AN 'EMPIRE' AT 40: THE VISUAL DEVELOPMENT OF 'MINCH YODA' - PART TWO

The look of Yoda continues to evolve, as seen in these important conceptual development images by Joe Johnston, the artist attempting to further lock down the impish quality of the character. Johnston's artwork for Yoda would be provided to Marvel Comics for advanced artist use by Al Williamson in their upcoming special paperback adaptation of The Empire Strikes Back (the character appearing near miniscule on the art panels when seen next to Luke), though a later Summer Special magazine edition, with a later print run by the time of the film's release (and the unveiling of the character proper), would see the Freeborn version of Yoda officially replacing it.

One of the early Yoda designs as seen in the 1980 Marvel Comics paperback adapting Empire. This was revised to the film Yoda for the later printed full size magazine edition.

Celebrating the work of Johnston, modern SW merchandisers Gentle Giant sculptors would release this limited edition version of Yoda that would be similar to his conceptual art.

https://starwarsaficionado.blogspot.com/2012/07/classic-art-house-proud-jedi.html

AN 'EMPIRE' AT 40: THE VISUAL DEVELOPMENT OF 'MINCH YODA- PART ONE!

Created to replace Ben Kenobi, previously 'killed off' in the original Star Wars (in order to service the plot of what was then a singular film), so as to become Luke's new teacher in the ways of the Force, early illustrations saw Jedi Master 'Minch' Yoda look like a character out of the kind of children's fantasy tales like The Wizard of Oz, or the works of Hans Christian Anderson. As time went on, the character became more alien looking and frog-ish, with its eventual facial features refined by British make-up legend Stuart Freeborn in the UK, at a time perilously close to needed-for-filming at Elstree.