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{{About|the ] character}} {{Short description|Fictional character in the Star Wars universe}}
{{About|the ''Star Wars'' character|the infant of the same species|Grogu|other uses}}
{{pp-move|small=yes}}
{{pp|small=yes}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox character {{Infobox character
| name = Yoda
| colour = <!-- headers background colour; the foreground colour is automatically computed -->
| series = ]
| name = Yoda
| image = Yoda Empire Strikes Back.png
| series = ]
| image = Yoda Empire Strikes Back.png | caption = Yoda in '']'' (1980)
| first = {{nbsp}}''The Empire Strikes Back''
| image_upright =
| creator = {{nbsp}}]
| alt =
| voice = {{Plainlist|
| caption = Yoda in '']''
* {{nbsp}}]{{efn|]<br>]<br>]<br>'']''}}
| first = '']'' (1980)
* {{nbsp}}]{{efn|'']'' (series)<br>'']'' (film)<br>'']''<br>'']''<br>'']'' productions<br>Various video games<ref name="Kane" />}}
| last = '']''<br>– "Shroud of Darkness" (2016)
* {{nbsp}}]{{efn|]<ref name="Bilodeau 2022" />}}
| creator =
* {{nbsp}}]{{efn|'']''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Peter McConnell (visual voices guide) |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Peter-McConnell/ |access-date=May 7, 2024 |website=Behind the Voice Actors}}</ref>}}
| portrayer = ] {{small|(puppeteer, ''Episodes I, V-VI'')}}<br />
* {{nbsp}}]{{efn|'']''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Piotr Michael (visual voices guide) |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Piotr-Michael/ |access-date=May 7, 2024 |website=Behind the Voice Actors |archive-date=June 1, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240601023604/https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Piotr-Michael/ |url-status=live }}</ref>}}
<br>] {{small|(costume, uncredited, ''Episode V'')}}<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Making of Yoda|url=http://netdwellers.com/1001/hosting/users/cinesecrets/pmMakingYoda2.html}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Cut Scenes: Dogabah|url=http://www.starwarz.com/tbone/dagobah/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Dogabah Second Unit Still|url=http://forum.rebelscum.com/photogallery/data/500/royasyoda.jpg}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Deep Roy as Yoda|url=http://www.hooverae.com/upload/files/270309/1370117.jpeg}}</ref><br />
* {{nbsp}}]{{efn|'']''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tony Pope (visual voices guide) |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Tony-Pope/ |access-date=May 7, 2024 |website=Behind the Voice Actors |archive-date=June 22, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240622231303/https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Tony-Pope/ |url-status=live }}</ref>}}
] {{small|(costume, uncredited, ''Episode I'')}}<br>] {{small|(puppeteer, '']'')}}
| voice = ] {{small|(''Episodes I-III, V-VII'', '']'', '']'')}}<br>] {{small|('']'' and '']'' radio dramas)}}<br>] {{small|(one episode of '']'')}}<br>] {{small|('']'')}}<br>] {{small|(Read-along storybook CDs)}}<br>] {{small|(various TV shows and video games)}}<br>] {{small|('']'')}}
| lbl1 =
| data1 =
| lbl2 =
| data2 =
| lbl3 =
| data3 =
| info-hdr =
| noinfo =
| fullname = Yoda
| nickname =
| alias =
| species = Unknown
| gender = ]
| occupation = ]
| affiliation = ]<br />]
| title = {{small|Grand Master of the Jedi Order (Episodes I-VI)}}<br />
{{small|Member of the High Jedi Council (Episodes I-III)}}<br />
{{small|General in the Grand Army of the Republic (Episodes II-III)}}
| family =
| spouse = None
| significantother =
| children = None
| relatives =
| religion =
| nationality =
| lbl21 =
| data21 =
| lbl22 =
| data22 =
| lbl23 =
| data23 =
| extra-hdr =
| lbl31 =
| data31 =
| lbl32 =
| data32 =
| lbl33 =
| data33 =
}} }}
| lbl1 = {{nowrap|Performed by}}
| data1 = {{nbsp}}]
| lbl2 = Known for
| data2 = ]
| full_name = {{nbsp}}Yoda
| species = {{nbsp}}]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Newby |first=Richard |date=2019-11-15 |title=Will 'The Mandalorian' Answer One Question George Lucas Never Did? |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/will-mandalorian-answer-one-question-george-lucas-never-did-1255207/ |access-date=2024-04-27 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US |archive-date=April 27, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240427000402/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/will-mandalorian-answer-one-question-george-lucas-never-did-1255207/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
| gender = {{nbsp}}Male
| affiliation = {{nbsp}}]
| occupation = {{Plainlist|
*{{nbsp}}Jedi Master
*{{nbsp}}Jedi Grand Master
*{{nbsp}}Jedi General
}}
| lbl22 = Apprentices
| data22 = {{nbsp}}]<br />{{nbsp}}]<br />{{nbsp}}]
}}
'''Yoda''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|j|oʊ|d|ə|audio=en-us-Yoda.oga}}) is a fictional character in the '']'' franchise. He is a small, green humanoid alien who is powerful with ]. He first appeared in the 1980 film '']'', in which he is voiced and puppeteered by ], who reprised the role in '']'' (1983), the ], the ], and the animated series '']''. Other actors who voice Yoda are ], ], ], ] and ]. In addition to films and television series, Yoda appears in comics, novels, video games and commercials.


'''Yoda''' is a fictional character in the ] created by ], first appearing in the 1980 film '']''. In the original films, he trains ] to fight against the ]. In the prequel films, he serves as the '''Grand Master of the Jedi Order''' and as a high-ranking general of ]s in the ]. Following his death in '']'' at an unknown age that surpassed 900 years, Yoda was the oldest living character in the ] franchise in canon, until the introduction of ] in '']''. In the ], Yoda lives in solitude on the swamp planet ]. He is introduced as a former mentor of ], and he trains ] in the ways of the Force until his death at the age of 900. In the prequel films, Yoda leads the ] and trains young ] until they are assigned to a master. When the ] break out, he becomes a general in the army of the ] and leads several legions of ]. Yoda is one of the few Jedi to survive the events of ] at the end of the war, when he battles ] and is forced to go into hiding. Yoda's ] appears again in the sequel trilogy, advising an older Luke on his training of ].


==Creation==
{{TOC limit|limit=3}}
The ''Star Wars'' franchise was created by ], who wrote and directed the ] (1977).{{Efn|Originally titled ''Star Wars'', the film was later retitled ''Star Wars: Episode IV—A New Hope''.}} He created the character ] as a mentor for ], and originally planned for Obi-Wan to continue training Luke in the sequel, ''The Empire Strikes Back''. However, Lucas ultimately decided that Obi-Wan would die in the first film. Lucas then introduced a new mentor character, who was originally a diminutive frog-like creature called "Minch Yoda".{{Sfn|Rinzler|2010|pp=22, 34}}<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 19, 2005 |title=Unscripted With Hayden Christensen and George Lucas |url=https://www.moviefone.com/movie/star-wars-episode-iii-revenge-of-the-sith/17722/video/qvNPYXmc/ |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240331083039/https://www.moviefone.com/movie/star-wars-episode-iii-revenge-of-the-sith/17722/video/qvNPYXmc/ |archive-date=March 31, 2024 |access-date=March 31, 2024 |website=Moviefone |at=Event occurs at 5:22 }}</ref> The name "Yoda" was chosen because Lucas envisioned the character as a "little ]", and he wanted him to have an "Eastern-sounding" name.{{Sfn|Rinzler|2010|p=241}} One of the film's screenwriters, ], said that Yoda was based on Shimada, the lead samurai from the 1954 ] film '']''.{{Sfn|Rinzler|2010|p=363}} According to Lucas, the narrative goal of Yoda's design was to teach Luke "to respect everybody and pay attention to the poorest person". Lucas wanted the Jedi Master to be the "exact opposite" of what audiences would expect.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Nathan |first=Ian |date=2020-05-20 |title=The Empire Strikes Back At 40: The Making Of A Star Wars Classic |url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/star-wars-making-empire-strikes-back/ |access-date=2024-06-03 |website=Empire |language=en |archive-date=November 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112021758/https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/star-wars-making-empire-strikes-back/ |url-status=live }}</ref>


The film's visual effects art director, ], sketched hundreds of different versions of Yoda. The design that Lucas finally settled on was described by Johnston as a combination of a leprechaun, a troll and a gnome.{{Sfn|Rinzler|2010|p=165}} Lucas gave Yoda a ] because he felt the character needed a unique way of speaking that was more dramatic than an accent.{{Sfn|Rinzler|2010|p=241}} The filmmakers considered several ways of portraying Yoda before they decided on a sophisticated puppet. These potential methods included dressing a monkey, a child or a dwarf in a Yoda costume, or using stop-motion animation.{{Efn|For wide shots of Yoda moving around, the dwarf actor ] wore a Yoda suit.{{Sfn|Rinzler|2010|p=1229}}
==Concept and creation==
}}{{Sfn|Rinzler|2010|p=363}}
] provided Yoda's voice in each film and used his skills as a ] in the ] and '']''. For some walking scenes in Episodes V and I, dwarf actors ] and ] appeared in costume as Yoda (though neither was credited). While Frank Oz served as the primary performer, he was assisted by a multitude of other puppeteers, including:<ref>{{Cite web|title=Those Yoda Guys |url=http://netdwellers.com/mz/yodaguys/home.html}}</ref> ] (''Ep. V''), ] (''Ep. V''), ] (''Ep. V''-''VI''), ] (''Ep. VI''), ] (''Ep. I'' & ''VI''), ] (''Ep. I''), and Kathy Smee (''Ep. I''). For the ] of '']'' and '']'', Yoda was voiced by ], while ] voiced him in the ], several ]s, and the series '']''.


