'JEDI' AT 40: SPEEDY PURSUITS!

The chase is on for Luke and Leia as they commandeer a speeder bike to pursue and stop Imperial Scout Troops from giving away the Rebels secret arrival on Endor, during one of the many highlight action sequences beloved by fans worldwide from Return of the Jedi.

Check out this great from-animatics-to-shooting comparison of the exciting sequence from filmmaker Luke Asa Guidici. 

ILM CLASSIC IMAGE: ANIMATIC HEROES!

"Get alongside that one!"

It wasn't just the kids who liked playing with the large-size Kenner figures created for the first two Star Wars Classic Trilogy movies, the ILM team did too, using them for key animatic sequences choreography, like this one, concocted by Dennis Muren and Joe Johnston, for the upcoming filming of the exhilarating Endor speeder bike chase showcased in Return of the Jedi. With even a cameo from Boba Fett as a Stormtrooper thrown in!

ILM Legend Thomas G. Smith on the Making of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi | StarWars.com

Staging the animatic filming at ILM in Autumn 1982.

Dennis Muren and Joe Johnston get paid to have this much creative fun!

Also using the small scale Kenner figures.

ILM CLASSIC IMAGE: BLUE SCREEN CONFLICT

In some of the last scenes shot in 1982 for RETURN OF THE JEDI, against blue screen at ILM, Mark Hamill's Luke Skywalker prepares to tackle stuntman Frank Henson's Biker Scout, literally twisting his neck before pushing him off his vehicle, in a moment from the classic speeder bike chase not used in the movie's final cut.

With thanks to Chris Baker for the image.

ILM CLASSIC IMAGE: THE PUPPET MASTERS!

The rod-puppet go-motion system developed by Phil Tippett for THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK is used for even grander things during the exciting speeder bike chase conceived for the all-action RETURN OF THE JEDI.

BEHIND THE SCENES IMAGE: THE HAPPY GO LUCKY JEDI!

Enjoying the experience of working on a blockbuster movie at the FOX Studios, Australia, a beaming Hayden Christensen takes a break during blue screen filming of the Coruscant air speeder chase.

ROTJ AT 30: ADRENALINE BOOST...

In dogged pursuit of an escaping Imperial Scout Trooper, Luke Skywalker accelerates through the Endor forest in his acquired speeder bike- a classic highlight action sequence from RETURN OF THE JEDI.

ROTJ AT 30: THE (VHS) RACE IS ON!

The spectacle of RETURN OF THE JEDI makes a truncated conversion to home entertainment in 1985/1986. In the pre-digital days when VHS tapes were all we had, STAR WARS found a new lease of life for generations of fans on TV- in rental, then nice price release sales- until the big-screen return of the Original Trilogy in love 'em or hate 'em SPECIAL EDITIONS in 1997.

ILM CLASSIC IMAGE: SPEED DEMONS...

An early piece of REVENGE OF THE JEDI conceptual art from Joe Johnston for the exhilarating speeder bike chase-I'm assuming that's an incognito Luke and Leia aboard it. Note the cool pirate-skull like accoutrement on the back!

ILM CLASSIC IMAGE: NOT BAD FOR A LITTLE FURBALL...

The brave Ewok Paploo continues his diversion with the Imperial Biker scouts on Endor, in this model sequence filmed by ILM for RETURN OF THE JEDI.

ILM CLASSIC IMAGE: BIKER SCOUT CHECK!

On the Forest Moon of Endor (not yet added onto Blue Screen in this ILM behind the scenes shot), an Imperial Scout Trooper (possibly played by Peter Diamond) looks back from his speeder bike controls to see the once pursuant Princess Leia crash into the trees. But lack of concentration can be equally deadly....as he'll soon find out!

ILM CLASSIC IMAGE: LITTLE LEIA!

For the complex speeder bike filming at ILM in mid to late 1982, small puppets of Luke and Leia were additionally created in the finest detail for the go-motion blue screen photography supervised by Phil Tippett...

ILM CLASSIC IMAGE: SPEED IS THE KEY!

Some great mid to late 1981 conceptual illustrations, presumably by the ever talented Nilo Rodis-Jamero, for RETURN OF THE JEDI's classic speeder bike chase. This art shows Han, who sadly never got to ride one in the exhilarating sequence, and an in development Biker Scout testing them out.

For the most in-depth behind the scenes look yet at the making of JEDI, be sure to get hold of our special issue here: STAR WARS AFICIONADO ISSUE 14 - THE MAKING OF "RETURN OF THE JEDI"

ILM CLASSIC IMAGE: MARIONETTE MASTER!

At ILM, Phil Tippett makes some Go-Motion filming adjustments whilst he and his crew film the brilliantly detailed miniature Luke on his Speeder Bike for the exhilarating Endor chase sequence for RETURN OF THE JEDI.

My Life In Monsters: Meet the Animator Behind Star Wars and Jurassic Park - YouTube