Even if you still haven’t watched Star Wars: The Last Jedi, you’ve probably heard a lot about a plethora of new creatures that came with it. Each new movie of the legendary franchise brings something new to the table and we can’t wait to see what other amazing races and cute critters filmmakers come up with next. All fans of Star Wars have their own special favorite when it comes to monsters, weird races, and all kinds of cuties inhabiting the universe, and we are no exception! The Last Jedi introduced adorable porgs and amazing ice foxes for the first time, making the whole world fall in love with the new creatures, but Star Wars has so much more to offer! Whether you’re a die-hard fan or just a rookie, here’s a list of 11 Star Wars creatures everyone is mad about.
Loth-cats
Don’t let their cute appearance deceive you – loth-cats may look adorable, but they are wild beasts that can be calmed down only by a Force bearer. Nevertheless, just like cats, they are impossible not to fall in love with. But beware of all those sharp teeth and claws! They mostly dwell on the Outer Rim planets that are rich with grassy plains and smaller creatures to hunt.
Ewoks
You may remember these warrior-like cuties from Star Wars Episode VI: The Return of the Jedi. George Lucas wanted to create a tribe of primitive creatures that would battle and bring down the Empire. Originally, Wookiees were supposed to play that role, but Chewie ended up being too skilled and intelligent, making his whole race unsuitable for such a role. That’s when Ewoks were born! George Lucas just swapped the letters in the word ‘Wookie’ and got himself a whole new race named ‘Ewoks’.
Tauntaun
Who wouldn’t want to hitch a ride on one of these furry beasts? Yes, their faces might look a bit weird, but other than that Tauntauns are beyond awesome. They are quick, calm, and can withstand the most severe low-temperature weather. If you want to conquer a snowy terrain – these fluffy creatures are your go-to transportation. The smell is pretty bad, though.
Bantha
Banthas are huge, hairy, and carry some of the most spectacular horns we’ve ever seen. The Star Wars universe is rich with creatures you can ride, with Banthas being among the strongest animals capable to withstand long rides across various terrains. They might be a bit slow, but you’ll forget all about it once you try the famous Bantha milk that is of noble blue color.
Crystal foxes
Also known as Vulptices, crystal foxes not only look amazing with that sparkly pointy ‘fur’ of theirs, but they are also smart and play a pivotal role in saving the Resistance on planet Crait in Star Wars: The Last Jedi. It is believed that crystalline foxes got their stylish look from eating some of the planet’s surface – at least that’s what Neal Scanlan says, the creature effects guy behind the critters of the new Star Wars.
Porgs
Porgs are among the most controversial creatures in the Star Wars universe. Many Ewok haters changed their focus on the new creatures, dubbing them ‘unnecessary attention-grabbers’ created with a sole purpose to sell toys. Well, you know what? We couldn’t care less! If you’ve seen the movie, you know that porgs are unbearably cute. And how can something that makes you laugh so hard be a bad thing? They look adorbs with Chewie and they look even cuter in their nests with little baby porglets.
Varactyl
Next time you watch Revenge of the Sith, pay a close attention to Obi-Wan Kenobi’s ride on the Utapau planet. Varactyls are truly amazing creatures that have no fear whatsoever and come with a bunch of handy features like super strength and loyalty. They have bird-like feather-covered heads, but rock a reptilian body that allows them to climb walls and effortlessly run through the roughest terrains imaginable.
Acklay
Star Wars is good with showing off cuties, but its monsters are equally spectacular. We believe Acklay is among the most horrifying monsters in the Star Wars universe. He has it all – the appalling screech, the vicious look, and the speed worthy of an alpha predator that he is. Obi-Wan Kenobi had to battle the creature in Attack of the Clones and was helpless against it until he got his light saber back. And no wonder – Acklay’s skin is as hard as bone and he has no pain receptors whatsoever!
Jabba the Hutt
Jabba the Hutt, a giant slug-like crime lord of the planet Tatooine, is one of the most memorable characters in the franchise. He’s gross, yet life-like and totally believable. Now the character is all CGI, but back in the day it took 7 people to operate the giant puppet that was made out of 4 tons of clay. Two guys moved his arms, one guy worked the tail, one made sure his breathing was stable, and one guy had to smoke cigars for special effects. And, of course, there were two guys on Jabba’s eyes and one that controlled the slime and made sure that the slug-like creature was slimy enough for the gross effect.
Chewbacca (Wookiee)
No Star Wars creature list would be complete without this adorable Wookiee named Chewbacca. He assisted in defeating two Death Stars and helped destroy a whole Starkiller Base! Not many people know that Chewbacca was actually inspired by the dog George Lucas had in the 70s named Indiana (and yes, the name Indiana Jones also comes from the doggie). The dog rode the car with George Lucas like a co-pilot, thus, Chewbacca’s character was born. Oh, and the charismatic Wookie roar? It was created from a roar of a bear that was mixed with sounds made by badger, lion, and walrus.
Yoda
Yoda is one of the most mysterious and most loved characters in Star Wars. No one really knows where he came from, but what we do know is that he has trained hundreds of Jedi all over the Galaxy, turning into one of the most recognized Jedi Masters of all time. He’s lived for more than 900 years and even after death continues to visit the living from time to time in a form of a spirit. We love him for his wisdom and a mean sense of humor!
