THE 'PHANTOM' AT TWENTY: THE NEW/OLD YODA!

Fans were thrilled with the news back in 1997 that Frank Oz would be returning to voice and operate Yoda for EPISODE I. But what would the revered Jedi Master look like with the new film? And how much younger would his physical appearance/abilities be in comparison to his appearances in the Classic Trilogy? This great above concept sketch, in which Yoda was considered to wear black Jedi robes (an idea then tying in with earlier Jedi designs by Doug Chiang) would give fans a general visual clue.

Made from silicon rather than the original foam - so as to apparently look more realistic on screen, Nick Dudman and his UK creature team created the new younger Yoda for Frank Oz and his small team of puppeteering assistants to operate (comprising Kathy Smee, Don Austen and David Greenaway, the latter of whom had helped operate Yoda on Return of the Jedi back in 1982). This new Yoda would also be designed for greater freedom of movement, in conjunction with Oz. Additional updates were made to Yoda's facial features with radio controlled operation off camera.

Working out the new mouth mechanics on an early test version of Yoda at Leavesden.

A selection of Yoda's in preparation or testing

"The hardest (creature) was probably Yoda, in terms of responsibility, because you're trying not to uet anyone. We did make certain changes: the character is younger and in his prime as Chief Jedi, not some kind of refugee on a bog planet. So we felt we were entitled to strengthen him and make his skin our of silicon instead of latex, it just looks healthier. Butt we felt we had to try and preserve the idiosyncrasies as much as possible."

Nick Dudman - Empire magazine  - 1999

Adding extra layers of make-up detail to the filming Yoda.

Stuart Freeborn and an old friend!

The unbeaten master of Star Wars creature making, Stuart Freeborn, would be invited to the EPISODE I set by his former protege Dudman and see the old and new background creatures at work. As charming and inquisitive as ever, Freeborn was also presented with a special Yoda bust for his work on the series.