== Portrayal ==
The make-up artist ] based Yoda's face partly on his own and partly on ]'s.<ref name=BBC>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-21357301 |title=Star Wars make-up artist Stuart Freeborn dies aged 98 |publisher=BBC News|date=2012-03-04 |accessdate=2013-02-06}}</ref><ref name=TheGuardian>. The Guardian. Retrieved February 8, 2013.</ref><ref name=Times>. The Times. Retrieved February 7, 2013</ref><ref name="people">{{cite news|last=Hauptfuhrer|first=Fred|title=Yoda Mania: America Falls in Love with the 26–Inch, Green, Pointy-Eared Sage and his Master Puppeteer, Frank Oz|url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20076674,00.html|accessdate=December 17, 2012|newspaper=]|date=9 June 1980}}</ref> In ''The Phantom Menace'', he was redesigned to look younger. He was ] for two distant shots, but remained mostly a puppet.<ref name="AWM">{{cite web|url=http://mag.awn.com/index.php?ltype=Columns&category2=&article_no=1415&page=1|title=Yoda as We've Never Seen Him Before|last=Desowitz|first=Bill|date=2002-06-14|publisher=Animation World Magazine|accessdate=2008-11-13}}</ref> The puppet was re-designed by Nick Dudman from Stuart Freeborn's original design.


Yoda was originally portrayed by a puppet created by ] and ].{{Sfn|Rinzler|2010|p=1677}} Freeborn based Yoda's face on his own facial features and those of ], hoping the latter inspiration would make the character appear intelligent.<ref name="BBC">{{cite news |date=February 6, 2013 |title=Star Wars make-up artist Stuart Freeborn dies aged 98 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-21357301 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190407081214/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-21357301 |archive-date=April 7, 2019 |access-date=February 6, 2013 |work=BBC News}}</ref><ref>'']'' (2004). 20th Century Fox Television. Event occurs at 1 hour and 40 minutes.</ref> Lucas asked ], the creator of ], to perform the puppeteering for Yoda. Henson was busy with another project, however, and recommended Frank Oz for the role.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Jones|first=Brian Jay|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hPcBDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA308|title=Jim Henson: The Biography|publisher=Ballantine Books|year=2015|isbn=978-0-345-52612-0|location=New York|pages=308|language=en|access-date=December 23, 2021|archive-date=April 22, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230422154501/https://books.google.com/books?id=hPcBDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA308|url-status=live}}</ref>{{Sfn|Rinzler|2010|p=392}} To perform Yoda in ''The Empire Strikes Back'', Oz inserted his hand into the puppet's head to manipulate the mouth and brow. ], Wendy Froud and ] operated Yoda's eyes, ears and other body parts using cables, strings, hydraulics and electronic mechanisms.{{Sfn|Rinzler|2010|p=564, 1159}} There was also a radio-controlled Yoda puppet that was used when the Jedi Master is riding on Luke's back.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8lw1iMugbg |title=Insider story of the creation of Yoda |date=2020-11-29 |last=Nick Maley |access-date=2024-06-03 |via=YouTube |archive-date=April 18, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230418204700/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8lw1iMugbg&list=PLkGUNCMKghxg0TTh0ve498ukAdD0aLG1z |url-status=live }}</ref> Lucas had intended for a different actor to provide Yoda's voice, but ultimately decided that Oz was the best performer for the role.{{Sfn|Rinzler|2010|p=1498}}
Rendered with ] in '']'' and '']'', Yoda appeared in ways not previously possible, including his participation in elaborate fight scenes. In ''Revenge of the Sith'', his face appears in several big close-ups, demanding highly detailed ] work. His performance was deliberately designed to be consistent with the limitations of the puppet version, with some "mistakes" made such as the occasional ear-jiggling.{{Citation needed|date=May 2011}} ] was responsible for the character's new incarnation to the series.


In the original 1999 release of '']'', Yoda was portrayed by a new puppet in all but two shots. In these two wide shots, the character was created using ] (CGI).<ref name="AWM">{{cite web |last=Desowitz |first=Bill |date=June 14, 2002 |title=Yoda as We've Never Seen Him Before |url=http://mag.awn.com/index.php?ltype=Columns&category2=&article_no=1415&page=1 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120531060024/http://www.awn.com/articles/production/yoda-weve-never-seen-him |archive-date=May 31, 2012 |access-date=May 7, 2024 |website=Animation World Network |publisher=}}</ref> The puppet was replaced with a digital Yoda in the 2011 ] release and the 2012 theatrical ] release.<ref>{{cite web |last=Landy |first=Tom |date=August 25, 2011 |title=Yoda Goes CGI in 'Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace' on Blu-ray |url=http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/news/show/George_Lucas/20th_Century_Fox/Yoda_Goes_CGI_in_Star_Wars_Episode_I_-_The_Phantom_Menace_on_Blu-ray/7520 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120611020053/http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/news/show/George_Lucas/20th_Century_Fox/Yoda_Goes_CGI_in_Star_Wars_Episode_I_-_The_Phantom_Menace_on_Blu-ray/7520 |archive-date=June 11, 2012 |access-date=August 25, 2011 |magazine=Hi-Def Digest}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Blum |first=Matt |date=Feb 10, 2012 |title=7 Things Everyone Should Know About Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace 3D |url=https://www.wired.com/2012/02/star-wars-phantom-menace-3d/ |access-date=May 7, 2024 |magazine=Wired}}</ref> In ''Attack of the Clones'' (2002) and ''Revenge of the Sith'' (2005), Yoda is entirely computer-generated. The digital character accomplishes movements not possible with the puppet, such as fighting with a lightsaber.<ref>{{cite AV media |title=Star Wars: Episode II—Attack of the Clones ''audio commentary'' |last=Coleman |first=Rob |medium=DVD |publisher=20th Century Fox Home Entertainment |year=2002 |time=6 minutes}}</ref> In ''Revenge of the Sith'', his face is shown in several close-ups, which required highly detailed CGI work.<ref>{{cite AV media |title=Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones ''audio commentary'' |last=Coleman |first=Rob |medium=DVD |publisher=] |year=2002 |time=6}}</ref>
Yoda was recreated in ] for the 2011 ] release of ''The Phantom Menace.''<ref>{{cite web|title=Yoda Goes CGI in 'Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace' on Blu-ray|url=http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/news/show/George_Lucas/20th_Century_Fox/Yoda_Goes_CGI_in_Star_Wars_Episode_I_-_The_Phantom_Menace_on_Blu-ray/7520|publisher=Hi-Def Digest|accessdate=2011-08-26|date=2011-08-25}}</ref> A clip of the new CG Yoda from ''The Phantom Menace'' was first seen in the featurette ''The Chosen One'', included in the 2005 ] release of ''Revenge of the Sith''.<ref>{{cite web|last = Gould| first = Chris| title =Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith|url = http://www.dvdactive.com/reviews/dvd/star-wars-episode-iii-revenge-of-the-sith.html|publisher=dvdactive| accessdate = 2009-03-04}}</ref> The 2012 theatrical ] release of ''The Phantom Menace'' also features the CG version of Yoda.


Yoda uses the ] giving him his distinctive speaking style.
===Character overview===
Grand Jedi Master Yoda is among the oldest and most powerful known ] in the ''Star Wars'' universe. Series creator ] opted to have many details of the character's life history remain unknown. Yoda's ] and home world have not been named in any media, ] or otherwise, and he is merely said to be of a "species unknown" by the ]. Yoda's speech syntax has been analyzed and discussed by academic ], who found it somewhat inconsistent, but could extrapolate that it has ] ].<ref>{{cite web|last=Pullum |first=Geoffrey K. |url=http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/languagelog/archives/002173.html |title=Language Log: Yoda's syntax the Tribune analyzes; supply more details I will! |publisher=Itre.cis.upenn.edu |date=2005-05-18 |accessdate=2013-02-08}}</ref>


