=https://www.jeditemplearchives.com/content/modules.php?name=JReviews&rop=showcontent&id=2282|access-date=2020-06-06|website=JediTempleArchives.com|archive-date=June 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200606231404/https://www.jeditemplearchives.com/content/modules.php?name=JReviews&rop=showcontent&id=2282|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Saesee Tiin (Power Of The Jedi)|url=https://jedibusiness.com/figureDetails.aspx?id=761|access-date=2020-06-14|website=JediBusiness.com|archive-date=June 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200614071510/https://jedibusiness.com/figureDetails.aspx?id=761|url-status=dead}}</ref>}} Jackson is known to frequently request that the characters he plays use an item that is purple in color.<ref>Archived at {{cbignore}} and the {{cbignore}}: {{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubyo5eZz_Jc|title=Samuel L. Jackson's Purple Light Sabre - ''The Graham Norton Show'': Series 13 Episode 13|last=BBC|date=June 28, 2013|publisher=]|via=]|access-date=May 10, 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref> ] showed the guardians of the Jedi Temple wielding yellow-bladed lightsabers, and, at the end of '']'', Rey is shown to have built a yellow-bladed lightsaber using part of her staff as the hilt.


As depicted in ''The Clone Wars'' and ''Rebels'', the builder of a lightsaber finds a kyber crystal and meditates with it until the crystal acquires a color. The color of this crystal becomes the blade's color when installed into a lightsaber hilt. In the book '']'' and the comic series ''Darth Vader: Dark Lord of the Sith'', it is shown that dark side users remove the crystal from a defeated Jedi's lightsaber and concentrate Force energy on it to break its connection to the light side, a process known as "bleeding" to create a red crystal. The process can also be reversed, as shown in ''Ahsoka'', when the titular character does so to a pair of crystals taken from an Inquisitor. She uses them in the pair of white-bladed lightsabers she builds at the end of the novel.
===History===
Lightsabers are the principal weapon of the ] but are also used by the ]. After the extermination of the ], lightsabers became rare relics. Their use is usually restricted to the ], partially because it is too dangerous for an unskilled user, but also partly because, for non-Jedi, blasters are more effective. However, lightsabers remain prized by some collectors, and some black market sales do occur.


Other colors have appeared in various ] projects, including many video games where the player can select their character's lightsaber color.
Typically a ] is given his lightsaber on his first day of training. ] Masters emphasize that the lightsaber is a measure of progress for an apprentice as lightsaber techniques take great skill and concentration. It is considered a final test for a ] student to be able to construct their own lightsaber. According to a Star Wars novel the costruction takes place on Elim, the padawan then goes in by themselves and will only come back out when they have made a lightsaber. But in the Clone Wars microseries the master and padawan go in to the caves.


==== Darksaber ====
''The crystal is the heart of the blade.<br>''
The Darksaber is a unique lightsaber that has a distinct black blade with a white halo, introduced in '']'' (2008) and subsequently appearing in '']'', where it is described as an ancient lightsaber created by Tarre Vizla, the first ] to become a Jedi, and later serves as a symbol of Mandalorian authority in the hands of ]. It subsequently appears briefly in the hands of ] in the ] of '']'', to whom Kryze had previously surrendered the weapon.<ref>{{cite web|title=Darksaber|url=https://www.starwars.com/databank/darksaber|website=StarWars.com|access-date=January 1, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=What is the Darksaber?|url=https://www.starwars.com/news/what-is-the-darksaber|date=February 11, 2020|last=Knox|first=Kelly|access-date=February 17, 2020|archive-date=February 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200221195525/https://www.starwars.com/news/what-is-the-darksaber|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://io9.gizmodo.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-darksaber-the-bl-1840779738 | title = Everything You Need to Know About the Darksaber, the Black Blade That Freed Mandalore | first = James | last= Whitbrook | date = January 3, 2020 | access-date = January 3, 2020 | work = ] }}</ref> By the end of ], it belongs to series protagonist ], who has bested Gideon for it. In ] of the ] of the show, the weapon (nominally) returns to Kryze's ownership, after she defeats a cyborg creature that captures Djarin (it remains in Din Djarin's possession, however), and she officially reclaims the blade in the season's ]. It is destroyed by Gideon in the ].
''The heart is the crystal of the Jedi.<br>''
''The Jedi is the crystal of the Force.<br>''
''The Force is the blade of the heart.<br>''


===Choreography===
''All are intertwined:<br>''
The technical lightsaber choreography for the original ''Star Wars'' trilogy was developed by ] sword-master ]. Anderson personally trained ] (Luke Skywalker) and, in ''The Empire Strikes Back'' and ''Return of the Jedi'', performed all the stunts as ] during the lightsaber duels wearing Vader's costume. Anderson's role in the trilogy was highlighted in the film '']'' where he shared his experiences as a fencer developing the lightsaber techniques for the three original movies.
''The crystal, The blade,The Jedi.<br>''


The lightsaber duels in the ''Star Wars'' prequel trilogy were specifically choreographed by stunt-coordinator ] to be miniature "stories". For these films, Gillard was the primary sword instructor for ] (]), ] (Obi-Wan Kenobi), ] (Darth Maul) and ] (Anakin Skywalker / Darth Vader) among other actors. His goal in choreographing the action for ''The Phantom Menace'' was to create stunts that flow from the story; "You can't just think, 'I'm a ], I'm going to make a big stunt happen'," Gillard said. "It's all about making it tie in nicely with the film so that you don't notice the stunts."{{Citation needed|date=January 2010}}
''You are one.''<br>
- Speech made during lightsaber construction ceremony<br>
"]" - ]


In writing the prequel trilogy, George Lucas said he wanted the lightsaber combat to be "reminiscent of what had been done in the previous films but also something that was more energized. We'd seen old men, young boys, and characters who were half-droid, but we'd never seen a Jedi in his prime. I wanted to do that with a fight that was faster and more dynamic—and we were able to pull that off."<ref>{{Cite book| last1 = Bouzereau| first1 = Laurent| last2 = Duncan| first2 = Jody| title = Star Wars: The Making of Episode I: The Phantom Menace| place=New York| publisher = Ballantine Publ. Group| year = 1999| edition = Hardcover| isbn =0-345-43111-1}}, page 99</ref>
===Training===


According to Gillard, various lightsaber combat styles were devised for the prequels and intended to further ] their practitioners.
A deviation created by the ] from standard lightsabers, the '''training lightsabers''' helped train apprentices in the use of a standard lightsaber. Training lightsabers are similar to a standard lightsaber. However, the power is greatly diminished and the size is reduced, the latter being similar to Yoda's lightsaber. Training sabers are usually pink in color. Training lightsabers are used in combat education in the Jedi academy of the Old Republic. While these lightsabers are intentionally nonlethal, contact with the blade is highly painful and may be fatal.


