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Bantha

From EverybodyWiki Bios & Wiki


File:Bantha.png
A Tusken Raider riding a bantha. This particular shot was filmed in a part of Death Valley named Desolation Canyon, which Star Wars fans call "Bantha Canyon".[1]
A bantha puppet at New York's Village Halloween Parade

Banthas are creatures in the Star Wars universe. They are large elephant-sized mounts, with long furry tails, found on the planet of Tatooine. They were found throughout the galaxy on several worlds, and are easily domesticated. They were used for transportation, carrying heavy loads, and as beasts of war.

Biology and appearance[edit]

Banthas are large, quadrupedal mammals with long, thick fur of brown or black color. The creatures have long, furry tails, and a pair of spiraling horns extruded from their skulls,[2][3] which resemble those of the real-life bighorn sheep.[3] About 8 to 10 feet in height,[3][4] Banthas have a life span of 80 to 100 years, a gestation period of 30 months, and reach sexual maturation at 20 years of age. They weigh 50 kilograms at birth and reach weights of up to 4,000 kilograms at maturity.[5] Although often associated with the planet of Tatooine, banthas can be found on many worlds in the Star Wars universe and have adapted to a variety of climates and terrains. Since they could be found on most agricultural systems, it was believed early settles transported them to new worlds. Works of Star Wars media have established that bantha remains have been discovered that predate most known species in the franchise.[6]

Although only one type of bantha is shown in the Star Wars film (known as a "common bantha", other media from the franchise have established that multiple sub-species of banthas exist, includnig drawf banthas and dune banthas. Dwarf banthas are smaller and more shy, living in remote outer areas, while dune banthas are more slender and less furry, and able to survive in very high temperatures with relatively little water.[7] Rather than serving as a hindrance in the heat of the desert planet of Tatooine, bantha fur helped insulate the animal and keep away excess cold or heat. This is a characteristic shared with several real-life desert animals, including the antelope, camel, and jerboa. Since the heat generated by a sun is absorbed by the fur on the bantha's back, it prevents the heat from penetrating deeper into the creature's skin, helping it survive even in harsh conditions.[2] Marcus Schneck of The Patriot-News has noted the bantha shares similarities to the domestic yak, a bulky, hairy animal used by native peoples for transportation and food.[3]

Bantha horns grow a new segment each year, and the strength of a given creature's horns are indicative of its health and environment: thick, crenellated usually signify that the bantha is well fed and healthy, while thin, cracked, or underdeveloped horns indicate the bantha is unhealthy due to drought or famine. Male banthas develop thicker and longer horns than females, and males typically complete two horn spirals over the course of their lifetimes, while females usually only complete one.[6][8] The horns of male banthas could reach a width of up to 3 meters at the shoulders.[6] Bantha horns sometimes become locked when they fight each other, which can lead to exhaustion and death, particularly in difficult terrains like Tatooine.[8] The bantha tongue is highly sensitive, structurally complex, and very strong,[6][9] containing gripping knobs at the end and spiracles along the edges for scenting. The tongue can be used for holding and carrying items, eating and drinking, and as a signifier for communications with other members of the species.[9] Banthas also have extremely sharp incisors.[9]

Behavior and culture[edit]

Banthas are herbivores, with a peaceful and docile manner,[10] surviving on grasses and other native flora. Due to their size and internal reserves, they could survive up to a month without food or water.[6] Highly intelligent creatures,[6][9] they can be found both in the wild and domesticated.[6] Banthas are extremely social pack animals who travel in herds.[11][3][9] which can reach sizes of up to 25 individuals.[6][9] Banthas in the wild belong to a matriarchal social system,[5][6] and are led by the oldest, strongest, and most capable female in the herd. Matriachs are most responsible for protecting the others for dangerous predators,[5] though a lone male bantha often acts as sentries for the herds.[12] As the matriach ages, she relinqushes control of the nerd to the next qualified female bantha candidate. If a herd grows too large in size, it will occasionally split, with the second-oldest and strongest female becoming the matriach of the new herd.[5] Banthas treat the remains of their ancestors with a sense of reverence, gathering their bones into special areas known as "Bantha graveyards" and fondling the bones with their tongues. Mothers have carried deceased newborn banthas many kilometers to these graveyards. Other species consider it bad luck to enter a bantha graveyard.[7]

