By George & Josh Bate
As is tradition in a galaxy far, far away, Star Wars movies and shows often receive official art books in the months following their release. And The Mandalorian and Grogu is no exception.
Written by Phil Szostak and published by Abrams Books, The Art of Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu serves as the official behind-the-scenes companion to the recently released Star Wars film. The book takes fans behind the scenes of the first theatrically released Star Wars film in seven years, with concept art, sketches, and interviews with key creatives.
Amidst the stunning artwork, The Art of Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu offers a number of fascinating insights about the film and Star Wars more generally. One of these insights sheds fascinating light on a long-deliberated topic amongst Star Wars fans: the name of the species that Yoda, Yaddle, and Grogu belong to.
Near the end of the book, Lucasfilm’s Senior Vice President and Executive Design Director Doug Chiang discusses the moment in The Mandalorian and Grogu in which the latter builds a hut for his ailing father figure on Nal Hutta. “Maybe all these Yodas [share the instinct to make huts] or something,” Chiang remarks.
Both in canon and Legends, Yoda’s species has no official name or backstory. George Lucas deliberately left their species, homeworld, and origins unknown to preserve Yoda’s mystique. Databanks on StarWars.com are consistent with Lucas’ desire, with both Yoda and Yaddle’s entries listing their species as “unknown.”
While far from official confirmation that the species is named Yodas, Chiang’s comment reflects the closest thing we’ve got to a name for the species of little, wise, Force-sensitive green creatures. ‘Yodas’ may be just a way for Chiang to succinctly group together Yoda, Yaddle, and Grogu, or the term may reflect something more important.
Even if Yodas does not refer to the species name, it is possible that Chiang’s usage of the term indicates a shared lineage between Yoda, Yaddle, and Grogu. Perhaps the three are all part of the same bloodline?
While the mystery regarding Yoda and Grogu’s species continues, The Art of Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu at least offers an interesting perspective into the inner-workings of Lucasfilm and how some of the top executives and creative forces of the company refer to the diminutive green beings.
The Art of Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu is now available.