{{blockquote|I developed different styles for the characters, and gave each of them a flaw or a bonus. So with Obi-Wan Kenobi, for instance, he's got a very business-like style—when he was younger he could border on the flashy and might twirl his lightsaber a bit, because he was taught by Qui-Gon. Qui-Gon was brash, that rubbed off on Obi-Wan and Obi-Wan then taught Anakin, who was way too old to learn anyway... I think the style really worked well. The Jedi style of fighting is an amalgamation of all the great ] styles. Melding them together is the difficult part—to move from a ] style to, say, ] requires a complete change in body and feet movement, and this must look effortless. The style moves seamlessly between the different disciplines, but remains technically correct throughout.<ref>{{cite web |title=Interview with stunt co-ordinator Nick Gillard (Mr. Optimism)- March 2004 |url=http://desiringhayden.net/pressarchive/2009/02/25/interview-with-stunt-co-ordinator-nick-gillard-mr-optimism-march-2004/ |website=Desiring Hayden.net |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717044923/http://desiringhayden.net/pressarchive/2009/02/25/interview-with-stunt-co-ordinator-nick-gillard-mr-optimism-march-2004/ |archive-date=17 July 2012 |date=March 2004|access-date=2009-06-21}}</ref>}}
===Use===


For ''The Phantom Menace'', Gillard set out certain styles and faults for the saber-wielding characters.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theforce.net/videogames/story/Nick_Gillard_Talks_ROTS_Game_92147.asp |publisher=] |title=Nick Gillard Talks ROTS Game |date=May 8, 2005 |access-date=2008-11-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207005209/http://www.theforce.net/videogames/story/Nick_Gillard_Talks_ROTS_Game_92147.asp |archive-date=December 7, 2008 }}</ref> He added that the Jedi's use of such "a short-range weapon" meant "they would have to be very good at it"; combining a variety of disciplines from various sword fighting styles to martial arts "with a touch of tennis and tree chopping", he created the style seen in the ''Episode I'' lightsaber battles.<ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080701224021/http://www.starwars.com/episode-i/bts/me1/6.html |date=2008-07-01 }} -(part of the "Making Episode I" series).</ref>
: ''See also: ''']'''''


For ''The Force Awakens'', director ] decided to approach the choreography similarly to how it was done in the original trilogy. Abrams stated that the prequel trilogy choreography was "increasingly spectacular and stylized, almost like dance choreography", but that was not what they really wanted to go for in the new films.<ref Name="Star Wars News Net">{{cite web|url=http://www.starwarsnewsnet.com/2015/11/new-revelations-from-empires-new-issue-on-the-force-awakens.html|title=New Revelations From Empire's New Issue on The Force Awakens|first=Viral|last=Hide|work=starwarsnewsnet.com|date=November 27, 2015|access-date=22 December 2016|archive-date=February 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160220155423/http://www.starwarsnewsnet.com/2015/11/new-revelations-from-empires-new-issue-on-the-force-awakens.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He told '']'' magazine, "When you look at '']'' and '']'', they are very different lightsaber battles, but for me they felt more powerful because they were not quite as slick. I was hoping to go for something much more primitive, aggressive and rougher, a throwback to the kind of heart-stopping lightsaber fights I remembered being so enthralled by as a kid."<ref name="Star Wars News Net"/>
In the hands of someone trained to use the Force, a lightsaber is a powerful and versatile tool. In the hands of the untrained, however, it is far more of a danger to the user, mainly because only the hilt has ] in any detectable amount, making it difficult to judge the position of the blade accurately during use. Also, the arcing of the blade back along itself generates a gyroscopic force causing instability in the hands of the untrained, easily seen in Luke Skywalker's first experience with a lightsaber in Episode IV. A lightsaber can cut through virtually anything (blast doors and enemies alike) except another lightsaber blade (because of the other force field) and other energy fields of sufficent power (such as the reactor shields seen in Episode I). The only known exceptions to this rule are: the ''cortosis'' ore, capable of repelling or even shorting out a lightsaber blade (as shown in the novel '']'' and the video games '']'' and ''Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast''); the metal ultrachrome a (superconductor used for ship armor hundreds of years before the Empire as shown in the novel ''Shatterpoint'' by Matthew Stover); phrik alloy (seen in the energy staffs of General Grevious's guard droids; and certain types of energy shields, as well as the hides and shells of certain creatures, such as the '''taozin''' and '''Lava Dragon''', which are able to diffuse or refract the weapon's energy. Cortosis ore sets up a feedback loop in the lightsaber blade assembly, which shuts it down. It is also known that the organic weapons and armors of the extra-galactic ] are able to give marginal resistance to the blade of the lightsaber. In the novel series Jedi Apprentice it is shown that a lightsaber blade will short out if it comes in contact with water, however a specially designed saber such as Kit Fisto's can be used underwater effectively.


== Cultural impact ==
] Master ] battles ] Apprentice ].]]
]]]
{{see also|Cultural impact of Star Wars}}


=== Merchandise ===
Using the ], a ] can use his or her lightsaber to deflect and reflect incoming energy attacks, like blaster bolts and even Force Lightning, though they are ineffective against ion beams unless finely tuned to specifically deflect them, thereby rendering them ineffective against traditional energy weapons. Lightsabers are melee weapons but can also be thrown for a ranged attack and recalled through ], a basic ] skill. There are many different forms of ], including (but not limited to) Darth Vader's Form V, which is a combination of two other Forms, Form II and Form III. There is also the basic ''Way of the Sarlacc'' or Form I, the first one learned in ] training. Average in defense as well as offense, it is the most common stance. Last is the 'light' style, emphasizing quick, brutal slashing attacks, but relatively low damage.
Over the years, advancements in technology have allowed for the creation of increasingly immersive and realistic lightsaber replicas. One notable development in this regard is the introduction of neopixel lightsabers, which have revolutionized the lightsaber replica market by utilizing a strip of individually addressable RGB LEDs encased within a durable ] blade. This design allows for a higher level of control over the lightsaber's appearance and behavior.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://superneox.com/blogs/guides/what-is-neopixel-lightsabers | title=More Info You May Want To Know About Neopixel Lightsabers | website=Superneox | language=en | access-date=2023-09-27 | archive-date=September 27, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230927150346/https://superneox.com/blogs/guides/what-is-neopixel-lightsabers | url-status=live }}</ref>


==== Disney Parks ====
There are also the more 'exotic' ways of wielding the lightsaber as a weapon, such as the rare double-bladed lightsaber style, as seen used by Darth Maul in Episode I: The Phantom Menace. One of the rarest styles of lightsaber use is dual-wielding them. Used briefly in Episode II: Attack of The Clones and in Episode III: Revenge of the Sith by the young Anakin Skywalker, as well as in an animated miniseries, this style incorporates blinding fast attacks and devastating sweeps, but each individual swing is weak and easily deflected. While not really unique styles, some more experienced ] choose to wield their lightsabers in non-conventional ways, such as backhanded or half-backhanded like Jedi Master, ].
] in California sells lightsaber-themed ]s outside its '']'' attraction.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.popsugar.com/food/Star-Wars-Lightsaber-Churros-Disneyland-43518052|title=Disneyland Now Has Sparkly Lightsaber Churros, and We Need Them ASAP|first=Victoria|last=Messina|publisher=]|date=May 9, 2017|access-date=May 11, 2017|archive-date=May 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170510152745/https://www.popsugar.com/food/Star-Wars-Lightsaber-Churros-Disneyland-43518052|url-status=live}}</ref>


