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Reevaluating Jar Jar Binks: A Legacy in CGI History

Jar Jar Binks stands as one of the most controversial characters in the illustrious Star Wars saga, eliciting strong feelings among fans and critics alike. The actor behind the character, Ahemd Best, has experienced a transformative journey regarding his role; he is now beginning to recognize the significance of Jar Jar Binks in the realm of cinema, particularly as one of the earliest entirely CGI characters.

During an interview with ScreenRant at Star Wars Celebration, coinciding with the promotion of the documentary series Light & Magic Season 2, Best reflected on his experiences working on the iconic film. He was posed a thought-provoking question about whether he fully appreciated Jar Jar’s groundbreaking role as the first all-CGI character, a feat accomplished long before Andy Serkis popularized motion capture as Gollum.

Best recounted, “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. Doing The Phantom Menace at that time was like being in the best film company and the best internet startup you can possibly imagine.” His enthusiasm painted a picture of a collaborative environment ripe for innovation.

He elaborated on the creative atmosphere, describing it as an iterative journey filled with experimentation and learning: “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.”

It wasn’t until later in hindsight that Best appreciated the historical implications of their work. He likened the experience to unknowingly building a tech giant, noting, “It was kind of one of those things like, you don’t really know you’re building Microsoft until you see Microsoft.” This analogy underscores the collective effort and innovation that characterized the production.

Best’s reflections emphasize that while the recognition of Jar Jar Binks may have been overshadowed by criticism at the time, his role has become an essential chapter in the narrative of cinematic evolution. “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,” he concluded, reinforcing the power of teamwork and creativity.

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Source
movieweb.com