== Reception ==
The films and ] reveal that he had a hand in training almost every Jedi in the ], including ], who is identified in ''Attack of the Clones'' as Yoda's old ]; ]; ] (partially, before ] takes over as Obi-Wan's master); ], ] and eventually ]. During the animated series '']'', set between ''Attack of the Clones'' and ''Revenge of the Sith'', he mentions that he trained another one of the leaders on the ], Master Oppo Rancisis. In the ], he instructs several ] in the ] before they are assigned to a master. This was displayed in a scene in '']''. In ] he mentioned that he had been training Jedi "for 800 years", which means he must have been a Master Jedi for quite some time before that.
Yoda was well-received by several prominent critics when he debuted in ''The Empire Strikes Back'' in 1980. ] of '']'' called him "delightful" and "the hit of the movie", but felt he was only a success when used sparingly.<ref>{{cite web |first=Vincent |last=Canby |author-link=Vincent Canby |title=''The Empire Strikes Back'' strikes a bland note |url=https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/library/film/061580empire.html |website=] |date=June 15, 1981 |access-date=August 30, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210525193727/https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/library/film/061580empire.html |archive-date=May 25, 2021 |url-status=live |url-access=limited}}</ref> Joy Gould Boyum of '']'' praised the "exquisitely constructed" Yoda puppet, and said that Oz "so finely put together {{nbsp}}...{{nbsp}}as to make us wonder continually if he isn't real."<ref name="RevWSJ">{{cite web |last=Gould Boyum |first=Joy |date=May 27, 1980 |title=''The Empire Strikes Back'' |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB111653069458538291 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160801030307/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB111653069458538291 |archive-date=August 1, 2016 |access-date=August 30, 2021 |website=]}}</ref> ] of '']'' and Gary Arnold of '']'' similarly felt that Yoda was incredibly lifelike, with Arnold comparing his face to that of a human actor.<ref name="ReviewTHR">{{cite web |last=Knight |first=Arthur |author-link=arthur Knight (film critic) |date=November 28, 2014 |title=''Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back'': THR's 1980 review |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/empire-strikes-back-review-1980-movie-752672/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210829041917/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/empire-strikes-back-review-1980-movie-752672/ |archive-date=August 29, 2021 |access-date=August 30, 2021 |website=]}}</ref><ref name="RevWaPoGaryArnold">{{cite news |last=Arnold |first=Gary |date=May 18, 1980 |title=Darth Vader's surprise attack |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/review97/empirestrikesbackarnold.htm |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200528051212/https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/review97/empirestrikesbackarnold.htm |archive-date=May 28, 2020 |access-date=August 30, 2021 |newspaper=]}}</ref> ] of the '']'' called Yoda the highlight of the film, while '']'' magazine called him a pivotal character.<ref name="ReviewSiskel">{{cite web |last=Siskel |first=Gene |author-link=Gene Siskel |date=May 20, 2005 |title=''Star Wars Episode VII'' |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2005-05-20-0505200368-story.html |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181020174433/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2005-05-20-0505200368-story.html |archive-date=October 20, 2018 |access-date=August 30, 2021 |website=]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Hauptfuhrer |first1=Fred |last2=Peterson |first2=Karen |date=June 9, 1980 |title=Yoda Mania: America Falls in Love with the 26–Inch, Green, Pointy-Eared Sage and his Master Puppeteer, Frank Oz |url=https://people.com/archive/cover-story-yoda-mania-vol-13-no-23/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927192013/http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0%2C%2C20076674%2C00.html |archive-date=September 27, 2013 |access-date=December 17, 2012 |website=People}}</ref> In his review of the 1997 re-release of ''The Empire Strikes Back'', ] praised the range of emotions conveyed by Yoda, and said his acting was possibly the best in the film.<ref name="Ebert Review">{{cite web |author=Roger Ebert |date=February 21, 1997 |title=The Empire Strikes Back |url=http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F19970221%2FREVIEWS%2F702210302%2F1023 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121116065857/http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F19970221%2FREVIEWS%2F702210302%2F1023 |archive-date=November 16, 2012 |access-date=February 29, 2012 |work=]}}</ref>

Yoda has been a popular character since his introduction more than forty years ago.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sherlock |first=Ben |date=2019-07-05 |title=Star Wars: Yoda's 10 Greatest Moments, Ranked |url=https://screenrant.com/star-wars-yodas-best-moments-ranked-movie/ |access-date=2024-06-04 |website=ScreenRant |language=en |archive-date=January 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220110234559/https://screenrant.com/star-wars-yodas-best-moments-ranked-movie/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Brandon Katz of '']'' has called him an icon of cinema.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Katz |first=Brandon |date=2020-05-15 |title=40 Years Ago, Yoda Showed Us the Truth of the Force in 'Empire' |url=https://observer.com/2020/05/star-wars-the-empire-strikes-back-yoda-anniversary/ |access-date=2024-06-03 |website=Observer |language=en-US |archive-date=January 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220110225146/https://observer.com/2020/05/star-wars-the-empire-strikes-back-yoda-anniversary/ |url-status=live }}</ref> '']'' magazine claimed that after the droids C-3PO and R2-D2, Yoda is the "most beloved" character in the ''Star Wars'' franchise.<ref name=":0" />


==Appearances== ==Appearances==


===Feature films=== === Original trilogy ===
{{Main articles|Star Wars original trilogy}}
Yoda was introduced in '']'' (1980), in which he is puppeteered and voiced by Frank Oz. In the film, Luke arrives on Dagobah to seek his guidance at the behest of {{No wrap|Obi-Wan's}} Force spirit. At first, Yoda does not identify himself to Luke and instead tests his patience by provoking him. Luke is shocked when he discovers that this small, eccentric creature is the powerful Jedi Master he was seeking. Finding Luke to be impatient and undisciplined, Yoda is reluctant to mentor him in the ways of the Force, but agrees to the task after conferring with Obi-Wan. Before finishing his training, Luke chooses to leave Dagobah to confront ] and help his friends in ]. Yoda and Obi-Wan warn that he is not ready, but Luke leaves anyway. When Obi-Wan laments that Luke is their "last hope", Yoda reminds him that "there is another".


Yoda appears briefly in '']'' (1983), again performed and voiced by Oz. Now sick and frail, he tells Luke that his training is complete, but that he will not be a Jedi until he confronts Darth Vader. Yoda also confirms that Vader is Luke's father, something Vader had told Luke in the previous film. Yoda then peacefully dies at the age of 900, his body disappearing as he becomes "one with the Force". He leaves Luke with the knowledge that "there is another Skywalker." Soon after, Obi-Wan's spirit helps Luke realize that the "other" is his twin sister, ]. In the film's final scene, Yoda's spirit appears on Endor alongside the spirits of Obi-Wan and Anakin Skywalker.
====Original trilogy====


=== Prequel trilogy ===
=====''The Empire Strikes Back'' (1980)=====
{{Main articles|Star Wars prequel trilogy}}
Yoda makes his first film appearance in '']''. Luke Skywalker (]) arrives on ] to seek his guidance, having been instructed to do so by the ] of Obi-Wan Kenobi (]).
A younger Yoda appears in the prequel trilogy, beginning with '']'' (1999). In the film—which is set 35 years before ''The Empire Strikes Back''—Jedi Master ] brings the young Anakin Skywalker to the ].<ref name=":13" /> Convinced that Anakin is the "Chosen One" of Jedi prophecy who will bring balance to the Force, Qui-Gon requests that the boy be trained as a Jedi. Yoda senses great fear in Anakin, especially in regards to his attachment to his mother ], and foresees "grave danger" in his training. The Council, led by ], rejects Qui-Gon's request. When Qui-Gon is mortally wounded in a duel with the Sith Lord ], his dying request is that his apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi train Anakin. Obi-Wan tells Yoda that he will train the boy, even without the Council's approval. Yoda reluctantly gives his blessing to Anakin's training.]'']'' (2002) is set a decade after ''The Phantom Menace''.<ref name=":13" /> Yoda is now the Master of the High Council in addition to his position as Grandmaster. He and many other Jedi are concerned about the emergence of the Confederacy of Independent Systems, a ] movement seeking independence from the Galactic Republic. After the first attempted assassination of Senator ], ] suggests that she be put under the protection of Obi-Wan, who is training Anakin. At the climax of the film, Yoda saves Obi-Wan and Anakin from the Separatists and defeats his former apprentice, ], in a lightsaber duel.


In '']'' (2005), Yoda and the Jedi Council pursue the mysterious Sith Lord Darth Sidious. Palpatine has now amassed near-dictatorial emergency powers, and begins interfering in Jedi affairs. The Council orders Anakin to spy on Palpatine, whom he considers a friend and mentor. Anakin seeks Yoda's counsel about his prophetic visions that someone close to him will die. Yoda, unaware that Anakin is referring to Padmé, tells him to train himself to let go of everything he fears to lose. Unsatisfied, Anakin turns to Palpatine, who then reveals himself as Darth Sidious. The Sith Lord manipulates the young Jedi into becoming his apprentice, suggesting that the dark side of the Force can save Padmé from dying.
Yoda does not initially identify himself to Luke and instead tests his patience by presenting himself as a comical and senile backwater individual, deliberately provoking both Luke and ] (]). Luke is shocked when he finally realizes that this small, elderly creature is the powerful Jedi Master he was seeking. Finding that Luke has the same anger and recklessness which caused his father's downfall, Yoda is reluctant to teach him in the ways of the Force, and agrees only at Obi-Wan's behest. Before finishing his training, however, Luke chooses to leave Dagobah in order to confront ] and save his friends at ]. Yoda and Obi-Wan warn him that he is not ready to face Vader and is being lured into a trap, but Luke leaves anyway, promising to return. When Obi-Wan laments that Luke is their "last hope," Yoda reminds him that "there is another".


Sidious transforms the Republic into the ], proclaiming himself emperor and ordering the clone troopers to kill their Jedi generals. Through the Force, Yoda feels the deaths of each of the Jedi as they are betrayed by their own troops. After killing the clone troopers instructed to assassinate him, he escapes with the Wookiee leaders ] and ] to ], where he and Obi-Wan fight their way into the ]. They discover that all the Jedi inside have been slaughtered, including the children. Yoda and Obi-Wan find a recording revealing that Anakin—now known as Darth Vader—was the assassin. Yoda decides to face Sidious, and sends Obi-Wan to kill Vader. When Obi-Wan protests, Yoda tells him that the Anakin he knew no longer exists. Yoda battles Sidious in a lightsaber duel in the Senate. In the end, neither is able to overcome the other and Yoda is forced to retreat. After Padmé dies in childbirth, Yoda recommends that her infant twins Luke and Leia be hidden from Vader and Sidious; he sends Leia to ] and Luke to ]. At the end of the film, it is revealed that Yoda has been learning the secret of immortality from Qui-Gon's spirit and passing it on to Obi-Wan.
=====''Return of the Jedi'' (1983)=====
Yoda makes a brief appearance in ''Return of the Jedi'', set a year after ''The Empire Strikes Back''. Yoda, now sick and frail, informs Luke that he has completed his training but will not be a Jedi until he confronts Darth Vader; he also confirms that Vader is Luke's father, something Vader had told Luke in the previous film. Yoda then peacefully dies at the age of 900, his body disappearing as he becomes "one with the Force". He leaves Luke with the knowledge that "there is another Skywalker". Moments later, Obi-Wan's ghost helps Luke come to the realization that the "other" of whom Yoda spoke is ] (]), who is his twin sister.