Star Wars books and media outside the films have established that banthas are an integral part of culture of Tusken Raiders on Tatooine,[6][13] with a deep spiritual and emotional connection developing between each bantha and its Tusken rider. When a Tusken Raider reaches age seven, a bantha of the same gender is ceremonially presented to the child as its partner in life. The young Tuksen Raider cares for and raises the bantha as it grows, and once it reached maturity, the Tusken Raider rides it and takes it into the desert for for initiatory ceremonies and tasks.[14] When Tusken Raiders marry, the couple's banthas also mate, and when the Tusken Raider couple has children the banthas will often produce offspring as well. The bond between a Tusken Raider and its bantha is so strong that, when the Tusken dies, its bantha would often fall into depression or commit suicide as well.[15] Likewise, if a bantha died before its Tusken Raider, the Tusken clan would cast that Raider into the desert for it to either die in isolation or be adopted by another wild bantha.[6]

Other species have used bantha hides for clothing,[6][10] with such items as bantha-skin boots and carrying cases fetching high prices.[6] Bantha meat has often been processed for food and beverages.[6][10] Their milk is drinkable, and their hides make an alcoholic drink when mixed with fermented grain.[4] One such drink called "Jawa Juice", named after the Jawa alien species, which is served to Obi-Wan Kenobi at a restaurant in a scene from Attack of the Clones (2002).[16] An flying reptile species on Tatooine known as skettos would gather loose wool from the backs of banthas for use in building nests.[5] Tusken raiders collect the bones of deceased banthas for use as tent supports and other purposes.[8]

Concept and creation[edit]

Banthas were created by George Lucas, who was inspired in part by Banths, lion-like carnivorous creatures in the science fantasy serial story John Carter of Mars.[17][18][19] Banthas, as well as the other creatures featured in Star Wars, were also partially inspired by the film creatures made by special effects innovator Ray Harryhausen.[11] The first use of a variation of the word "bantha" appeared in an early Star Wars film draft from May 1974, in which an antagonist Sith character had the callsign "Banta Four". A second version of this draft, dated January 1978, featured a Rebel starfighter pilot with the callsign "Banta One" during the attack on the Death Star.[20] The first mention of banthas as a creature was in the third draft of the screenplay from August 1975, which describe a group of Tusken Raiders riding "monstrous banthas", and includes a scene in which the creatures attack Luke Skywalker after he spots them.[20] Ralph McQuarrie, a production illustrator on Star Wars, designed the early concept art for the banthas. The original sketches depicted them as horse-like creatures, but with other attributes ultimately used in the final design, including a shaggy coat and two horns around the animal's mouth. The Tusken Raiders that would be riding banthas were at this time envisioned to be a smaller alien species, and once they were changed to the size of fully-grown humans, the banthas were also changed to be the size of elephants.[20]

Art director Leon Erickson created the bantha costume,[21][22][23] who led a crew of six total crew members in the work.[20][24] It took about one month to finish it.[24] The base of the costume was howdah, or elephant saddle, with palm fronds added to create the bantha's shaggy coat.[20] Yak hair was also used to create the fur.[23] A head mask was molded from chicken wire and sprayed with foam to create the creature's facial features, and a beard made from horse hair was added. The bantha's curved horns were made from flexible home ventilation tubing, and its tail was crafted from wood covered with thick thistles.[20] The costume ultimately weighed about 300 pounds.[24] The bantha's moaning sound was created by sound designer Ben Burtt, who had collected a large number of bear sounds to create the voice of the Wookiee character Chewbacca. Burtt created the bantha's noise by slowing down one a specific bear recording that had been provided to him by documentary producer George Casey.[20]

Filming and production[edit]

Original Star Wars film[edit]