Disneyland and Disney World (Hollywood Studios) also sell legacy lightsabers which are replicas of the lightsabers seen used by the Jedi, Sith, and other warriors in the movies and television shows such as Darth Vader, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Rey Skywalker, Count Dooku, and Kylo Ren.<ref>{{cite web | title=Dok-Ondar's Den of Antiquities | website=disneyland.disney.go.com | url=https://disneyland.disney.go.com/shops/disneyland/dok-ondars-den-of-antiquities/ | access-date=11 March 2024 | archive-date=September 20, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190920115249/https://disneyland.disney.go.com/shops/disneyland/dok-ondars-den-of-antiquities/ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>Archived at {{cbignore}} and the {{cbignore}}: {{Citation|title=All Star Wars Legacy Lightsabers Review Dok Ondar Galaxy's Edge Walt Disney World|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vk6lXy2q8so|language=en|access-date=2020-03-18}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
===Construction details===


Disneyland and Hollywood Studios also offer Savi's Workshop, a place where guests can build their own lightsaber and choose their own kyber crystal, thereby changing the blade color of their own unique lightsaber.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://disneyland.disney.go.com/shops/disneyland/savis-workshop-handbuilt-lightsabers/|title=Savi's Workshop – Handbuilt Lightsabers|website=Disneyland|language=en|access-date=2020-03-18|archive-date=April 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200420234542/https://disneyland.disney.go.com/shops/disneyland/savis-workshop-handbuilt-lightsabers/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>Archived at {{cbignore}} and the {{cbignore}}: {{Citation|title=FULL Savi's Workshop Custom Handbuilt Lightsaber Experience in Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpxBJxVht00|language=en|access-date=2020-03-18}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Savi's Workshop - Handbuilt Lightsabers |url=https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/shops/hollywood-studios/savis-workshop-handbuilt-lightsabers/ |website=Walt Disney World |access-date=April 15, 2020}}</ref>
The lightsaber is made up of a short polished metallic cylindrical tube (usually around 30 centimetres) that emits a beam of pure antiprotons that acts as a ] blade.
All lightsabers contain some common basic components


Besides Savi's Workshop, there is another custom lightsaber experience. The Star Trader at Disneyland offers guests a chance to build their own lightsabers, without first paying 200 dollars for the experience.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Star Trader |url=https://disneyland.disney.go.com/shops/disneyland/star-trader/ |website=Disneyland |access-date=April 15, 2020 |archive-date=August 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803043202/https://disneyland.disney.go.com/shops/disneyland/star-trader/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* A handgrip
* An activation stud plate, button, switch, or internal Force-activated mechanism
* A safety or ]
* An emitter matrix
* A primary crystal (which gives the blade its hue, Adegan or Ilum crystals are most commenly used)
* Up to two secondary crystals which produce different effects
* A lens assembly (focusing crystals)
* A blade-length adjuster (only on Dual-Phase Lightsabers)
* A power cell
* An Energy Gate
* A power conduit
* A recharge socket
* cycling field energizers
* A belt ring (optional)


=== Attractions ===
Lightsabers are powered from the control studs by a circuits channel and focusing crystal found only in nature on the planet ]. Before 1,000 ], the ] also used crystals from the planet ]. This appears to be a matter of tradition rather than necessity, as there are many examples of crystals from elsewhere in the galaxy being used effectively in lightsabers, particularly with the revival of Jedi Order after the downfall of the Empire. Since the ] control the supply of suitable crystals, the Sith use synthetic crystals that generate a red blade. Some of the early Sith had other blade colors, but as fallen ] they might have re-used the crystals of their old lightsabers. ] has ] using a synthetic crystal in his lightsaber construction. Luke built a lightsaber with a green blade, implying that the Sith intentionally construct their crystals to produce a red blade. Green blades can also be created from Corusca Gems from the gaseous planet of ] (] used a Corusca gem for his lightsaber) or any green-hued crystal capable of withstanding the strains of having so much power flow through them. This is true of other hues, as well. Natural crystals are usually prefered to synthetic, as there have been instances of synthetic crystals failing at unfortunate times, as happened to ] in ].
The '']'' is a live show where children are selected to learn the teachings of the ] Knights, ], and the basics of Lightsaber combat to become ]. The show is present at the ] stage next to ] attraction at ] and at the ] at Disneyland.
Additionally, ] has incorporated lightsaber training for each guest aboard the spacecraft during their stay. The training is led by the Saja cast members and teaches the fourth form of lightsaber combat, Ataru, to the guests. Both lightsabers and shields are used during training since the guests learn to use Ataru to deflect incoming projectiles. There is no lightsaber-to-lightsaber combat in this attraction and guests must be at least seven years old to participate.<ref>{{cite web |title=Experience Highlights During Your Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Adventure |url=https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/star-wars-galactic-starcruiser/experience-highlights/ |access-date=17 October 2022 |archive-date=October 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221017221027/https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/star-wars-galactic-starcruiser/experience-highlights/ |url-status=live }}</ref>


=== Similar weapons ===
The ''Dual-Phase Lightsaber'' used crystals that handle differing power level requirements. These are wired to the diatium power cell, which acts like an energy source for the lightsaber. The hilt of this lightsaber rotates in such a way that it aligns the crystals, which doubles the length of the lightsaber and changes the color. Users of this lightsaber type include Anakin Skywalker, Micah Giiett, Gantoris, and ].
The ] ] '']'' involves the player using two lightsabers in order to slash a series of oncoming cubes.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.windowscentral.com/beat-saber-everything-we-know-about-vr-rhythm-game|title=Beat Saber: Everything we know about the VR rhythm game|last=Hunt|first=Cale|date=April 5, 2018|website=Windows Central|access-date=May 9, 2018|archive-date=January 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120222745/https://www.windowscentral.com/beat-saber-everything-we-know-about-vr-rhythm-game|url-status=live}}</ref>


In ], the main character, Rider RX also known as Kotaro Minami, uses his lightsaber-ish weapon "Revolcane" to fight the Crisis Empire, a terrorist organization.
A ''Double-Bladed Lightsaber'' or ''Lightstaff'' is essentially two lightsabers in a single oversized hilt. It is a very difficult weapon to handle, but extremely dangerous in the hands of a master. Notable users of double-bladed lightsabers are the Sith Lord ] and Sith apprentice ]. Kun's lightsaber was both double-bladed and dual-phase.


In Saban's Masked Rider, the main character, known as Dex Stewart, uses his lightsaber-ish weapon "Electro Saber" to fight Masked Rider's foes.{{Citationneeded|date=May 2024}}
When the activator is pushed, internal power cells create ] energy and the blade is focused from the crystal. A tight beam of anti-protons appears on command, which is focused through one, two, or three multi-faceted crystals. The activation button energizes the weapon forming a positively charged shaft of coherent packets of anti-proton energy about a meter long. The anti-protons are attracted back to the saber hilt by a negatively charged, high-energy flux aperture. The anti-proton packets are recycled to create the glowing blade by a power cell ]. The saber hums and scintillates with a distinct sound and has a shimmering blade. The entire functioning processes are completely contained and self-regenerative. Lightsabers only lose power when they come in contact with other objects, and thus can last nearly indefinitely.
==== Parodies ====
In the 1987 film '']'' by ], "the Schwartz" is a play on "]", from ''Star Wars''. The lightsabers emanate from the Schwartz-rings, rather than a hilt. The cartoon series '']'' features many lightsaber-style weapons, notably expanding batons used by police. The batons glow and "whoosh" with a lightsaber's distinctive hum, but are used to beat people. In Jim Butcher's '']'' novel series, medical examiner and ''Star Wars'' fan ] wields one of the three holy Swords of the Cross, which re-fashions itself into a lightsaber upon accepting him as its owner. In ]'s '']'' ] trilogy, main antagonist ] wields a lightsaber built into their prosthetic arm, to which they are berated for copyright infringement by ]; in the ] '']'', this same lightsaber is instead depicted as a flaming mechanical '']'' wielded by ].