===Sequel trilogy===
In the film's final scene, after the Empire has been defeated, Luke sees Yoda's spirit looking upon him with pride, alongside Obi-Wan and the redeemed Anakin Skywalker (Vader's former Jedi self).<ref>''Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi''</ref>
{{Main articles|Star Wars sequel trilogy}}
Oz reprises the Yoda role in the sequel trilogy, both as a puppeteer and as a voice actor.{{efn|Attributed to multiple references:<br><ref>{{cite news |last=Bryant |first=Jacob |date=December 21, 2015 |title=Obi-Wan, Yoda Secretly in 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' |url=https://variety.com/2015/film/news/star-wars-the-force-awakens-obi-wan-yoda-1201666121/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171203231442/http://variety.com/2015/film/news/star-wars-the-force-awakens-obi-wan-yoda-1201666121/ |archive-date=December 3, 2017 |access-date=November 8, 2016 |work=]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Crislip |first=Anthony |date=2024-01-27 |title=Star Wars: The Last Jedi's Yoda Backlash Never Made Sense To Frank Oz |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/1493188/star-wars-the-last-jedi-frank-oz-never-understood-yoda-backlash/ |access-date=2024-07-04 |website=SlashFilm |language=en-US |archive-date=May 20, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240520161239/https://www.slashfilm.com/1493188/star-wars-the-last-jedi-frank-oz-never-understood-yoda-backlash/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Britt |first=Ryan |date=2019-12-20 |title=All the Easter Eggs and Hidden References in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker |url=https://www.vulture.com/2019/12/star-wars-the-rise-of-skywalker-easter-eggs-and-references.html |access-date=2024-07-04 |website=Vulture |language=en |archive-date=January 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200108045602/https://www.vulture.com/2019/12/star-wars-the-rise-of-skywalker-easter-eggs-and-references.html |url-status=live }}</ref>}} The first film of the trilogy, '']'' (2015), takes place thirty years after Yoda's death in ''Return of the Jedi''.<ref name=":13">{{Cite web |last=Travis |first=Ben |date=June 12, 2024 |title=Star Wars Timeline: Every Movie, Series And More |url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/star-wars-timeline-chronological-order/ |access-date=2024-07-02 |website=Empire |language=en |archive-date=March 23, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240323122442/https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/star-wars-timeline-chronological-order/ |url-status=live }}</ref> When the scavenger Rey has a Force vision and discovers Luke's lightsaber, she hears Yoda's voice. In '']'' (2017), Yoda appears to Luke as a Force spirit. As Luke considers whether to burn down a tree storing sacred Jedi texts, Yoda reminds him that a Jedi must always be sure of his path. When Luke decides to burn down the tree, Yoda summons a lightning bolt and sets it ablaze. Luke is suddenly concerned about the loss of the texts, but Yoda assures him that they contained no knowledge that Rey does not already possess. Yoda's voice is heard again in '']'' (2019) when many deceased Jedi are speaking to Rey during her battle against the resurrected Darth Sidious.


====Prequel trilogy==== === ''The Clone Wars'' ===
Yoda appears in the 2008 animated film '']'' and the ] of the same name. He is voiced by Tom Kane in both productions.<ref name="Kane">{{Cite web |title=Tom Kane (visual voices guide) |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Tom-Kane/ |access-date=May 7, 2024 |website=Behind the Voice Actors |archive-date=July 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190709155958/https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Tom-Kane/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In the film, he assigns Anakin an apprentice, ], believing the responsibility will help him grow as a Jedi and mature as a person. Throughout most of the series, Yoda is on Coruscant with the Jedi Council, but he occasionally leaves for certain tasks, such as negotiations with King Katuunko on Rugosa and a confrontation with ]'s droid army. Yoda also watches over Anakin and Ahsoka, pleased that they are both maturing with each other's influence. In season five, Ahsoka is framed for a crime she did not commit, and Yoda and the Jedi Council turn her over to the Republic military. Before a verdict is read in Ahsoka's trial, Anakin reveals the true culprit, the fallen Jedi Barriss Offee. Yoda, Anakin, and the Council then invite Ahsoka to rejoin the Order, but she refuses.


In the sixth season, Yoda hears the voice of the deceased Qui-Gon Jinn. He travels to Dagobah to find answers. He sees cryptic visions of the fall of the Jedi, and learns that he has been chosen to manifest his consciousness after death as a Force spirit. A group of spirit priestesses then gives him various tests, including facing an illusion of the ancient Sith Lord ]. His final challenge is to resist an attempt by Sidious and Dooku to lure him to the dark side. Yoda engages in a metaphysical battle with Sidious and seemingly sacrifices himself to save Anakin, only to awaken and discover that the battle was merely a vision, and that he passed the test. The priestesses inform Yoda that his training will resume in time.
=====''Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace'' (1999)=====
]'']]
Yoda returns as a younger version of himself in the prequel trilogy beginning with '']''. The film marked the final time Oz would portray the character as a puppet. However, in the 2011 ] release of ''The Phantom Menace'', the Yoda puppet was replaced by a CGI character to match the later depiction of the character. In the film, which is set 35 years before ''The Empire Strikes Back'', Jedi Master ] (]) brings the young Anakin Skywalker (]) to the ]. Qui-Gon is convinced that Anakin is the fabled "Chosen One" who will bring balance to ], and requests the boy be trained as a Jedi Knight. Yoda senses great fear in Anakin, especially in regards to his attachment to ], and foresees "grave danger" in his training. The council, led at the time by Yoda's former padawan ] (]), rejects Qui-Gon's request.


=== ''Star Wars Rebels'' ===
When Qui-Gon is mortally wounded in a duel with Sith Lord ] (played by ] and voiced by ]), his dying request to his Padawan ] (]) is that Anakin be trained as a Jedi. Obi-Wan, determined to fulfill his promise to his master, tells Yoda that he will train the boy, even without the council's permission. Yoda makes Obi-Wan a Jedi Knight, and reluctantly gives his blessing to Anakin's training.<ref>''Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace''</ref>
Yoda returns in the animated series '']'' (2014–2018).''<ref>{{cite web |date=December 15, 2014 |title=Exclusive: Yoda Returns for Star Wars Rebels |url=http://www.tvguide.com/News/Yoda-Return-Star-Wars-Rebel-1090906.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141216015611/http://www.tvguide.com/news/yoda-return-star-wars-rebel-1090906.aspx |archive-date=December 16, 2014 |access-date=January 4, 2017 |work=TV Guide}}</ref>'' In the season one episode "Path of the Jedi", he telepathically communicates with the Jedi apprentice ] and his master ], helping the pair to understand their true motivations.<ref>{{cite web |last=Sands |first=Rich |date=December 15, 2014 |title=Exclusive: Yoda Returns for Star Wars Rebels |url=http://www.tvguide.com/News/Yoda-Return-Star-Wars-Rebel-1090906.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141216015611/http://www.tvguide.com/news/yoda-return-star-wars-rebel-1090906.aspx |archive-date=December 16, 2014 |access-date=January 4, 2017 |work=TV Guide}}</ref> In the season two episode "Shroud of Darkness", Yoda appears to Ezra in a vision.


=====''Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones'' (2002)===== === ''Tales of the Jedi'' ===
Yoda appears in two episodes of ] (2022), although he has no dialogue. In the third episode, he attends the funeral of Jedi Master Katri, and in the fifth episode he observes the training of Ahsoka.
] appearance in '']''|alt=Yoda holding a lightsaber]]
Yoda makes his first CGI appearance in '']''. Set a decade after ''The Phantom Menace'', Yoda, now in direct control of the Order's policy as Master of the High Council in addition to his traditional position as Grandmaster, is one of the many Jedi who are concerned about the emergence of the Separatists, a group of systems rebelling against the ]. After the first attempted assassination of Senator ] (]), ] (]) "suggests" that she be put under the protection of Obi-Wan, who is training Anakin (now played by ]). At the climax of the film, Yoda arrives in time to save Obi-Wan and Anakin from the Separatists and defeats his former apprentice, ] (]), who nevertheless escapes. Although of great age, Yoda is shown to be incredibly agile and immensely skilled in ] combat. This is the first movie in which Yoda appears in a lightsaber duel.


