He's small in size. His sentences have a confusing but immediately recognisable structure. And he's constantly dispensing pearls of wisdom. Yes, Yoda talking about we are.
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Despite his diminutive stature, Yoda plays a vital role in all of the Star Wars episodes, except Episode IV: A New Hope. He's also one of the most endearing and popular characters from the series.
It's no coincidence that his dress sense resembles a Shaolin monk's, nor that those close to him call him "master". After living almost a millennium, the Jedi master has acquired a reputation for wisdom and an intimate knowledge of the Force.
Although sometimes underestimated due to his size, he was one of the most powerful and intelligent beings of the Galaxy and served as the head of the Jedi Council during the decades prior to the fall of the Galactic Republic.
In addition to being the head of the Jedi Council, Yoda tutored young apprentices known as younglings - small children who are on the path to becoming Jedi padawan but don't yet have a master of their own.
Although Yoda was unsure about accepting Anakin Skywalker as a Jedi, he was eager to train Anakin's son, Luke, who was his final padawan. Luke (and the rest of us) first met Yoda in Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back on Yoda's home planet, the dark and swampy Dagobah. Yoda then appeared in Episode VI: The Return of the Jedi, where, greatly weakened by age, he was able to inform Luke that there is another Skywalker, before becoming one with the Force. He also confirmed to Luke that Darth Vader truly was his father.
In the original Star Wars trilogy and in the Phantom Menace, Yoda was portrayed by a puppet, and was given his distinctive voice, speech and mannerisms by puppeteer Frank Oz. In the newer episodes, Yoda was computer-generated, giving fans the chance to see the master fight Sith adversaries in complex battle scenes. Oz, however, still provided the voice for the beloved character, who is often said to have been inspired by Albert Einstein.
