Editing Yoda (section)

==Portrayal==
Yoda was originally portrayed by a puppet created by [[Stuart Freeborn]] and [[Wendy Froud]].{{Sfn|Rinzler|2010|p=1677}} Freeborn based Yoda's face on his own facial features and those of [[Albert Einstein]], hoping the latter inspiration would make the character appear intelligent.<ref name="BBC">{{cite news |date=February 6, 2013 |title=Star Wars make-up artist Stuart Freeborn dies aged 98 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-21357301 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190407081214/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-21357301 |archive-date=April 7, 2019 |access-date=February 6, 2013 |work=BBC News}}</ref><ref>''[[Empire of Dreams: The Story of the Star Wars Trilogy]]'' (2004). 20th Century Fox Television. Event occurs at 1 hour and 40 minutes.</ref> Lucas asked [[Jim Henson]], the creator of [[the Muppets]], to perform the puppeteering for Yoda. Henson was busy with another project, however, and recommended Frank Oz for the role.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Jones|first=Brian Jay|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hPcBDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA308|title=Jim Henson: The Biography|publisher=Ballantine Books|year=2015|isbn=978-0-345-52612-0|location=New York|pages=308|language=en|access-date=December 23, 2021|archive-date=April 22, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230422154501/https://books.google.com/books?id=hPcBDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA308|url-status=live}}</ref>{{Sfn|Rinzler|2010|p=392}} To perform Yoda in ''The Empire Strikes Back'', Oz inserted his hand into the puppet's head to manipulate the mouth and brow. [[Kathryn Mullen]], Wendy Froud and [[David Barclay (puppeteer)|David Barclay]] operated Yoda's eyes, ears and other body parts using cables, strings, hydraulics and electronic mechanisms.{{Sfn|Rinzler|2010|p=564, 1159}} There was also a radio-controlled Yoda puppet that was used when the Jedi Master is riding on Luke's back.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8lw1iMugbg |title=Insider story of the creation of Yoda |date=2020-11-29 |last=Nick Maley |access-date=2024-06-03 |via=YouTube |archive-date=April 18, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230418204700/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8lw1iMugbg&list=PLkGUNCMKghxg0TTh0ve498ukAdD0aLG1z |url-status=live }}</ref> Lucas had intended for a different actor to provide Yoda's voice, but ultimately decided that Oz was the best performer for the role.{{Sfn|Rinzler|2010|p=1498}}

In the original 1999 release of ''[[Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace|The Phantom Menace]]'', Yoda was portrayed by a new puppet in all but two shots. In these two wide shots, the character was created using [[computer-generated imagery]] (CGI).<ref name="AWM">{{cite web |last=Desowitz |first=Bill |date=June 14, 2002 |title=Yoda as We've Never Seen Him Before |url=http://mag.awn.com/index.php?ltype=Columns&category2=&article_no=1415&page=1 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120531060024/http://www.awn.com/articles/production/yoda-weve-never-seen-him |archive-date=May 31, 2012 |access-date=May 7, 2024 |website=Animation World Network |publisher=}}</ref> The puppet was replaced with a digital Yoda in the 2011 [[Blu-ray Disc|Blu-ray]] release and the 2012 theatrical [[3D film|3D]] release.<ref>{{cite web |last=Landy |first=Tom |date=August 25, 2011 |title=Yoda Goes CGI in 'Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace' on Blu-ray |url=http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/news/show/George_Lucas/20th_Century_Fox/Yoda_Goes_CGI_in_Star_Wars_Episode_I_-_The_Phantom_Menace_on_Blu-ray/7520 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120611020053/http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/news/show/George_Lucas/20th_Century_Fox/Yoda_Goes_CGI_in_Star_Wars_Episode_I_-_The_Phantom_Menace_on_Blu-ray/7520 |archive-date=June 11, 2012 |access-date=August 25, 2011 |magazine=Hi-Def Digest}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Blum |first=Matt |date=Feb 10, 2012 |title=7 Things Everyone Should Know About Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace 3D |url=https://www.wired.com/2012/02/star-wars-phantom-menace-3d/ |access-date=May 7, 2024 |magazine=Wired}}</ref> In ''Attack of the Clones'' (2002) and ''Revenge of the Sith'' (2005), Yoda is entirely computer-generated. The digital character accomplishes movements not possible with the puppet, such as fighting with a lightsaber.<ref>{{cite AV media |title=Star Wars: Episode II—Attack of the Clones ''audio commentary'' |last=Coleman |first=Rob |medium=DVD |publisher=20th Century Fox Home Entertainment |year=2002 |time=6 minutes}}</ref> In ''Revenge of the Sith'', his face is shown in several close-ups, which required highly detailed CGI work.<ref>{{cite AV media |title=Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones ''audio commentary'' |last=Coleman |first=Rob |medium=DVD |publisher=[[20th Century Fox Home Entertainment]] |year=2002 |time=6}}</ref>

Yoda uses the [[Yoda word order|object-subject-verb word order]] giving him his distinctive speaking style. Lucas later explained why he added this to the character: “Because if you speak regular English, people won’t listen that much. But if he had an accent, or it’s really hard to understand what he’s saying, they focus on what he’s saying.”<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2025/film/news/why-yoda-talks-backwards-star-wars-george-lucas-1236378508/|date=April 25, 2025|title=George Lucas Reveals Why Yoda Talks Backwards at ‘Empire Strikes Back’ Anniversary Screening|author=Gilchrist, Todd|work=Variety}}</ref>