=== Other ===
=====''Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith'' (2005)=====
Yoda is voiced by ] in the ] of ''The Empire Strikes Back'' (1983) and ''Return of the Jedi'' (1996).<ref name="Bilodeau 2022">{{Cite web |last=Bilodeau |first=Matthew |date=2022-07-21 |title=Did You Know John Lithgow Voiced Yoda In The Star Wars Radio Dramas? |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/935096/did-you-know-john-lithgow-voiced-yoda-in-the-star-wars-radio-dramas/ |access-date=2024-05-13 |website=SlashFilm |language=en-US |archive-date=May 13, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240513185007/https://www.slashfilm.com/935096/did-you-know-john-lithgow-voiced-yoda-in-the-star-wars-radio-dramas/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He is featured in the audio drama '']'' and the novel ''Master and Apprentice'', both released in 2019.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Liptak |first1=Andrew |date=20 July 2018 |title=The next Star Wars novels will flesh out the prequel era |url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/7/20/17596512/star-wars-novels-padme-obi-wan-qui-gon-claudia-gray-ek-johnston-san-diego-comic-con-2018 |access-date=25 July 2018 |website=The Verge |archive-date=October 19, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231019130109/https://www.theverge.com/2018/7/20/17596512/star-wars-novels-padme-obi-wan-qui-gon-claudia-gray-ek-johnston-san-diego-comic-con-2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> He appears in the web series '']'' (2017–2018),<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVVa2g4X4MU&list=PLR4qvTE1cSnoICGM_gfSedDPp18c3FluC&index=1 |title=Star Wars Forces of Destiny |date= |last=Disney |access-date=2024-06-20 |via=YouTube |archive-date=June 22, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240622003857/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVVa2g4X4MU&list=PLR4qvTE1cSnoICGM_gfSedDPp18c3FluC&index=1 |url-status=live }}</ref> the children's television series '']'' (2023–present)<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=February 9, 2023 |title=Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures Will Premiere May the Fourth |url=https://gizmodo.com/disney-star-wars-young-jedi-adventures-may-4-premiere-1850095740 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230212231957/https://gizmodo.com/disney-star-wars-young-jedi-adventures-may-4-premiere-1850095740 |archive-date=February 12, 2023 |access-date=February 17, 2023 |website=Gizmodo |language=en}}</ref> and the 2021 comic '']'', which takes place 200 years before the prequel trilogy.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brooks |first=Dan |date=September 1, 2020 |title=Inside Star Wars: The High Republic: Meet Yoda |url=https://www.starwars.com/news/inside-star-wars-the-high-republic-meet-yoda |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200904085651/https://www.starwars.com/news/inside-star-wars-the-high-republic-meet-yoda |archive-date=September 4, 2020 |access-date=September 5, 2020 |website=StarWars.com |language=en-US}}</ref> He also makes a non-speaking ] appearance in the final episode of the television series '']'' (2024).<ref name="YodaAcolyte">{{Cite web |last=Declan |first=Liz |date=July 17, 2024 |title=The Acolyte's Surprise Cameo Fixes A 25-Year-Old Phantom Menace Problem |url=https://screenrant.com/star-wars-the-acolyte-yoda-cameo-explained/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240717113541/https://screenrant.com/star-wars-the-acolyte-yoda-cameo-explained/ |archive-date=July 17, 2024 |access-date=July 17, 2024 |website=]}}</ref> In 2012, Yoda was featured in a series of ] commercials, which were broadcast in the United Kingdom.<ref name="YodaVodafoneDigitalSpyfirstref">{{cite web |last=Laughlin |first=Andrew |date=January 19, 2012 |title=Yodafone: Jedi Master signs up for Vodafone TV ad campaign - video |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tech/a360813/yodafone-jedi-master-signs-up-for-vodafone-tv-ad-campaign-video/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230416170812/https://www.digitalspy.com/tech/a360813/yodafone-jedi-master-signs-up-for-vodafone-tv-ad-campaign-video/ |archive-date=April 16, 2023 |accessdate=April 16, 2023 |publisher=]}}</ref><ref name="YodaVodafoneDigitalSpysecondref">{{cite web |last=Nissim |first=Mayer |date=July 30, 2012 |title=Yoda Strikes Back: Star Wars returns in new Vodafone ad - video |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/fun/a395970/yoda-strikes-back-star-wars-returns-in-new-vodafone-ad-video/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230416170802/https://www.digitalspy.com/fun/a395970/yoda-strikes-back-star-wars-returns-in-new-vodafone-ad-video/ |archive-date=April 16, 2023 |accessdate=April 16, 2023 |publisher=]}}</ref>
In '']'', Yoda leads the Jedi Council in pursuing the mysterious Sith Lord ]. Palpatine has by now amassed near-]ial ], and begins interfering in Jedi affairs by appointing Anakin as his personal representative on the Council. The Council grants Anakin a Council seat, but denies him the rank of Master, feeling that doing so would amount to giving Palpatine a vote in the Council. Additionally, they order him to spy on Palpatine, whom Anakin considers a friend and mentor. Angered by the perceived snub and instructions to commit what he believes to be treason, Anakin begins to lose faith in the Jedi Order.


== ''Star Wars Legends'' ==
Anakin seeks Yoda's counsel about his prophetic visions that someone close to him will die. Yoda, unaware of the person Anakin speaks of is Padmé, or that she is Anakin's wife and pregnant with his child, tells him to train himself to let go of everything that he fears to lose. Unsatisfied, Anakin turns to Palpatine, who then reveals himself as Darth Sidious. Palpatine manipulates the young Jedi into becoming his Sith apprentice, ], with the promise that the dark side holds the power to save Padmé from dying in ].
{{See also|Star Wars in other media}}Following the acquisition of ] by ] in 2012, most of the licensed ''Star Wars'' novels and comics produced between 1977 and 2014 were rebranded as ''Star Wars Legends'' and declared non-canon to the franchise. The ''Legends'' works comprise a separate narrative universe.{{efn|Attributed to multiple references:<br><ref name="THR Legends2">{{cite news |last=McMilian |first=Graeme |date=April 25, 2014 |title=Lucasfilm Unveils New Plans for ''Star Wars'' Expanded Universe |url=https://hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/lucasfilm-unveils-new-plans-star-698973 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160429022447/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/lucasfilm-unveils-new-plans-star-698973 |archive-date=April 29, 2016 |access-date=May 26, 2016 |magazine=The Hollywood Reporter}}</ref><ref name="SW Legends2">{{cite web |date=April 25, 2014 |title=The Legendary ''Star Wars'' Expanded Universe Turns a New Page |url=https://www.starwars.com/news/the-legendary-star-wars-expanded-universe-turns-a-new-page |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160910044317/http://www.starwars.com/news/the-legendary-star-wars-expanded-universe-turns-a-new-page |archive-date=September 10, 2016 |access-date=May 26, 2016 |website=]}}</ref><ref name="SW Adult2">{{cite web |date=April 25, 2014 |title=Disney and Random House announce relaunch of ''Star Wars'' Adult Fiction line |url=https://www.starwars.com/news/disney-publishing-worldwide-and-random-house-announce-relaunch-of-star-wars-adult-fiction-line |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160514073722/http://www.starwars.com/news/disney-publishing-worldwide-and-random-house-announce-relaunch-of-star-wars-adult-fiction-line |archive-date=May 14, 2016 |access-date=May 26, 2016 |publisher=StarWars.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Dinsdale |first=Ryan |date=2023-05-04 |title=The Star Wars Canon: The Definitive Guide |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/the-star-wars-canon-the-definitive-guide |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=IGN |language=en |archive-date=May 3, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240503204025/https://www.ign.com/articles/the-star-wars-canon-the-definitive-guide |url-status=live }}</ref>}}


=== Novels and comics ===
Palpatine later transforms the Republic into the tyrannical ], proclaiming himself emperor for life, and ]. At this time, Yoda is on ], overseeing the battle between the Separatist forces and a combined command of clone troopers and ]s. Through the Force, Yoda feels the deaths of each of the Jedi as they are ] by their own troops. After swiftly killing the clone troopers instructed to kill him, he escapes with Wookiee leaders ] and ] (]), and returns to ], where he and Obi-Wan fight their way into the ] to stop a trap for all surviving Jedi. Inside, they discover that all the Jedi inside, younglings included, have been slaughtered. They then discover a ]ic recording, revealing Vader as the assassin. Yoda decides to face Palpatine, sending Obi-Wan to kill his Vader. When Obi-Wan protests, Yoda tells him that the Anakin he knew no longer exists, having been "consumed by Darth Vader."
Yoda appears in the 2004 ] novel ''Yoda: Dark Rendezvous'', in which he sends an impersonator of himself to negotiate a treaty with Dooku.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=z_sOi8od9pMC |title=Yoda: Dark Rendezvous: Star Wars Legends |date=December 6, 2005 |publisher=Random House Worlds |isbn=978-0-345-49269-2 |access-date=May 13, 2024}}</ref> He is also a character in the comic series ''].''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dark Horse Comics Republic Series |url=https://youtini.com/series/dark-horse-comics-republic-series-35969e8516 |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=Youtini |language=en |archive-date=June 20, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240620033833/https://youtini.com/series/dark-horse-comics-republic-series-35969e8516 |url-status=live }}</ref>


=== ''Clone Wars'' ===
Subsequently, Yoda battles Palpatine in a lightsaber duel that wrecks the Senate Rotunda. However, in the end neither is able to overcome the other and Yoda is forced to retreat. He goes into ] on ] so that he may hide from the Empire and wait for another opportunity to destroy the Sith. At the end of the film, it's revealed that Yoda has been in contact with Qui-Gon's spirit, learning the secret of ] from him and passing it on to Obi-Wan.
Yoda is voiced by Tom Kane in the animated television series '']'', which aired on ] from 2003 to 2005.<ref name="Kane" /> In the series, Yoda becomes a general during the Clone Wars. While escorting Padmé on a journey, he senses a Force disturbance on the planet ]. After using a ] to convince Captain Typho to take them there, Yoda saves the lives of two Jedi. In the final episode of the series, Yoda fights alongside Mace Windu to defend Coruscant, which is under attack from the Separatists. The two Jedi Masters realize too late that the battle was intended to distract them from the kidnapping of Palpatine by the Separatist leader ]. ''Clone Wars'' was removed from the official canon in 2014 and placed in the ''Legends'' universe.