=== Games ===
In reality anti-protons are negatively charged so, the shaft should be negatively-charged and they should be attracted back using a positively-charged, high-energy flux aperture.
With the advent of ] ]s, players were given the opportunity to wield an in-game lightsaber with their own hands. In the ], there were several ] available on the ] ('']'', '']'', '']'', '']'' and '']'') and one on the ] ('']'') that utilized motion controls to wield a lightsaber through arm gestures. ''Unleashed'' and ''Duels'', both developed by ], have more precise control of the lightsaber, allowing players to swing it in any of five different directions (up, down, left, right or forward) with the ], while ''Kinect'' takes advantage of ] to grant the player a more fluid, one-to-one control method of swinging the lightsaber.


Prior to the seventh generation, there were also a few earlier ''Star Wars'' games that used gesture-based control to simulate lightsaber combat, such as the two bonus levels of the ] '']'', where the player controls Luke Skywalker as he wields his lightsaber against ] and Darth Vader in ''Return of the Jedi'' by pushing a joystick in one of eight directions to follow on-screen offensive and defensive cues,<ref name="SWTA overview at AllGame">{{cite web|title=Lightsaber|url=https://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=15820|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140101010101/https://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=15820|archive-date=2014-01-01|url-status=dead|website=] | first=Christopher Michael | last=Baker | access-date=August 24, 2014}}</ref> and a ] released around the time ''Revenge of the Sith'' came to theaters, titled ''Star Wars: Saga Edition – Lightsaber Battle Game'', in which the player swings a lightsaber-shaped controller to deflect blaster bolts from infantry (such as ] and ]s) and duel against characters from across the saga.
The typical design of the hilt is generally a straight tube. ] however, preferred a curved hilt, better suited for a dueling style similar to fencing.


By the time ] purchased Lucasfilm, new technological advances made ] possible, leading to the creation of some more notable motion-controlled lightsaber video games that took advantage of that feature. One of them came in the form of a special activity mode in the official ''Star Wars'' fan app on ] and ] in which players use their smartphone's motion sensors to practice and master blaster deflection with a training droid (which appears on the phone's rear camera), similar to the deflection training exercises featured aboard the '']'' in ''A New Hope'', while progressing through the ranks of the Jedi or Sith order. Another is in ''Star Wars: Jedi Challenges'', which works with a Lenovo Mirage AR headset, a tracking sensor and a dedicated lightsaber controller that launched in December 2017. One of the multiple game modes available in ''Challenges'', which was jointly developed by Disney and ], enables players to confront ''Star Wars'' villains in lightsaber duels, such as Darth Maul and Kylo Ren.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/08/31/star-wars-jedi-challenges-augmented-reality-game-launches-with-lenovo-mirage-headset.html|title=Lenovo, Disney launch ''Star Wars'' Jedi aurgmented reality game that lets you use a real lightsaber|first=Arjun|last=Kharpal|date=August 31, 2017|publisher=]|access-date=October 23, 2017|archive-date=July 28, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180728071352/https://www.cnbc.com/2017/08/31/star-wars-jedi-challenges-augmented-reality-game-launches-with-lenovo-mirage-headset.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
]'s lightsaber during the ]]


==See also==
Also, according to the ] novel '']'', there were myths at one point that the lightsaber was powered by the ]'s connection to the ]. However, records preserved by ]'s grandfather Rostek Horn indicate that the Force is only used at the end of construction. Once all the pieces are assembled, the ] uses the ] to meld them on a molecular or lower level, permitting unheard-of energy efficiency. This efficiency is what allows the blades to remain lit and active for long periods of time. The only real energy drain is when the blade comes into contact with something.
{{Portal|Speculative fiction|Film}}
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* '']''


== References ==
]'s lightsaber from The Phantom Menace]]
'''Footnotes'''
Sometimes certain events necessitated a change in a ]'s preferred weapon. A ] would modify the lightsaber or construct a new one to suit the demands of the situation at hand, such as with ] and his lightsaber after the ]. It is, however, an unrevealed occurrence (though hinted to involve an experience with the Dark Side) that made him build a new lightsaber in the ten-year period between '']'' and '']''.
{{notelist}}


'''Citations'''
In addition, in ''Knights of the Old Republic'', the sabers can be improved with the installation of certain crystals, lens, emitters and power cells.
{{Reflist|30em}}
<br clear=all>


==External links==
===Concordance of Fealty===
{{Commons category|Lightsabers}}
]
*{{Star Wars Databank|subject=lightsaber|text = Lightsaber}}
''"Master ], I have something to return to you. It is a product of your own hands, which you once entrusted to mine. In returning this lightsaber, I return your trust."'' --Master ]
* {{Wookieepedia|Lightsaber}}
*
*


{{Star Wars universe|state=collapsed}}
The ] tradition of entrusting one's lightsaber to a fellow member of the order is called the Concordance of Fealty. This exchange represents a bond between companions of ] and imparts a sense of support in battle. A Jedi is graced by such a gesture from a respected friend.


]
==Lightsaber effects in the movies==

The original film prop hilts were constructed from old camera-flash battery packs. The 'switched-on' sword props were designed with the intention of creating an 'in-camera' glowing effect. The 'blade' was three-sided and coated with a ] array -- the same sort used for ]. A lamp was positioned to the side of the taking camera and reflected towards the subject through 45-degree angled glass so that the sword would appear to glow from the camera's point-of-view. A motor in the hilt caused the blade to spin so that a reflective surface was always presented directly to the camera. This also created the familiar 'flickering' effect. Ultimately, this process yielded unsatisfactory results and animation was employed to enhance the brightness of the sabers. It was at this point that the artistic decision was made to assign different colors to the blades.

For '']'', the lightsaber-blade props were simple white rods and the glow effect was achieved entirely through animation (a special kind of animation called '']'' in which animation is drawn over live footage to maintain precision).

For '']'' and the later movies, the hilts were custom machined from aluminum. In place of the glowing blade, carbon rods were used as blade reference during fight scenes. In the first two prequel films, they upgraded to resin "stunt" handles and aluminum tubes. For the final film of the Star Wars saga, '']'', the aluminum was replaced by a carbon-fiber blend specifically manufactured for the production.

In the original trilogy, the 'glow' effect was hand-drawn animation superimposed on the film, using the prop as a guide. In the later prequel movies, the blades were created digitally. Many have commented that the lightsabers in the DVD release look worse than the original - blaming the advanced remastering algorithm used to prepare the films for a digital release. Luke's saber on board the '']'' in episode IV was for most of the scene not colored at all and remained white; however, in a true special effects gaffe, in a short shot where it ''was'' colored it was green rather than the bluish color it had earlier in the movie.

In some circumstances, the props cause a goof: they cast their shadow on floor, while the energy 'blade' shouldn't.

