STAR WARS AFICIONADO WEBSITE: THE 'PHANTOM' AT TWENTY: A 'VERY ODD' GUNGAN!

Jar Jar Binks. Hesa back!

"George (Lucas ) made a movie for kids. That was always the idea, and they love it. What hasn't really been explored in all of this is how serious I am about the character. Some people look at Jar Jar as this novelty act, that he's there just to get a laugh. That's just disrespectful to George, to me and to everybody involved in the film. Jar Jar was probably one of the most complicated characters ever to be created in movie history. It was the first time somebody had said, "I'm going to do a completely digitally animated character which looks like and is voice by a live-action actor." That's not easy to do. A lot of work was put into him and a great deal of respect was paid to the character's creation."

Ahmed Best - STARLOG magazine interview (1999)

Best based his character's unique movements on comedian/Silent movies star Buster Keaton (he and Lucas, a film fanatic, would look at all of Keaton's movement and work out which moves they'd like Jar Jar to copy) as well as those of martial arts film star Jackie Chan, whom Best greatly admired.

Best's voice for Jar Jar was one of six that the actor/dancer recorded as demos. When hired, Best didn't know if he would be doing the voice alongside wearing the costume. It was only when the actor arrived for filming at London's Leavesden Studios, and attended the cast read through that he knew he had the voice too, specifically when he impressed young Jake Lloyd and made him laugh with his self-chosen voice (one that Best always did to amuse children) for the character. Best was told during filming by Lucas to not be afraid of going 'too dopey' with the character's realisation.