== See also ==
Yoda is also instrumental in deciding the fate of ] after Padmé dies in ], recommending that Luke and Leia be hidden from Vader and Palpatine in remote locations. Other than the ancient Jedi Master, only the ], the ], R2-D2 and Obi-Wan know of their true identities.<ref>''Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith''</ref>
* ] – a parody song by ]
* ] – a style of writing conditionals in computer programming languages


====Sequel trilogy==== == Notes ==
{{notelist}}


==References==
=====''Star Wars: The Force Awakens'' (2015)=====
In '']'', set 30 years after ''Return of the Jedi'', Yoda's voice is heard by the young scavenger ] (]) after she discovers Luke Skywalker's lightsaber.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bryant |first=Jacob |date=21 December 2015 |title=Obi-Wan, Yoda Secretly in ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ |url=http://variety.com/2015/film/news/star-wars-the-force-awakens-obi-wan-yoda-1201666121/ |publisher='']'' |access-date=8 November 2016 }}</ref>


===Television series=== === Citations ===

====''Star Wars: The Clone Wars'' (2008)====
Yoda appears in ''Star Wars: The Clone Wars'', voiced by Tom Kane. In the prequel film ''Star Wars: The Clone Wars'', Yoda assigned Anakin Skywalker his own Padawan, ], as he believes that she will help Anakin grow as a Jedi and as a person. Throughout most of the series, Yoda spends his time on Coruscant with the Jedi Council, but he occasionally leaves for certain tasks, such as negotiations with King Katuunko on Rugosa, and a confrontation with ]' droid army.

In the final arc of the final season, Yoda hears Qui-Gon Jinn speaking to him from beyond the grave. Yoda flees the Jedi Temple with R2-D2 to travel to Dagobah, the planet he would make his home when he enters exile after events of ''Revenge of the Sith'', to find answers. Shown cryptic visions of the fall of the Jedi, Yoda learns he has been "chosen" to learn how to manifest his consciousness after death as a Force ghost. Yoda is tested by a group of spirit priestesses in order to overcome trials and temptations on his pilgrimage; one of these tests is to face an illusion of ancient Sith lord ]. Yoda's final test is to resist an attempt by Darth Sidious and Dooku to lure him to the dark side with a false vision of deceased Jedi Master ]. Yoda engages in a metaphysical battle with Sidious, and appears to sacrifice his life in order to save Anakin's - only to awaken and discover that the battle was merely a vision, and that he has passed the test. The priestesses inform Yoda that his training will resume in time.

====''Star Wars Rebels'' (2014)====
Yoda was heard in the '']'' episode "Path of the Jedi" with Frank Oz reprising the role for the first time since ''Revenge of the Sith''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tvguide.com/News/Yoda-Return-Star-Wars-Rebel-1090906.aspx|title=Exclusive: Yoda Returns for Star Wars Rebels|date=15 December 2014|work=tvguide.com|accessdate=4 January 2017}}</ref> He communicates with Padawan Ezra Bridger and his master Kanan Jarrus during their experience in an ancient temple on Lothal, and helps the pair do some soul-searching to analyze their true motivations. He appears physically for the first time, in the season 2 episode "Shroud of Darkness", in which he tells Ezra he should find Malachor and reunites with Ahsoka after nearly 20 years.

====''Star Wars: Clone Wars'' (2003)====

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

====Comics====

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

==In popular culture==
In 2007, Yoda was selected by '']'' magazine as the 25th greatest movie character of all time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.empireonline.com/100-greatest-movie-characters/default.asp?c=25 |title=''Empire's'' The 100 Greatest Movie Characters |publisher=''Empire'' Magazine |date= |accessdate=2010-05-21}}</ref> On their list of the ''100 Greatest Fictional Characters'', Fandomania.com ranked Yoda at number 60.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://fandomania.com/100-greatest-fictional-characters-60-56/ |title= The 100 Greatest Fictional Characters |publisher=Fandomania.com |accessdate=2010-05-21}}</ref>

Yoda also appears in ]'s '']'' attraction, where he is voiced by his original voice actor, ].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Cole|first1=Carolyn|title=Frank Oz to ‘Star Wars’ fans: Do the Yoda impression I won’t|url=http://herocomplex.latimes.com/movies/frank-oz-to-star-wars-fans-do-the-yoda-impression-i-wont/|accessdate=September 19, 2014|work=Los Angeles Times|date=July 23, 2012}}</ref>

A life-size statue of Yoda greets visitors to Lucasfilm's ] in San Francisco's ], the headquarters of ].

American musician and parody artist ] used the character as inspiration for a parody of ]' "]", in a song entitled "]."

===Merchandising===

{{Expand section|date=December 2009}}
*] has included a "Yoda" voice as one of the Celebrity GPS voicings in their "Star Wars" voice series.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://starwars.tomtom.com/voices/index-starwars.php?Lid=4&voice=yoda |title=Star Wars™ voices now available for TomTom devices |publisher=Starwars.tomtom.com |date= |accessdate=2013-02-08}}</ref>

====''Lego''====
*]'s Yoda ] was the first of their figures to be shorter than the other toys in the ] line; it has shorter legs than the other ]s.<ref>{{cite book|last=Martell|first=Nevin|title=Standing Small: A Celebration of 30 Years of the Lego Minifigure|publisher=DK|year=2009|page=69}}</ref> Yoda appears in a television series based on the ] toys, created by the Lego company, among them '']'', ''Lego Star Wars: The Padawan Menace'', ''Star Wars: The New Yoda Chronicles'', and ''Lego Star Wars: Droid Tales''.

==See also==
*{{Portal-inline|Star Wars}}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}} {{reflist|30em}}


''Works cited'' === Works cited ===
* {{Cite book |last=Rinzler |first=J.W. |title=The Making of the Empire Strikes Back |publisher=Del Rey |year=2010 |isbn=9780345543363 |edition=eBook v3.1 |location=London}}
{{ref begin|35em}}
*The '']'' series by ] and ]
*''Episode I: The Phantom Menace'', 1st edition paperback, 1999. ], ], ISBN 0-345-43411-0
*''Episode III: Revenge of the Sith - Novelization'', 1st edition hardcover, 2005. Matthew Woodring Stover, George Lucas, ISBN 0-7126-8427-1
*''The Annotated Screenplays'', softcover, 1997. ], Leigh Brackett, Lawrence Kasdan, Laurent Bouzereau, ISBN 0-345-40981-7
*'']'', 1995. Dave Wolverton, ISBN 0-553-56937-6
*''Mission from Mount Yoda'', 1993. Paul Davids, Hollace Davids, ISBN 0-553-15890-2
*''A Guide to the Star Wars Universe'', 2nd edition, 1994. Bill Slavicsek, ISBN 0-345-38625-6
*''The Essential guide to Characters (Star Wars)'', 1st edition, 1995. Andy Mangels, ISBN 0-345-39535-2
*''The New Essential Guide to Characters'', 1st edition, 2002. Daniel Wallace, Michael Sutfin, ISBN 0-345-44900-2
*''Star Wars: The Visual Dictionary'', hardcover, 1998. David West Reynolds, ISBN 0-7894-3481-4
*''Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith: The Visual Dictionary'', hardcover, 2005. James Luceno, ISBN 0-7566-1128-8
*''Star Wars Roleplaying Game: Revised Core Rulebook'', hardcover, 2002. Bill Slavicsek, Andy Collins, J.D. Wiker, ISBN 0-7869-2876-X
*''Star Wars Roleplaying Game: Power of the Jedi Sourcebook'', hardcover, 2002. Michael Mikaelian, Jeff Grubb, Owen K.C. Stephens, James Maliszewski, ISBN 0-7869-2781-X
{{ref end}}


== Further reading ==
==External links==
* {{Cite book |url=https://library.oapen.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.12657/31149/637514.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |title=Star Wars and the History of Transmedia Storytelling |publisher=Amsterdam University Press |year=2018 |isbn=9789462986213 |editor-last=Guynes |editor-first=Sean |format=PDF |access-date=April 18, 2024 |editor-last2=Hassler-Forest |editor-first2=Dan |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230304164951/https://library.oapen.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.12657/31149/637514.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |archive-format=PDF |archive-date=March 4, 2023 |url-status=live}}
{{wiktionary|Yoda}}
* {{Cite web |title=Frank Oz: In Confidence (Season 1, Episode 4) |url=https://www.nowtv.com/watch/frank-oz-in-confidence/iYEQYZHWrEf34G79rRpiS1/seasons/1/episodes/4/A5EK4nmp9qb2Vxwdxvf5G |url-access=subscription |access-date=April 19, 2024 |website=NOW}}
*{{Official website|http://www.starwars.com/databank/yoda|''Yoda Official Page''}} at {{URL|http://www.starwars.com|StarWars.com}}
*{{Wookieepedia|Yoda}}


== External links ==
{{Star Wars characters}}
in the ''StarWars.com'' Databank{{commons category|position=left}}{{Star Wars Trilogy}}
{{The Empire Strikes Back}}
{{Return of the Jedi}} {{Star Wars prequel trilogy}}
{{Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace}} {{Star Wars sequel trilogy}}
{{Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones}} {{Star Wars universe}}
{{Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith}}
{{Star Wars: The Clone Wars}} {{Star Wars: The Clone Wars}}
{{Star Wars Rebels}}
{{MTV Movie Award for Best Fight}}
{{Authority control}}


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Latest revision as of 09:14, 11 January 2025

Fictional character in the Star Wars universe This article is about the Star Wars character. For the infant of the same species, see Grogu. For other uses, see Yoda (disambiguation).