It is interesting to note that along with the shadows goof there is poor lighting throughout the star wars saga in regards to the light the sabers themselves cast. More often than not, the only time light is cast across a face as the saber comes towards it is when that face is of a digital character, such as Yoda in Episodes II and III. Usually when a saber passes by a human figure there is very little glow cast across the figure or face. This is a huge compositing mistake when one thinks about ILM's reputation as a top FX house.

Creators of ] have used various techniques for creating the coveted "lightsaber effect," most of which involve programs such as ], ], ], ], ], or ].

The characteristic sound was, of course, added later by the sound effects team, but ] mouthed his own lightsaber noises before being asked to 'leave it to the professionals' when filming '']''. ] and ] did the same. The characteristic lightsaber sound is a combination of a film projector's light and interference caused by a television on an unshielded audio cable.

Arguably one of the most lusted-after props in film history, various toy replicas have been released, ranging from essentially a ] with a plastic tube attached, to of the original film props, complete with motion-sensitive sound effects, and colored blade. Reproducing the beam of pure energy boasted by the originals still seems to be some time off, however.

==Lightsabers of Jedi and Sith==
Except where noted, standard single-bladed sabers are used. (''Italicized'' sabers were temporary loans rather than their usual saber.)

===Old Republic Era===
*]: green
*]: blue and double-bladed blue
*]: green, blue, red, yellow
*]: green
*]: purple
*]: green
*]: green
*]: crimson
*]: red
*]: red
*]: yellow, double-bladed yellow, double-bladed red
*]: red, blue
*]: green
*]: red
*]: red, purple
*]: red
*]: red
*]: red, purple
*]: blue
*]: double-bladed red
*]: blue

====Prequel Trilogy Era====
*]: green, blue,
*]: blue
*]: green
*]: red
*]: short-bladed green
*]: blue, purple
*]: yellow-orange, blue
*]: crimson, blue, green
*]: purple, green, blue
*]: blue
*]: red
*]: yellow
*]: blue
*]: blue
*]: purple
*]: green
*]: green
*]: pink, blue
*]: green
*]: blue
*]: green, blue
*]: blue/purple, green
*]: green
*]: blue
*]: green, red
*]: double-bladed red
*]: blue, red (curved hilt)
*]: red
*]: blue, red
*]: blue
*]: blue
*]: green

===Original Trilogy Era===
*]: red
*]: blue, green
*]: blue

====New Republic Era====
*]: green, ''yellow'', blue
*]: purple, red-purple
*]: purple, blue
*]: green
*]: purple
*]: purple
*]: silver, becomes purple when the duel-phase is used
*]: green, blue, ruby red
*]: turquoise
*]: orange
*]: bronze
*]: blue
*]: red
*]: red

==Lightsaber-like devices in other contexts==
*]'s '']'', which was a major source of inspiration for the Star Wars universe, mentions force field penknives in the Traders' possession, as well as various other force field based cutting tools, likely to have been the inspiration for lightsabers.
*In ]'s '']'' series of books, "variable-swords" are mentioned. The variable-sword uses a monomolecular filament, reinforced by a stasis field that makes it perfectly rigid and able to cut through virtually any material (except another stasis field, and thus the blade of another variable-sword), which is capable of being wound and unwound from the handle in a way similar to a variable-length lightsaber.
*In the '']'' series, beam saber and numerous variant (beam shield, beam katana, beam axe and etc.) are all main melee weapons of mobile suits. Sometimes these sabers can also be shooting beams. In essence, this is achieved by contained energized particles (in UC Gundam, minovsky particles, the same type used for mega particle cannon) in an energy field (in UC Gundam the I-field, the same field used to block beam attacks). Thus, this came to be the other reason why beam sabers cannot slash another beam sabers, as the beam had essentially hit an anti-beam field.
*In the '']'' series, the main protagonist, Tenchi Masaki, comes into possession of the Tenchi-ken ('Sword Tenchi' in the English language version), a sword hilt with an extendable energy blade. A few other characters (Ryoko, Kagato, and Washu Hakubi) are capable of producing generating similar energy blades from their hands. These blades have the same activation sound effect as Star Wars lightsabers.
*In the OAV '']'', the character, Yuri, utilizes an energy sword with a retractible blade (which occasionally runs out of power due to its utilizing a battery-like power cartridge) as her weapon of choice.
*In the '']'' series, the ninja Rokushou Aoi utilizes the Raijin no Ken (] Sword) which has a hilt shaped like a ] and has an extendible energy blade. In addition, the blade has a similar hum when swung.
*In '']'', the main character, as well as many ], may use a light-saber like weapon called the ].
*In '']'', the main character can use a light-saber like weapon called a laser rapier.
*]'s '']'' ] series character ] wields a lightsaber-like sword called the 'Beam/Z Saber'.
*]'s '']'' ] series contains, as an item/weapon, a 'Beam Sword', which also resembles a lightsaber. The 'Beam Sword' had a lightsaber like sound until it was changed for fear of legal action against ].
*The ] hero of the '']'' animated series wields a combined laser pistol / energy sword (handy for switching between hand-to-hand and ranged combat when battling multiple foes!)
*In '']'', the player can wield a ''Plasma Energy Sword'' which was used only by ]s in '']''. Like a lightsaber, the Energy Sword is simply a metallic hilt until activated.
*In the game '']'', one of the bonus weapons that Heather can find is called a "Beam Saber", essentially a lightsaber with a yellow-green blade.
*In The '']'', the main character (known only as the "Guardian of Earth") can obtain a light-saber-style powerup (referred to as a "saber-laser") that can remain active as long as there are plenty of power chips available to feed it. Later on in the game, a double-bladed version of this same power-up (known as a "cutter-laser") is available.
*In the 1980's cartoon '']'', Thundarr wields the 'fabulous Sunsword'.
*In the game '']'', players can find and wield 'Photon Swords' that come in different colors, similar to lightsabers. They use green, blue, pink, red and yellow swords and players can find different varieties of such weapons in different sizes. Double-ended lightsabers are in the game as well. Just about every weapon in the game contains a lightsaber glow somewhere on it, usually at the blade area for melee weapons.
*In the game '']'' a weapon named "]" may be obtained. It is a blue glowing sword that grows in strength as the wielder grows in strength. In the Hindu epic '']'', the word "atma" or "atman" refers to soul or one's spirit. A townsperson in the game mentions that the weapon changes depending on the spirit of its wielder. This has led a number of players to conjecture that the Atma Weapon is energy-based, like the lightsaber.
*In the ] ], '']'', published by ], one of the most powerful melee weapons available is the star sword. This weapon creates a ] in the shape of a sword and fills it with white-hot ].
*In '']'', when Juny was getting gadgets to get ready to go save their mom and dad, Juny grabbed a small lightsaber type thing. It was like a lightsaber pocket-knife
*In the ] '']'', a lightsaber is hidden as a secret item and is the most powerful weapon available.
*In the Star Wars parody '']'' there are two Rings of the Schwartz which can emit a lightsaber-like blade.
*In an episode of '']'', a villian named Payback used a lightsaber-like whip as a weapon, which was actually a sculpting tool.
*In '']'' movie the knife they use to cut toast with is similar to a small lightsaber.
*In the ] '']'' series those of the "Blood Royal" are capable of wielding the "bloodsword" which has a silver handle from which a long blue blade of energy emerges.
*In the video game '']'', the E.S. Simeon, a boss in the game, uses an attack called "Beam Saber", which looks and sounds like a lightsaber.
*In an episode of '']'', Dr. Venture sells a lightsaber he made, saying that ] didn't want to pay for the concept because it was far too expensive for children to afford. When actually used, the saber does generate a blade of light, but not one powerful enough to cut anything.
*In the computer game '']'', ] and the ] uses a beamed sword and swing at their opponents, just like the lightsabers.
*In Disney's '']'', the ninjas in the opening sequence wield energy swords similar to a lightsaber.
*In the Playstation2 game '']'', 3 varieties of a weapon called "Light Saber" may be obtained. The colors vary from green, blue, and red depending of the rarity of the weapon.
*In '']'', a hidden light sword can be found in a secret area. The sword has a yellow sickle blade and inflicts maximum damage to enemies while also draining the stamina of the player-character.
*The '']'' villain ] sometimes is seen wielding a "Flame saber" which looks and functions like a lightsaber. The only real difference is the blade's fire-based nature.
*In Stephen King's novel '']'', the fifth installment of his ], the titular Wolves carrying with them what the villagers of Calla Bryn Sturgis call "light-sticks". Gunslinger ] later notices these were none other than ] that characters like ], ] and ] wield in the original '']''.
*In the ] movie '']'', ] parodies Star Wars when he fights Cock Knocker (played by ]) in a "bong saber" battle.

