In the original script for The Empire Strikes Back, the description of Yoda’s first appearance reads: “Mysteriously, standing immediately in front of Luke, is a strange, bluish creature, not more than two feet tall (about 60 cm). The wrinkled little thing is dressed in rags.”
Another piece of evidence for Yoda’s blue origins comes from the Marvel Comics series published concurrently with the film’s production. The comic depicted Yoda very closely to his film appearance and personality, but his skin color was a purple-blue. This suggests that the artists were likely working from the studio’s early notes, and the decision to change Yoda’s color was made after other character and set details were finalized.
The Meaning and Equation of Green
Nick Maley, the special makeup and creature effects designer for the original trilogy, offers an intriguing perspective on why Yoda ended up green. Maley says, “I assumed everybody thought, ‘Oh, Martians are little green characters.’ Right? I mean, green is a classic for aliens in people’s minds…” This implies that green may have been a subconscious choice. It seems the design team was striving for a balance: a green skin tone to clearly appear alien, while also evoking the image of a gentle, elderly grandfather.
This insight into Yoda’s blue origins creates an interesting connection with Grogu (Baby Yoda) from the Disney+ series The Mandalorian. While Grogu is still green, his skin has a bluish tint not previously seen in his species. Much like how some people’s blonde hair darkens with age, it’s possible that Yoda’s species transitions from a turquoise-like hue to a more distinct green over time. This adds a surprising and whimsical detail to the Star Wars universe.
Star Wars Note:
- The original script for The Empire Strikes Back described Yoda as a “bluish creature.”
- Nick Maley suggests the green color was chosen to align with the “little green Martians” cliché while striking a balance.
- The bluish tint in Grogu’s green skin in The Mandalorian may be a nod to this original blue origin.
