Meet Darth Jar Jar In Amazing 'Star Wars' Fan Art

Think back to the first time we met Jar Jar Binks. The silly and unique Gungan native to the planet Naboo had been banished from his home. Within the first few minutes of meeting him in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, you can deduce the reason why the younger Obi-Wan Kenobi thought of him as a pathetic lifeform. He was clumsy, perhaps to the extreme. His crashing of the Gungan leader Boss Nass’s heyblibber submarine caused his exile. We can only speculate as to the size and severity of the collateral damage caused by this mistake (or culmination of mistakes) that they banished him from his home, never to return under the penalty of death.

We have also heard (and perhaps laughed at) the Jar Jar is a Sith Lord theory. It made sense that his troublesome antics would make him the least likely participant in a sinister plot. Here is a crude rendition of the image that popped in my head when I thought of Darth Jar Jar Binks.

Artist Kevin Cassidy did a more realistic 3D model of Darth Jar Jar Binks that made us believe in the possibility that he IS a Sith Lord.

These images of Darth Jar Jar Binks reminded me of the Xenomorph from Alien at first. This is not the small, cute in its own way version that burst out of your chest. This is closer to the full grown, highly aggressive, predatory creature we see in more recent Alien movies.

While this Darth Jar Jar Binks is not snarling or otherwise showing any open aggression, you can sense the underlying rage and anger barely contained under that calm composure. His muscles are ready to coil into action, whether to ignite his scarlet lightsaber or send out white forks of Force lightning from his fingers. The exquisite details of the model allow you to visualize the nostrils flaring as the dark creature breathes. The muscles in his neck contract as he clenches his jaws in frustration. The horn-like structures above his eyes twitch almost imperceptibly as he narrows his eyes condescendingly to the pathetic life form cowering in front of him. The ridges on his ears are so lifelike that you want to reach out and touch them (but you would probably lose a hand or an arm in the process). The dark mottled colors contrast with the bright vibrant colors we usually associated with the character

Jar Jar Binks is normally shown with a “resting happy face,” always with a tiniest hint of a smile. His usual demeanor is that of contentment. Instead, Cassidy’s artwork portrays him with a “resting angry face.” The constant downward curl of his lips into a scowl represents his immersion in the seething dark side of the Force. This is someone who was consumed by the Dark Side. Nothing would hold him back from unleashing his full power. This is not an opponent whom you would take on lightly.

In Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, we saw the deformed features of the Sith Lord beneath the serene cover of the humble former senator of Naboo who had risen to the position of Supreme Chancellor. Cassidy’s work points to the possibility that beneath the friendly, kindhearted, vibrant character lies a more sinister visage.

About Kevin Cassidy

Kevin Cassidy is a senior character artist at Roundhouse Studios (part of Bethesda Softworks) with more than 14 years of experience creating sculptures, and 3D models for films and videogames. His portfolio is filled with other realistic portrayals of villainous characters that makes you wonder what his rendition of a hero would look like. On the flip side, he does the snarling evil faces so well that you just want him to keep making more of them. With more shows adding more antagonists to the Star Wars universe, we cannot wait to see more of Cassidy’s work.

Written By Apinya Wong

Source(s): CinemaBlend

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