==External links==
* An Article from the actual website.
* a tongue-in-cheek article on ]
* on the ] Microflash
* Galactic Lightsaber Reference Archive
* , (26 July 2001, E! Online) ] suing Minrad Inc. over copyright of Light Saber name on their laser medical equipment

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] ]
] ]
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Latest revision as of 13:51, 27 December 2024

Fictional sword For the song, see Lightsaber (song).

Lightsaber
Star Wars franchise element
Lightsaber with blue beamObi-Wan Kenobi's lightsaber
PublisherLucasfilm
First appearanceStar Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977)
Created byGeorge Lucas
GenreScience fiction
In-universe information
TypeEnergy sword
Function
Affiliation

A lightsaber is a fictional energy sword featured throughout Star Wars. A typical lightsaber is shown as a luminous laser sword about 3 feet (0.91 m) in length emitted from a metal hilt around 10.5 inches (27 cm) in length. First introduced in the original Star Wars film, it has since appeared in all 12 theatrical Star Wars films, with at least one lightsaber duel occurring in each installment of the "Skywalker saga". The lightsaber's distinct appearance was created using rotoscoping for the original films, and with digital effects for the prequel and sequel trilogies.

In the Star Wars universe, the lightsaber is the signature weapon of the light-side-wielding Jedi Order and the dark-side-wielding Sith Order. However, the lightsaber can also be wielded by non-Force-sensitive characters as an ordinary weapon or tool. The Jedi use different colored lightsabers. The most common lightsaber colors are blue and green, but other colors also exist, those being purple, white, black, and yellow. The Sith wield exclusively red-bladed sabers to distinguish themselves from the Jedi. The color of a lightsaber's blade is given by kyber crystals. A kyber crystal has no color until it is approached by a Jedi. It then turns into a color determined by the wielder's connection to the Force. A lightsaber's hilt is built by its wielder and is, therefore, unique in design. There are several variations outside of the traditional single-bladed lightsaber, such as the double-bladed lightsaber (most famously wielded by Darth Maul), the curved-hilted lightsaber (wielded by Asajj Ventress and most famously by Count Dooku), crossguard lightsabers (used by Kylo Ren and occasionally by Jedi), and the Darksaber, forged by the Mandalorian Jedi Tarre Vizsla, but primarily wielded by the non-Force-sensitive Mandalorian rulers of Mandalore (including Pre Vizsla, Maul, Bo-Katan Kryze, Moff Gideon, and Din Djarin).

As presented in the early films, a lightsaber's energy blade can cut, burn, and melt through most substances with little resistance. It leaves cauterized wounds in flesh, but can be deflected by another lightsaber blade, by energy shields, or by the metal beskar (found in Mandalorian armor) and phrik (the metal used to create electrostaffs). The blade has even been used as a tool to weld metal. Other times, the lightsaber has been shown to cause bleeding wounds in the flesh, sometimes accompanied by burns. Some exotic saber-proof melee weapons have been introduced in the Expanded Universe as well as later episodic films. Lightsabers can also deflect blaster bolts, allowing a wielder with Jedi reflexes to turn an enemy's own gunfire against them. An active lightsaber gives off a distinctive hum, which rises in pitch and volume as the blade is moved rapidly through the air. Bringing the blade into contact with another lightsaber's blade produces a loud crackle.

The lightsaber has become one of the most widely recognized elements of the Star Wars franchise. In 2008, a survey of approximately 2,000 film fans found it to be the most popular weapon in film history.

Prop construction

Covered with millions of tiny glass beads, has the property of reflecting light directly back to its source. It's the same material used for reflective road signs .

—Special Effects: An Introduction to Movie Magic

For the original Star Wars film, the film prop hilts were constructed by John Stears from old Graflex press camera flash battery packs and other pieces of hardware. The full-sized sword props were designed to appear ignited onscreen, by later creating an "in-camera" glowing effect in post-production. The blade is a three-sided rod which was coated with a Scotchlite retroreflector array, the same sort used for highway signs. A lamp was positioned to the side of the taking camera and reflected towards the subject through 45-degree angled glass so that the sword would appear to glow from the camera's point of view.

Set decorator Roger Christian found the handles for the Graflex Flash Gun in a photography shop in Great Marlborough Street, in London's West End. He then added cabinet T-track to the handles, securely attaching them with cyanoacrylate glue. Adding a few "greebles" (surface details), Christian managed to hand-make the first prototype of a lightsaber prop for Luke Skywalker before production began. George Lucas decided he wanted to add a clip to the handle, so that Luke could hang it on his belt. Once Lucas felt the handle was up to his standards, it went to John Stears to create the wooden dowel rod with front-projection paint so that the animators would have a glow of light to enhance later on in post production. Due to lack of preparation time, Christian's prototype and a second spare were used for the shooting in Tunisia, where filming on Star Wars began. It was discovered, however, that the glowing effect was greatly dependent on the rod's orientation to the camera, and during the Obi-Wan Kenobi/Darth Vader duel, they could clearly be seen as rods. Because of this, the glow would be added in post-production through rotoscoping, which also allowed for diffusion to be employed to enhance the glow.

While original trilogy hilts were typically constructed using found parts, during the prequel and sequel trilogies a different process was sometimes used. Hilts were first machined out of metal materials. Then casts would be made using the metal hilts to create resin copies that were used on screen. The resin was often molded over a metal rod that a dueling blade could be attached to for fight sequences.

Visual effects

Korean animator Nelson Shin, who was working for DePatie–Freleng Enterprises at the time, was asked by his manager if he could animate the lightsaber in the live-action scenes of a film. After Shin accepted the assignment, the live-action footage was given to him. He drew the lightsabers with a rotoscope, an animation which was superimposed onto the footage of the physical lightsaber blade prop. Shin explained to the people from Lucasfilm that since a lightsaber is made of light, the sword should look "a little shaky" like a fluorescent tube. He suggested inserting one frame that was much lighter than the others while printing the film on an optical printer, making the light seem to vibrate. Shin also recommended adding a degausser sound on top of the other sounds for the weapon since the sound would be reminiscent of a magnetic field. The whole process took one week, surprising his company. Lucasfilm showed Shin the finished product, having followed his suggestions to use an X-Acto knife to give the lightsaber a very sharp look, and to have sound accompany the weapon's movements.

