THE 'PHANTOM' AT TWENTY: ANAKIN'S VICTORY!

A well deserved champion, putting Sebulba in real Bantha poo-doo in the process, local boy Anakin Skywalker is the toast of the arena as he and his friends gather to celebrate his success against a truly out of the game rival. Note the Tunisian location image would have a background wall added to the shot in the film's ILM post production.

THE 'PHANTOM' AT TWENTY: TENSE OBSERVERS!

Watching Anakin's final lap at the Boonta Eve event is worrying enough, but to see the challenge of Sebulba adds to the tension for Shmi Skywalker and her new friends at the arena, watching from a viewscreen and at one of the highest points of the Arena area.

Filming the scenes on ground level in Tunisia. Note the other race viewers barely seen in the finished movie.

Meanwhile, Kitster and Wald show a range of emotions from scared to confident throughout the race.

THE 'PHANTOM' AT TWENTY: HANGAR ARRIVAL!

The crowds are gathering and so too are Anakin's friends and family inside the arena's main hangar area. With Watto being too confident and arrogant, Shmi is nervous about her son, as too is Padme, soon discovering that Anakin has never actually won or completed a previous pod racing event! The omens are now not looking so good!

Pernilla August and Dhruv Chanchani await the filming of their scene on the hangar set at Leavesden.

Shmi and Qui-Gon exchange warm greetings.

Lucas goes through a scene with Liam Neeson and the child actors.

Qui-Gon has high hopes that Anakin will ultimately win the race.

CLASSIC IMAGE: TIME TO WIN A RACE!

Its time for the lively and dangerous Boonta Eva pod race at Mos Espa and young Anakin Skywalker couldn't have better support and friendship than with old pal Kitster and new friend in R2-D2, during important Tatooine set events of EPISODE I.

STAR WARS AFICIONADO sends out Birthday Greetings to Jake Lloyd!

And discover what happened to Kitster actor Druv Chanchani here: The Last Jedi Filmmakers At Celebration and Kitster Attempts a High-Five (Again) - YouTube

CLASSIC IMAGE: RACING BUDDIES!

Outside his meagre home in Mos Espa, which has just endured a massive sandstorm, preparations are being made to Anakin's top secret pod racer, as he and loyal friend Kitster contemplate the approaching Boonta Eve event. A rarely seen image from EPISODE I.

CLASSIC IMAGE: PRE-RACE FIX-UP!

A big and challenging day looms ahead for young Anakin Skywalker as he and his friends make some last minutes fixes to his recently built pod racer-a scene filmed in Tunisia for EPISODE I.

CLASSIC IMAGE: TO WIN A RACE...

He may not have ever completed a Pod Race, but Jedi Knight Qui-Gon Jinn has every confidence in young Anakin Skywalker succeeding this time out, in a supportive moment inside the Boonta Eve racing hangar, watched by friend Kitster, from EPISODE I.

EPISODE I BEHIND THE SCENES: PICTURE FIVE - RACE DAY ARRIVAL

Day Five of our Behind the Scenes of EPISODE I photos linked to its 3D re-release this week shows our young hero Anakin Skywalker (Jake Lloyd) arriving with his eventual true love Padme Amidala (Natalie Portman), mother Shmi (Pernilla August) and friend Kitster (Dhruv Chanchani) at the Boonta Eve Pod Race arena. The only human capable of the fast paced and highly dangerous sport, Qui-Gon knows that their encountering of Anakin, who clearly possesses Jedi reflexes, is no accident, and that the fate and will of the Force is at work...

With no animatronic creatures built for this scene, the group of actors are on blue screen mounts with the Eopie creatures beings later superimposed with CGI. The Pod Race hangar was built in large size with part pods, again with lots of blue screen backing for background model extensions, at LEAVESDEN.

Back on the Big Screen: STAR WARS EPISODE I : THE PHANTOM MENACE, now in 3D!