Fictional character
Yoda
Star Wars character
Yoda in The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
First appearance The Empire Strikes Back
Created by George Lucas
Voiced by
Performed by Frank Oz
Known forReverse speech pattern
In-universe information
Full name Yoda
Species Unknown
Gender Male
Occupation
  •  Jedi Master
  •  Jedi Grand Master
  •  Jedi General
Affiliation Jedi Order
Apprentices Count Dooku
 Obi-Wan Kenobi
 Luke Skywalker

Yoda (/ˈjoʊdə/ ) is a fictional character in the Star Wars franchise. He is a small, green humanoid alien who is powerful with the Force. He first appeared in the 1980 film The Empire Strikes Back, in which he is voiced and puppeteered by Frank Oz, who reprised the role in Return of the Jedi (1983), the prequel trilogy, the sequel trilogy, and the animated series Star Wars Rebels. Other actors who voice Yoda are Tom Kane, Piotr Michael, John Lithgow, Tony Pope and Peter McConnell. In addition to films and television series, Yoda appears in comics, novels, video games and commercials.

In the original trilogy, Yoda lives in solitude on the swamp planet Dagobah. He is introduced as a former mentor of Obi-Wan Kenobi, and he trains Luke Skywalker in the ways of the Force until his death at the age of 900. In the prequel films, Yoda leads the Jedi High Council and trains young Jedi until they are assigned to a master. When the Clone Wars break out, he becomes a general in the army of the Republic and leads several legions of clone troopers. Yoda is one of the few Jedi to survive the events of Order 66 at the end of the war, when he battles Darth Sidious and is forced to go into hiding. Yoda's Force spirit appears again in the sequel trilogy, advising an older Luke on his training of Rey.

Creation

The Star Wars franchise was created by George Lucas, who wrote and directed the original Star Wars film (1977). He created the character Obi-Wan Kenobi as a mentor for Luke Skywalker, and originally planned for Obi-Wan to continue training Luke in the sequel, The Empire Strikes Back. However, Lucas ultimately decided that Obi-Wan would die in the first film. Lucas then introduced a new mentor character, who was originally a diminutive frog-like creature called "Minch Yoda". The name "Yoda" was chosen because Lucas envisioned the character as a "little Dalai Lama", and he wanted him to have an "Eastern-sounding" name. One of the film's screenwriters, Lawrence Kasdan, said that Yoda was based on Shimada, the lead samurai from the 1954 Akira Kurosawa film Seven Samurai. According to Lucas, the narrative goal of Yoda's design was to teach Luke "to respect everybody and pay attention to the poorest person". Lucas wanted the Jedi Master to be the "exact opposite" of what audiences would expect.

The film's visual effects art director, Joe Johnston, sketched hundreds of different versions of Yoda. The design that Lucas finally settled on was described by Johnston as a combination of a leprechaun, a troll and a gnome. Lucas gave Yoda a backward speech pattern because he felt the character needed a unique way of speaking that was more dramatic than an accent. The filmmakers considered several ways of portraying Yoda before they decided on a sophisticated puppet. These potential methods included dressing a monkey, a child or a dwarf in a Yoda costume, or using stop-motion animation.

Portrayal

Yoda was originally portrayed by a puppet created by Stuart Freeborn and Wendy Froud. Freeborn based Yoda's face on his own facial features and those of Albert Einstein, hoping the latter inspiration would make the character appear intelligent. Lucas asked Jim Henson, the creator of the Muppets, to perform the puppeteering for Yoda. Henson was busy with another project, however, and recommended Frank Oz for the role. To perform Yoda in The Empire Strikes Back, Oz inserted his hand into the puppet's head to manipulate the mouth and brow. Kathryn Mullen, Wendy Froud and David Barclay operated Yoda's eyes, ears and other body parts using cables, strings, hydraulics and electronic mechanisms. There was also a radio-controlled Yoda puppet that was used when the Jedi Master is riding on Luke's back. Lucas had intended for a different actor to provide Yoda's voice, but ultimately decided that Oz was the best performer for the role.

In the original 1999 release of The Phantom Menace, Yoda was portrayed by a new puppet in all but two shots. In these two wide shots, the character was created using computer-generated imagery (CGI). The puppet was replaced with a digital Yoda in the 2011 Blu-ray release and the 2012 theatrical 3D release. In Attack of the Clones (2002) and Revenge of the Sith (2005), Yoda is entirely computer-generated. The digital character accomplishes movements not possible with the puppet, such as fighting with a lightsaber. In Revenge of the Sith, his face is shown in several close-ups, which required highly detailed CGI work.

Yoda uses the object-subject-verb word order giving him his distinctive speaking style.

Reception

Yoda was well-received by several prominent critics when he debuted in The Empire Strikes Back in 1980. Vincent Canby of The New York Times called him "delightful" and "the hit of the movie", but felt he was only a success when used sparingly. Joy Gould Boyum of The Wall Street Journal praised the "exquisitely constructed" Yoda puppet, and said that Oz "so finely put together  ... as to make us wonder continually if he isn't real." Arthur Knight of The Hollywood Reporter and Gary Arnold of The Washington Post similarly felt that Yoda was incredibly lifelike, with Arnold comparing his face to that of a human actor. Gene Siskel of the Chicago Tribune called Yoda the highlight of the film, while People magazine called him a pivotal character. In his review of the 1997 re-release of The Empire Strikes Back, Roger Ebert praised the range of emotions conveyed by Yoda, and said his acting was possibly the best in the film.

Yoda has been a popular character since his introduction more than forty years ago. Brandon Katz of Observer has called him an icon of cinema. Empire magazine claimed that after the droids C-3PO and R2-D2, Yoda is the "most beloved" character in the Star Wars franchise.

Appearances

Original trilogy

Main article: Star Wars original trilogy

Yoda was introduced in The Empire Strikes Back (1980), in which he is puppeteered and voiced by Frank Oz. In the film, Luke arrives on Dagobah to seek his guidance at the behest of Obi-Wan's Force spirit. At first, Yoda does not identify himself to Luke and instead tests his patience by provoking him. Luke is shocked when he discovers that this small, eccentric creature is the powerful Jedi Master he was seeking. Finding Luke to be impatient and undisciplined, Yoda is reluctant to mentor him in the ways of the Force, but agrees to the task after conferring with Obi-Wan. Before finishing his training, Luke chooses to leave Dagobah to confront Darth Vader and help his friends in Cloud City. Yoda and Obi-Wan warn that he is not ready, but Luke leaves anyway. When Obi-Wan laments that Luke is their "last hope", Yoda reminds him that "there is another".

Yoda appears briefly in Return of the Jedi (1983), again performed and voiced by Oz. Now sick and frail, he tells Luke that his training is complete, but that he will not be a Jedi until he confronts Darth Vader. Yoda also confirms that Vader is Luke's father, something Vader had told Luke in the previous film. Yoda then peacefully dies at the age of 900, his body disappearing as he becomes "one with the Force". He leaves Luke with the knowledge that "there is another Skywalker." Soon after, Obi-Wan's spirit helps Luke realize that the "other" is his twin sister, Princess Leia. In the film's final scene, Yoda's spirit appears on Endor alongside the spirits of Obi-Wan and Anakin Skywalker.

Prequel trilogy

Main article: Star Wars prequel trilogy

A younger Yoda appears in the prequel trilogy, beginning with The Phantom Menace (1999). In the film—which is set 35 years before The Empire Strikes Back—Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn brings the young Anakin Skywalker to the Jedi Council. Convinced that Anakin is the "Chosen One" of Jedi prophecy who will bring balance to the Force, Qui-Gon requests that the boy be trained as a Jedi. Yoda senses great fear in Anakin, especially in regards to his attachment to his mother Shmi, and foresees "grave danger" in his training. The Council, led by Mace Windu, rejects Qui-Gon's request. When Qui-Gon is mortally wounded in a duel with the Sith Lord Darth Maul, his dying request is that his apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi train Anakin. Obi-Wan tells Yoda that he will train the boy, even without the Council's approval. Yoda reluctantly gives his blessing to Anakin's training.

A computer-generated Yoda was achieved in Attack of the Clones, which allowed him complete freedom of movement for the first time.

Attack of the Clones (2002) is set a decade after The Phantom Menace. Yoda is now the Master of the High Council in addition to his position as Grandmaster. He and many other Jedi are concerned about the emergence of the Confederacy of Independent Systems, a secessionist movement seeking independence from the Galactic Republic. After the first attempted assassination of Senator Padmé Amidala, Chancellor Palpatine suggests that she be put under the protection of Obi-Wan, who is training Anakin. At the climax of the film, Yoda saves Obi-Wan and Anakin from the Separatists and defeats his former apprentice, Count Dooku, in a lightsaber duel.

In Revenge of the Sith (2005), Yoda and the Jedi Council pursue the mysterious Sith Lord Darth Sidious. Palpatine has now amassed near-dictatorial emergency powers, and begins interfering in Jedi affairs. The Council orders Anakin to spy on Palpatine, whom he considers a friend and mentor. Anakin seeks Yoda's counsel about his prophetic visions that someone close to him will die. Yoda, unaware that Anakin is referring to Padmé, tells him to train himself to let go of everything he fears to lose. Unsatisfied, Anakin turns to Palpatine, who then reveals himself as Darth Sidious. The Sith Lord manipulates the young Jedi into becoming his apprentice, suggesting that the dark side of the Force can save Padmé from dying.