Sound

The lightsaber sound effect was developed by sound designer Ben Burtt as a combination of the hum of idling interlock motors in aged movie projectors and interference caused by a television set on a shieldless microphone. Burtt discovered the latter accidentally as he was looking for a buzzing, sparking sound to add to the projector-motor hum.

The pitch changes of lightsaber movement were produced by playing the basic lightsaber tone on a loudspeaker and recording it on a moving microphone, generating Doppler shift to mimic a moving sound source.

Depiction

Lightsabers were present in the earliest drafts as mundane plasma weapons that were used alongside laser guns. The introduction of the Force in a later revision made the Jedi and the Sith supernaturally skilled; initially, they were only portrayed as swordsmen. The lightsaber became the Force-user's tool, described in A New Hope by Obi-Wan Kenobi as "not as clumsy or random as a blaster. An elegant weapon, from a more civilized age". The source of a lightsaber's power is a kyber crystal. These crystals are also the power source of the Death Star's superlaser.

In films such as Revenge of the Sith and The Last Jedi, melee weapons such as the electrostaff and plasma-lined blades deflect lightsabers.

Types

Lightsabers are depicted as hand-built as part of a Jedi's or Sith's training regimen. Each lightsaber is unique, though some may bear resemblance to others, especially if there is a connection between the builders. The hilt of most lightsabers are straight and predominantly cylindrical, though there are other lightsaber hilt types. The first film appearance of a dual-bladed lightsaber (first depicted in the comic series Tales of the Jedi) was in The Phantom Menace, wielded by Darth Maul; it consists of two regular lightsabers joined at their butt ends each producing a blade independently. Count Dooku, beginning with the character's first appearance in Attack of the Clones, is shown to have a lightsaber with a curved hilt. The video game Star Wars: The Force Unleashed introduced two other variants: a lightsaber pike (a lightsaber with a shorter blade but a long handle, resembling a spear) and a Tonfa-style lightsaber with right-angle hilt. Additionally, in several spin-off series such as The Clone Wars and Rebels, special variants of the lightsaber have been depicted - such as the lightsaber-blaster wielded by Ezra Bridger.

The Star Wars expanded universe adds several lightsaber types, including short and dual-phase (adjustable length) weapons. In Star Wars Rebels, Ezra Bridger's original lightsaber is a hybrid that features a fully functional blaster pistol built into the handle. Kylo Ren, introduced in The Force Awakens, uses a lightsaber that features two crosshilt blades, giving it the appearance of a greatsword. His blade also has an unstable, fiery appearance, explained in canon reference books as stemming from a cracked kyber crystal. The Inquisitors of the Galactic Empire are depicted as wielding a unique variation of a double-bladed saber, mounted on a rotating ring enabling the blades 360 degrees of rotation and short-term flight capability. More obscure lightsaber variations, such as the "lightwhip", an elongated flexible blade used in a matter akin to a whip, the "lightclub", an enlarged standard lightsaber, and the "shoto", a dramatically smaller variation often paired with a standard sized saber have also made appearances.

Colors

Lightsabers in the first two released films, A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back, had blades that were either blue (for the Jedi) or red (for the Sith). Luke Skywalker's new lightsaber in Return of the Jedi was colored blue during the initial editing of the film, and appears so in both an early movie trailer and the official theatrical posters; it was later changed to green in the film's final edit after initial viewings and screen tests by the filmmakers, who felt that it would better stand out against the blue sky of Tatooine in outdoor scenes, and this color change is also reflected in the film's re-release posters. Mace Windu's purple-bladed lightsaber, as first seen in Attack of the Clones, was requested by the actor Samuel L. Jackson, who believed the color, which is his personal favorite, would make his character be easily recognized among other Jedi. Jackson is known to frequently request that the characters he plays use an item that is purple in color. The Clone Wars showed the guardians of the Jedi Temple wielding yellow-bladed lightsabers, and, at the end of The Rise of Skywalker, Rey is shown to have built a yellow-bladed lightsaber using part of her staff as the hilt.

As depicted in The Clone Wars and Rebels, the builder of a lightsaber finds a kyber crystal and meditates with it until the crystal acquires a color. The color of this crystal becomes the blade's color when installed into a lightsaber hilt. In the book Star Wars: Ahsoka and the comic series Darth Vader: Dark Lord of the Sith, it is shown that dark side users remove the crystal from a defeated Jedi's lightsaber and concentrate Force energy on it to break its connection to the light side, a process known as "bleeding" to create a red crystal. The process can also be reversed, as shown in Ahsoka, when the titular character does so to a pair of crystals taken from an Inquisitor. She uses them in the pair of white-bladed lightsabers she builds at the end of the novel.

Other colors have appeared in various expanded media projects, including many video games where the player can select their character's lightsaber color.

Darksaber

The Darksaber is a unique lightsaber that has a distinct black blade with a white halo, introduced in Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008) and subsequently appearing in Star Wars Rebels, where it is described as an ancient lightsaber created by Tarre Vizla, the first Mandalorian to become a Jedi, and later serves as a symbol of Mandalorian authority in the hands of Bo-Katan Kryze. It subsequently appears briefly in the hands of Moff Gideon in the season one finale of The Mandalorian, to whom Kryze had previously surrendered the weapon. By the end of the second season's finale, it belongs to series protagonist Din Djarin, who has bested Gideon for it. In the second episode of the third season of the show, the weapon (nominally) returns to Kryze's ownership, after she defeats a cyborg creature that captures Djarin (it remains in Din Djarin's possession, however), and she officially reclaims the blade in the season's sixth episode. It is destroyed by Gideon in the third season finale.

Choreography

The technical lightsaber choreography for the original Star Wars trilogy was developed by Hollywood sword-master Bob Anderson. Anderson personally trained Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker) and, in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, performed all the stunts as Darth Vader during the lightsaber duels wearing Vader's costume. Anderson's role in the trilogy was highlighted in the film Reclaiming the Blade where he shared his experiences as a fencer developing the lightsaber techniques for the three original movies.

The lightsaber duels in the Star Wars prequel trilogy were specifically choreographed by stunt-coordinator Nick Gillard to be miniature "stories". For these films, Gillard was the primary sword instructor for Liam Neeson (Qui-Gon Jinn), Ewan McGregor (Obi-Wan Kenobi), Ray Park (Darth Maul) and Hayden Christensen (Anakin Skywalker / Darth Vader) among other actors. His goal in choreographing the action for The Phantom Menace was to create stunts that flow from the story; "You can't just think, 'I'm a stunt coordinator, I'm going to make a big stunt happen'," Gillard said. "It's all about making it tie in nicely with the film so that you don't notice the stunts."

In writing the prequel trilogy, George Lucas said he wanted the lightsaber combat to be "reminiscent of what had been done in the previous films but also something that was more energized. We'd seen old men, young boys, and characters who were half-droid, but we'd never seen a Jedi in his prime. I wanted to do that with a fight that was faster and more dynamic—and we were able to pull that off."

According to Gillard, various lightsaber combat styles were devised for the prequels and intended to further characterize their practitioners.

