Star WarsJar Jar Binks actor Ahmed Best has praised the character’s impact on cinema, likening it to the development of Microsoft. One of the most divisive characters inStar Warshistory, Jar Jar Binks made his franchise debut as part of thecast ofStar Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace. Best reprised the role inStar Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones, andStar Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith. Despite initial backlash, the character has remained an important part ofStar Warslore, and has greatly impacted digital characters in cinema.
During an interview withScreenRant’s Ash Crossan that included Best, John Knoll, and Rob Coleman forLight & Magicseason 2 atStar Wars Celebration, the discussion turned to the importantimpact of Jar Jar Binks as the first fully digital motion-captured character in the movies. Best discusses how, at the time of the movie being made, he was unaware of the importance this would have. Comparing it with creating Microsoft, Best states, “…you don’t really know you’re building Microsoft until you see Microsoft,” and discusses how it’s difficult to understand the importance of something at the time. Check out Best’s comments below:
ScreenRant: The thing is, Jar Jar Banks was the first all-digital live-action, featured character. And I think that legacy is so important, because there are so many characters and films that follow that would not exist without Jar Jar Banks. And I think when you’re in it, it’s so hard to realize you’re making history. But for you, when did that start resonating and you started realizing how impactful that performance and that character was?
Ahmed Best:Last week?
ScreenRant: Okay. Yeah. Well…
Ahmed Best:Yeah. I mean, at the time I was just so excited to be a part of the cast and a part of the ILM team, and we were so excited making stuff, like… Doing The Phantom Menace at that time was like being in the best film company and the best internet startup you can possibly imagine.
I mean, every day was an iterative experience. Every day was an invention. Every day we made mistakes and failed up. So it didn’t feel like we were really basking in the moment of history. It felt like we had a job to do and we had to do it, and we had to do it to the best of our abilities. And everybody just brought the A-game.
It was kind of one of those things like, you don’t really know you’re building Microsoft until you see Microsoft. So it didn’t really dawn on me the historical significance, but what it did do to me was it created an ethic for work. And it made me recognize that with the right amount of people and the right person at the head of it, anything is possible.
What This Means For Jar Jar Binks' Cinematic Legacy
The Much-Maligned Character Paved The Way For Some Of Film’s Most Iconic Creations
Despite backlash to his role in theStar Warsprequel trilogy, Jar Jar Binks remains an important and influential character for cinema. The work that was done to get an all-digital character a prominent part in one of the biggest movies of all-time had a legacy that shaped the course of the next 25 years of cinema.Jar Jar Binks paved the way for some of the most iconic CGI and motion-capture characters in cinema, including Gollum, Thanos, the Na’vi, and more, as well as influencing movies such asWarcraft,King Kong, and the MCU films.
He set the stage for many of the CGI and motion-capture characters that would come after, and this has created a legacy of digital effects.
The character has also had a big impact onStar Wars, including paving the way for an all-CGI Yoda to debut inEpisode II:Attack of the Clones.Best’s comments illustrate the work that was involved in the characterand how anything is possible with the right team in place. The impact of Jar Jar Binks as a character should not be understated when it comes to his influence on cinema, and the growth of all-digital characters, brought to life in fascinating ways.
Our Take On Jar Jar Binks' Influence
The Character Should Get A Little More Credit
Whilst Jar Jar Binks is not a characterStar Warsfans are ever likely to warm to, the character should get more credit for his influence on cinema. He set the stage for many of the CGI and motion-capture characters that would come after, and this has created a legacy of digital effects.
Best’s role in all of this should not be overlooked either, and while theroles Best has done since Jar Jar Binksinclude Kelleran Beq inThe Mandalorian, there is no question that Jar Jar Binks remains his most impactful character.
Check out more of our Star Wars Celebration coverage:
Star Wars Celebration
Star Wars Celebration is a comic-con-like event devoted specifically to the Star Wars franchise. Beginning in 1999 in Denver, Colorado, to celebrate Star Wars: Episode I- The Phantom Menace, the events are known for releasing first looks at upcoming Star Wars content. In 2025, the event will be held in Japan from April 18-20.