Sidious transforms the Republic into the Galactic Empire, proclaiming himself emperor and ordering the clone troopers to kill their Jedi generals. Through the Force, Yoda feels the deaths of each of the Jedi as they are betrayed by their own troops. After killing the clone troopers instructed to assassinate him, he escapes with the Wookiee leaders Tarfful and Chewbacca to Coruscant, where he and Obi-Wan fight their way into the Jedi Temple. They discover that all the Jedi inside have been slaughtered, including the children. Yoda and Obi-Wan find a recording revealing that Anakin—now known as Darth Vader—was the assassin. Yoda decides to face Sidious, and sends Obi-Wan to kill Vader. When Obi-Wan protests, Yoda tells him that the Anakin he knew no longer exists. Yoda battles Sidious in a lightsaber duel in the Senate. In the end, neither is able to overcome the other and Yoda is forced to retreat. After Padmé dies in childbirth, Yoda recommends that her infant twins Luke and Leia be hidden from Vader and Sidious; he sends Leia to Alderaan and Luke to Tatooine. At the end of the film, it is revealed that Yoda has been learning the secret of immortality from Qui-Gon's spirit and passing it on to Obi-Wan.

Sequel trilogy

Main article: Star Wars sequel trilogy

Oz reprises the Yoda role in the sequel trilogy, both as a puppeteer and as a voice actor. The first film of the trilogy, The Force Awakens (2015), takes place thirty years after Yoda's death in Return of the Jedi. When the scavenger Rey has a Force vision and discovers Luke's lightsaber, she hears Yoda's voice. In The Last Jedi (2017), Yoda appears to Luke as a Force spirit. As Luke considers whether to burn down a tree storing sacred Jedi texts, Yoda reminds him that a Jedi must always be sure of his path. When Luke decides to burn down the tree, Yoda summons a lightning bolt and sets it ablaze. Luke is suddenly concerned about the loss of the texts, but Yoda assures him that they contained no knowledge that Rey does not already possess. Yoda's voice is heard again in The Rise of Skywalker (2019) when many deceased Jedi are speaking to Rey during her battle against the resurrected Darth Sidious.

The Clone Wars

Yoda appears in the 2008 animated film The Clone Wars and the television series of the same name. He is voiced by Tom Kane in both productions. In the film, he assigns Anakin an apprentice, Ahsoka Tano, believing the responsibility will help him grow as a Jedi and mature as a person. Throughout most of the series, Yoda is on Coruscant with the Jedi Council, but he occasionally leaves for certain tasks, such as negotiations with King Katuunko on Rugosa and a confrontation with Asajj Ventress's droid army. Yoda also watches over Anakin and Ahsoka, pleased that they are both maturing with each other's influence. In season five, Ahsoka is framed for a crime she did not commit, and Yoda and the Jedi Council turn her over to the Republic military. Before a verdict is read in Ahsoka's trial, Anakin reveals the true culprit, the fallen Jedi Barriss Offee. Yoda, Anakin, and the Council then invite Ahsoka to rejoin the Order, but she refuses.

In the sixth season, Yoda hears the voice of the deceased Qui-Gon Jinn. He travels to Dagobah to find answers. He sees cryptic visions of the fall of the Jedi, and learns that he has been chosen to manifest his consciousness after death as a Force spirit. A group of spirit priestesses then gives him various tests, including facing an illusion of the ancient Sith Lord Darth Bane. His final challenge is to resist an attempt by Sidious and Dooku to lure him to the dark side. Yoda engages in a metaphysical battle with Sidious and seemingly sacrifices himself to save Anakin, only to awaken and discover that the battle was merely a vision, and that he passed the test. The priestesses inform Yoda that his training will resume in time.

Star Wars Rebels

Yoda returns in the animated series Star Wars Rebels (2014–2018). In the season one episode "Path of the Jedi", he telepathically communicates with the Jedi apprentice Ezra Bridger and his master Kanan Jarrus, helping the pair to understand their true motivations. In the season two episode "Shroud of Darkness", Yoda appears to Ezra in a vision.

Tales of the Jedi

Yoda appears in two episodes of Tales of the Jedi (2022), although he has no dialogue. In the third episode, he attends the funeral of Jedi Master Katri, and in the fifth episode he observes the training of Ahsoka.

Other

Yoda is voiced by John Lithgow in the radio dramatizations of The Empire Strikes Back (1983) and Return of the Jedi (1996). He is featured in the audio drama Dooku: Jedi Lost and the novel Master and Apprentice, both released in 2019. He appears in the web series Forces of Destiny (2017–2018), the children's television series Young Jedi Adventures (2023–present) and the 2021 comic The High Republic Adventures, which takes place 200 years before the prequel trilogy. He also makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in the final episode of the television series The Acolyte (2024). In 2012, Yoda was featured in a series of Vodafone commercials, which were broadcast in the United Kingdom.

Star Wars Legends

See also: Star Wars in other media

Following the acquisition of Lucasfilm by The Walt Disney Company in 2012, most of the licensed Star Wars novels and comics produced between 1977 and 2014 were rebranded as Star Wars Legends and declared non-canon to the franchise. The Legends works comprise a separate narrative universe.

Novels and comics

Yoda appears in the 2004 Sean Stewart novel Yoda: Dark Rendezvous, in which he sends an impersonator of himself to negotiate a treaty with Dooku. He is also a character in the comic series Star Wars: Republic.

Clone Wars

Yoda is voiced by Tom Kane in the animated television series Clone Wars, which aired on Cartoon Network from 2003 to 2005. In the series, Yoda becomes a general during the Clone Wars. While escorting Padmé on a journey, he senses a Force disturbance on the planet Ilum. After using a Jedi mind trick to convince Captain Typho to take them there, Yoda saves the lives of two Jedi. In the final episode of the series, Yoda fights alongside Mace Windu to defend Coruscant, which is under attack from the Separatists. The two Jedi Masters realize too late that the battle was intended to distract them from the kidnapping of Palpatine by the Separatist leader General Grievous. Clone Wars was removed from the official canon in 2014 and placed in the Legends universe.

See also

Notes

  1. Prequel trilogy
    Original trilogy
    Sequel trilogy
    Star Wars Rebels
  2. The Clone Wars (series)
    The Clone Wars (film)
    Forces of Destiny
    Clone Wars
    Lego Star Wars productions
    Various video games
  3. Radio dramas
  4. Super Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
  5. Young Jedi Adventures
  6. Star Wars: Rebellion
  7. Originally titled Star Wars, the film was later retitled Star Wars: Episode IV—A New Hope.
  8. For wide shots of Yoda moving around, the dwarf actor Deep Roy wore a Yoda suit.
  9. Attributed to multiple references:
  10. Attributed to multiple references:

References

Citations

  1. ^ "Tom Kane (visual voices guide)". Behind the Voice Actors. Archived from the original on July 9, 2019. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
  2. ^ Bilodeau, Matthew (July 21, 2022). "Did You Know John Lithgow Voiced Yoda In The Star Wars Radio Dramas?". SlashFilm. Archived from the original on May 13, 2024. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  3. "Peter McConnell (visual voices guide)". Behind the Voice Actors. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
  4. "Piotr Michael (visual voices guide)". Behind the Voice Actors. Archived from the original on June 1, 2024. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
  5. "Tony Pope (visual voices guide)". Behind the Voice Actors. Archived from the original on June 22, 2024. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
  6. Newby, Richard (November 15, 2019). "Will 'The Mandalorian' Answer One Question George Lucas Never Did?". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on April 27, 2024. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  7. Rinzler 2010, pp. 22, 34.
  8. "Unscripted With Hayden Christensen and George Lucas". Moviefone. May 19, 2005. Event occurs at 5:22. Archived from the original on March 31, 2024. Retrieved March 31, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  9. ^ Rinzler 2010, p. 241.
  10. ^ Rinzler 2010, p. 363.
  11. ^ Nathan, Ian (May 20, 2020). "The Empire Strikes Back At 40: The Making Of A Star Wars Classic". Empire. Archived from the original on November 12, 2020. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
  12. Rinzler 2010, p. 165.
  13. Rinzler 2010, p. 1229.
  14. Rinzler 2010, p. 1677.
  15. "Star Wars make-up artist Stuart Freeborn dies aged 98". BBC News. February 6, 2013. Archived from the original on April 7, 2019. Retrieved February 6, 2013.
  16. Empire of Dreams: The Story of the Star Wars Trilogy (2004). 20th Century Fox Television. Event occurs at 1 hour and 40 minutes.
  17. Jones, Brian Jay (2015). Jim Henson: The Biography. New York: Ballantine Books. p. 308. ISBN 978-0-345-52612-0. Archived from the original on April 22, 2023. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
  18. Rinzler 2010, p. 392.
  19. Rinzler 2010, p. 564, 1159.
  20. Nick Maley (November 29, 2020). Insider story of the creation of Yoda. Archived from the original on April 18, 2023. Retrieved June 3, 2024 – via YouTube.
  21. Rinzler 2010, p. 1498.
  22. Desowitz, Bill (June 14, 2002). "Yoda as We've Never Seen Him Before". Animation World Network. Archived from the original on May 31, 2012. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
  23. Landy, Tom (August 25, 2011). "Yoda Goes CGI in 'Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace' on Blu-ray". Hi-Def Digest. Archived from the original on June 11, 2012. Retrieved August 25, 2011.
  24. Blum, Matt (February 10, 2012). "7 Things Everyone Should Know About Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace 3D". Wired. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
  25. Coleman, Rob (2002). Star Wars: Episode II—Attack of the Clones audio commentary (DVD). 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment. Event occurs at 6 minutes.
  26. Coleman, Rob (2002). Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones audio commentary (DVD). 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment. Event occurs at 6.
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Works cited

  • Rinzler, J.W. (2010). The Making of the Empire Strikes Back (eBook v3.1 ed.). London: Del Rey. ISBN 9780345543363.

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External links

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