Who doesn’t know Yoda? That little puppet Jedi master captured all of our hearts when he debuted in The Empire Strikes Back in 1980. since then, he has been in 4 other Star Wars films, but only one other time as a puppet. That was in Return of the Jedi back in 1983.
His other 3 appearances were in the dreadful, mind-numbing prequels to the legendary Star Wars trilogy. To make matters worse, Yoda was digitally created. In the prequels, he could run and jump and scratch his butt. But it was not the same Yoda. Not the Real Yoda. Fans yearned for the real, original Yoda to appear.
A new Star Wars film is on the horizon. While it will not feature Yoda, Disney has announced that they are going to produce at least 2 separate anthology films set in the Star Wars Universe. We fully expect that Yoda will be in these films. Enter Nick Maley, one of the geniuses behind Yoda’s design.
The late Stuart Freeborn is the creator and designer of the real Yoda. He and his team of design wizards were responsible for all of the wonderful and amazing creatures that inhabit the Star Wars Universe, from the Cantina Band to Chewbacca to a little guy named Yoda. Among those working on Yoda and the others was a gentleman named Nick Maley.
I recently had the great pleasure of meeting Nick at his place on the beautiful island of St. Maarten, in the Netherlands Antilles. In the Caribbean, Nick has a shop and museum dedicated to the films he has been a part of. Among his work has been:
KRULL. Nick designed the Widow of the Web and the amazing Cyclops make up design, among others.
THE KEEP. The ancient demon was designed and articulated by Nick.
LIFEFORCE. Nick brought the Space Vampires to life, as well as several reanimated corpses.
HIGHLANDER. Nick contributed to the Kurgan design.
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Saving Yoda
So, now you know of Nick’s genius, and I’d like to ask for your help. Nick has a project called Saving Yoda, that is designed to create an entire new Yoda puppet in its entirety. Its’ purpose is to be used in the forthcoming Star Wars films, if Yoda’s services are required. Nick is seeking any donations to help realize this dream. Here is a list of reasons for creating a new Yoda, from Nick’s site.
1. To create a duplicate animatronic close-up puppet constructed exactly as the original puppet was built, available for future Star Wars movies.
2. An animatronic Yoda for display at conventions where donations raise funds for charitable foundations.
3. A virtual holographic exhibit of Star Wars veteran creature builders, discussing their part in the creation of the original Yoda, for display at conventions around the world, where donations raise funds for charitable foundations.
4. A radio controlled Yoda that duplicates the one in Luke’s backpack.
5. A display of the parts of the original Yoda puppets, demonstrating the manner in which they were created, for display at conventions where donations raise funds for charitable foundations.![Nick Maley,Star Wars,Yoda]()
Why, you ask, do we need a new Yoda? Well, I can answer that. With more data from Nick’s site.
a. Because loyal Star Wars fans, everywhere, keep asking for a return to a practical FX, and Disney should have available a rebuilt Yoda puppet for any new movies that take place before Yoda’s death.
b. Because members of the team that built the original Yoda are the best people to recreate a duplicate.
c. Because fans feel that the digital Yoda has lost the fun and charm and realism of the original puppet.
d. Because Frank Oz and his associate puppeteers did it better.So, will you help Nick Maley and his crew create a new Yoda for a new generation of Star Wars films? The new Star Wars fans deserve a real Yoda, not a digital copy. The following sites are the ones you need to go to for more information. You can make your donations at: http://savingyoda.com/
-The Saving Yoda Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/savingyoda
http://savingyoda.com/
-The Yoda Guy Movie Exhibit Page:
https://www.facebook.com/The-Yoda-Guy-Movie-Exhibit-295303327163046/?fref=ts-Nick Maley’s Home Page:
http://netdwellers.com/mz/nickmaley/home.html
Oh, and by the way, the next time you visit St. Maarten in the Caribbean, please visit Nick’s shop and museum. Here’s the address and phone number. He’s on the main street, where all of the shops are. You can’t miss it.
That Yoda Guy Movie Exhibit and Museum
19a Front Street
Philipsburg, Netherlands Antilles
+1 721-542-4009
http://YodaGuyMovieExhibit.com/
If this was helpful to you, please leave me your thoughts, comments and questions below. I’ll be sure to respond to them.
To Your Future,
Tom, the High Traffic Wizard
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