I developed different styles for the characters, and gave each of them a flaw or a bonus. So with Obi-Wan Kenobi, for instance, he's got a very business-like style—when he was younger he could border on the flashy and might twirl his lightsaber a bit, because he was taught by Qui-Gon. Qui-Gon was brash, that rubbed off on Obi-Wan and Obi-Wan then taught Anakin, who was way too old to learn anyway... I think the style really worked well. The Jedi style of fighting is an amalgamation of all the great swordfighting styles. Melding them together is the difficult part—to move from a Kendo style to, say, rapier requires a complete change in body and feet movement, and this must look effortless. The style moves seamlessly between the different disciplines, but remains technically correct throughout.

For The Phantom Menace, Gillard set out certain styles and faults for the saber-wielding characters. He added that the Jedi's use of such "a short-range weapon" meant "they would have to be very good at it"; combining a variety of disciplines from various sword fighting styles to martial arts "with a touch of tennis and tree chopping", he created the style seen in the Episode I lightsaber battles.

For The Force Awakens, director J. J. Abrams decided to approach the choreography similarly to how it was done in the original trilogy. Abrams stated that the prequel trilogy choreography was "increasingly spectacular and stylized, almost like dance choreography", but that was not what they really wanted to go for in the new films. He told Empire magazine, "When you look at Star Wars and Empire, they are very different lightsaber battles, but for me they felt more powerful because they were not quite as slick. I was hoping to go for something much more primitive, aggressive and rougher, a throwback to the kind of heart-stopping lightsaber fights I remembered being so enthralled by as a kid."

Cultural impact

Lightsaber chopsticks
See also: Cultural impact of Star Wars

Merchandise

Over the years, advancements in technology have allowed for the creation of increasingly immersive and realistic lightsaber replicas. One notable development in this regard is the introduction of neopixel lightsabers, which have revolutionized the lightsaber replica market by utilizing a strip of individually addressable RGB LEDs encased within a durable polycarbonate blade. This design allows for a higher level of control over the lightsaber's appearance and behavior.

Disney Parks

Disneyland in California sells lightsaber-themed churros outside its Star Tours attraction.

Disneyland and Disney World (Hollywood Studios) also sell legacy lightsabers which are replicas of the lightsabers seen used by the Jedi, Sith, and other warriors in the movies and television shows such as Darth Vader, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Rey Skywalker, Count Dooku, and Kylo Ren.

Disneyland and Hollywood Studios also offer Savi's Workshop, a place where guests can build their own lightsaber and choose their own kyber crystal, thereby changing the blade color of their own unique lightsaber.

Besides Savi's Workshop, there is another custom lightsaber experience. The Star Trader at Disneyland offers guests a chance to build their own lightsabers, without first paying 200 dollars for the experience.

Attractions

The Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple is a live show where children are selected to learn the teachings of the Jedi Knights, the Force, and the basics of Lightsaber combat to become Padawan learners. The show is present at the Rebels stage next to Star Tours – The Adventures Continue attraction at Disney's Hollywood Studios and at the Tomorrowland Terrace at Disneyland. Additionally, Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser has incorporated lightsaber training for each guest aboard the spacecraft during their stay. The training is led by the Saja cast members and teaches the fourth form of lightsaber combat, Ataru, to the guests. Both lightsabers and shields are used during training since the guests learn to use Ataru to deflect incoming projectiles. There is no lightsaber-to-lightsaber combat in this attraction and guests must be at least seven years old to participate.

Similar weapons

The virtual reality rhythm game Beat Saber involves the player using two lightsabers in order to slash a series of oncoming cubes.

In Kamen Rider Black RX, the main character, Rider RX also known as Kotaro Minami, uses his lightsaber-ish weapon "Revolcane" to fight the Crisis Empire, a terrorist organization.

In Saban's Masked Rider, the main character, known as Dex Stewart, uses his lightsaber-ish weapon "Electro Saber" to fight Masked Rider's foes.

Parodies

In the 1987 film Spaceballs by Mel Brooks, "the Schwartz" is a play on "the Force", from Star Wars. The lightsabers emanate from the Schwartz-rings, rather than a hilt. The cartoon series Futurama features many lightsaber-style weapons, notably expanding batons used by police. The batons glow and "whoosh" with a lightsaber's distinctive hum, but are used to beat people. In Jim Butcher's Dresden Files novel series, medical examiner and Star Wars fan Waldo Butters wields one of the three holy Swords of the Cross, which re-fashions itself into a lightsaber upon accepting him as its owner. In Yuya Sato's Danganronpa: Togami light novel trilogy, main antagonist Orvin Elevator / Kazuya Togami wields a lightsaber built into their prosthetic arm, to which they are berated for copyright infringement by Genocider Syo / Genocide Jack; in the anime Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope's Peak High School, this same lightsaber is instead depicted as a flaming mechanical katana wielded by Kyosuke Munakata.

Games

With the advent of motion-controlled video games, players were given the opportunity to wield an in-game lightsaber with their own hands. In the seventh generation of video game consoles, there were several Star Wars video games available on the Wii (Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, Star Wars: The Clone Wars – Lightsaber Duels, Star Wars: The Clone Wars – Republic Heroes and Lego Star Wars III: The Clone Wars) and one on the Xbox 360 (Kinect Star Wars) that utilized motion controls to wield a lightsaber through arm gestures. Unleashed and Duels, both developed by Krome Studios, have more precise control of the lightsaber, allowing players to swing it in any of five different directions (up, down, left, right or forward) with the Wii Remote, while Kinect takes advantage of the eponymous, camera-based motion controller to grant the player a more fluid, one-to-one control method of swinging the lightsaber.

Prior to the seventh generation, there were also a few earlier Star Wars games that used gesture-based control to simulate lightsaber combat, such as the two bonus levels of the arcade game Star Wars Trilogy, where the player controls Luke Skywalker as he wields his lightsaber against Boba Fett and Darth Vader in Return of the Jedi by pushing a joystick in one of eight directions to follow on-screen offensive and defensive cues, and a TV game released around the time Revenge of the Sith came to theaters, titled Star Wars: Saga Edition – Lightsaber Battle Game, in which the player swings a lightsaber-shaped controller to deflect blaster bolts from infantry (such as battle droids and clone troopers) and duel against characters from across the saga.

By the time Disney purchased Lucasfilm, new technological advances made augmented reality possible, leading to the creation of some more notable motion-controlled lightsaber video games that took advantage of that feature. One of them came in the form of a special activity mode in the official Star Wars fan app on iOS and Android in which players use their smartphone's motion sensors to practice and master blaster deflection with a training droid (which appears on the phone's rear camera), similar to the deflection training exercises featured aboard the Millennium Falcon in A New Hope, while progressing through the ranks of the Jedi or Sith order. Another is in Star Wars: Jedi Challenges, which works with a Lenovo Mirage AR headset, a tracking sensor and a dedicated lightsaber controller that launched in December 2017. One of the multiple game modes available in Challenges, which was jointly developed by Disney and Lenovo, enables players to confront Star Wars villains in lightsaber duels, such as Darth Maul and Kylo Ren.

See also

References

Footnotes

  1. Later titled Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope
  2. Ki-Adi-Mundi and Saesee Tiin had previously been depicted in spin-off works with purple lightsabers.

Citations

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