Star Wars: Blogs | Experimental Surgery with GH-7

Experimental Surgery with GH-7

date posted: Apr 25, 2006 9:25 AM

Listen...

Kids love wookiees. Comments?

Seriously, what's with that? Chewie is one of the most beloved characters in the Star Wars universe - not to mention my own personal favorite. But why? It's certainly not the dialogue writing that makes these characters come to life. He doesn't say a darn thing in 4 movies that any human (except Han Solo) can understand, yet we react to his grunts and growls and howls like native Kashyyykians.

Part of it, I'd like to say, is the sound design. Ben Burtt's creature dialogue sound effects are renowned for their ability to "non-verbally" convey almost any idea as well as the full spectrum of emotions. Chewie, R2, the Jawas... I don't need subtitles to understand what "Ootini!" means. If R2 is mad or excited, C3P0 isn't the only one who knows it.

But I digress, I'm getting up on my sound design soap box here. It's obviously not all about that. After all, there is an actor in those horribly uncomfortable looking suits and prosthetics...

http://blogs.starwars.com/50percent/5

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	hansgirl3 Invoking the Squee
date Posted: Apr 25, 2006 9:31 AM We don't love our cats and dogs any less just because we can't "understand" what they're saying. (Of course, I understand my little man purrfectly)

ewanandhaydenfan5
I Have You Now!

date Posted: Apr 25, 2006 10:26 AM

I showed my 5-year-old daughter ANH, and she loved the part where our heroes have just escaped the Death Star after Ben and DV's battle, where Chewie and R2 are playing, ummm, some kind of chess (?). Han says that Wookies are sore losers, and Chewie sits back and puts his hands behind his head. My daughter cracked up at that point. There's another scene in ANH (I can't recall exactly which one) where Chewie is "talking" and he ##### his head to the side, and my daughter really enjoyed that moment. There's just something loveable about Chewie. He comes across as loyal and gentle, and kids are attracted to that.

	bluejedi32 The Force Is All Around Us
date Posted: Apr 25, 2006 10:31 AM Kids think he is like a pet dog and kids love animals. And some even think he is like their teddy bear at home which they hold every night before they go to bed. So their are many reasons why kids are keen to liking chewie over all other characters.

	hansgirl3 Invoking the Squee
date Posted: Apr 25, 2006 10:41 AM He's cuddly and lovable looking, while, at the same time, he looks like he can protect them. What 's not to love in a child's mind!

NerfHerdersAnonymous
Life, the Star Wars Universe and Everything

date Posted: Apr 25, 2006 11:54 AM

Wookiees sound and look wild yet can relate to humans and other species with civility (when not attacked that is). What really hooked me with Chewie was that he laughed, not the usual evil laughter associated with "alien" creatures. No. It was Chewie's seemingly anthropomorphous laughter that endeared me to him so much.

For children the protection factor figures in here. Chewie's just THAT close to being a "wild animal" in their eyes and that's just cool. Han's the luckiest guy in the universe to have a Wookiee for a best friend and for being able to understand a Wookiee's native tongue.

Leah

	NerfHerdersAnonymous Life, the Star Wars Universe and Everything
date Posted: Apr 25, 2006 12:03 PM ...I meant to place ...anthropomorphous laughter "added by Burtt" sigh LM

	bonniegrrl Droids Just Wanna Have Fun
date Posted: Apr 25, 2006 2:15 PM Great entry. I have to admit my favorite characters are the ones I can't understand. I bet that little tidbit will come in handy in a future therapy session!

Nar Cranor
Holochronicles: Continuity Hugs for Everyone!

date Posted: Apr 25, 2006 3:23 PM

I actually named my dog Chewbacca (as im sure many people have). I think the reason he appeals to kids specifically is that he is what softens han. Han would be kind of an A-Hole if not for Chewbacca, who represents his conscience and makes him do the right thing (specifically in ANH). The fact that he doesn't have any understandable lines I think acts as a plot device, externalizing one half of Han's internal struggle. Granted kids don't grasp all that subtlety (maybe lucas doesnt either, aka, im reading too much into it) but basically, hes the wookiee. Gotta love him.

	Manchovy Experimental Surgery with GH-7
date Posted: Apr 25, 2006 3:36 PM I'm really digging these comments! I knew the Star Wars community would have strong opinions on this one... I'm telling you people love Chewie... I tend to agree with bonniegrrl, I've often gravitated toward the more "dialogue-challenged" characters, too.

rj_peters
Memos from the Imperial Finance Department

date Posted: Apr 26, 2006 8:25 AM

there is an actor in those horribly uncomfortable looking suits and prosthetics...

Absolutely. The 'voice' of Chewbacca (like that of R2) is somehow more evocative precisely because we can't understand it. But, Peter Mayhew's body language and mannerisms are just as important. For example, the comment about Chewie crossing his arms over his head while playing Dejarik. There's a humanity to Chewie that comes from the combination of the physical performance and his unintelligble (but perfectly 'understandable') speech.

	Sompeetalay Sompeetalay's Source Blog
date Posted: Jun 08, 2006 8:13 AM Dear sir, I'd very much like to have an interview with you for the magazine of the Belgian Star Wars Fanclub TeeKay-421vzw (http://www.teekay-421.be). If you'd be interested, you can contact me at sompeetalay@teekay-421.be It would be a very nice to have you in our magazine

nob01
Oil Bath Bubbles

date Posted: Jun 11, 2006 4:02 PM

Hey, you can get up on your sound soapbox any day of the week as far as I am concerned. I was 10 in '77, and Star Wars was the first film that ever made me actively search out a crew member (namely Ben Burtt). Now, 29 years on, I am making independent films, not in the sound department but writing and directing. However, I know enough to ensure that I never skimp on budgeting for the sound guys (prod and post) - as, ultimately, this is money invested in 50% of my final output. I can't praise sound designers enough - and I want to thank you and your peers for truly making the films I love come alive.

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