The first bantha to appear onscreen was in the original 1977 Star Wars.[25][3] Rather than use computer-generated imagery to create the creature, Lucas wanted to use an actual elephant. The bantha appeared in scenes on the desert planet of Tatooine, most of which were filmed in Tunisia. However, the production team had an insufficient budget to transport an elephant to the North African country, and large storms there would have prevented them from doing so even if they could. So Lucas elected to film the bantha scenes in the United States, with sound to be added later, so they could edited into the Tunisia-filmed scenes in post-production.[25][26] Death Valley National Park in California offered to provide the scenery for the footage, and arrangements were made for an elephant,[25] which was provided by the Marine World Africa USA amusement park in Redwood City, California.[21][24][25] The bantha scenes were shot by second unit director Carroll Ballard.[22] The elephant used to portray the bantha was a female Asian elephant named Mardji,[20][27] who was 22 years old when Star Wars was filmed.[20] Her trainer at the time, Bob Spiker, played the Tusken Raider that rode the Bantha in the first movie installment.[27][20] Mardji had previously been trained to perform tricks, such as water skiing,[20][24] and she had previously appeared in television commercials for Skippy Peanut Butter.[27]

The bantha scenes were filmed in January 1977,[18][20] in an area of Death Valley known as Desolation Canyon,[18][28][29] which marked the first time Mardji ventured out into the wild.[20][24] She enjoyed the experience, playing in a creek during shooting breaks.[20][24] This bantha costume designed for Mardji proved problematic during filming, as the elephant was not unaccustomed to the intense heat of Death Valley and kept shrugging the heavy costume off her body, which slowed production.[22][30][31] Crew members were concerned the weight of the head mask would cause Mardji problems, but the elephant experienced more difficulty dragging the costume's tail.[20][24] Additionally, although Mardji was trained to tuck her trunk into her mouth to conceal it while wearing the bantha costume,[24][23] her trunk would also occasionally fall out of the costume and become visible during shooting.[20] Mardji's trainer fed her apples as a reward between scenes to help keep her focused.[20] During one scene in Star Wars, Luke Skywalker looks through a pair of binoculars and sees two banthas. Only one was used in filming, and the second bantha in the shot was created using optical compositing.[20]

Mardji's gait also served as the model for the movement of AT-AT walkers in The Empire Strikes Back (1980).[20][25] During the production of that film, special effects artists Phil Tippett, Dennis Muren, and Jon Berg visited the elephant and shot footage of her for use as a reference in creating the walker's movements.[20] Lucas later said he felt a deep connection with Mardji and "fell in love" with the elephant. After filming, Lucas would regularly visit Mardji at Marine World, and he modeled the movement of AT-AT walkers in The Empire Strikes Back (1980) after Mardji's gait.[25] In addition to her movie role, Mardji appeared in television commercials for Skippy Peanut Butter. In November 1995, aged 44, she was euthanized because of an untreatable and painful bone condition in her front legs.[20][27] When Lucas revised Star Wars and released a new Special Edition version in 1997, he decided to retained the original shots of the elephant, rather than replacing the bantha with CGI.[32] The bantha costume used in Star Wars was on display at Marine World Africa USA for a time after Mardji's death, but elements of it deteriorated because it was not sufficiently protected, and it was later destroyed.[20]

Other Star Wars works[edit]

The bantha has also appeared in later Star Wars films, but as a digital creation modeled after the original bantha in Star Wars rather than an elephant in costume.[20] In the Special Edition re-release of Return of the Jedi (1983), a shot with a herd of banthas walking through the Tatooine desert was added to the film,[33][34][35] just before the scene in which the sail barge vehicle of the character Jabba the Hutt was introduced.[20][34] This marked the first use of digitally-created banthas in Star Wars. Banthas also appear in two of the Star Wars prequel trilogy films, once again created with digital visual effects. In the first prequel film, The Phantom Menace (1999), a bantha can be seen in the background when the characters Qui-Gon Jinn, Padmé Amidala, and Jar Jar Binks enter the Tatooine city of Mos Espa.[20][36] In the second film, Attack of the Clones (2002), a small herd of banthas can be seen in another scene set in Mos Espa, next to a docking bay where Anakin Skywalker and Padmé land their ship.[20]

Banthas have also appeared in the 3D CGI television series Star Wars: The Clone Wars, once again on the planet Tatooine. Since the series has its own unique visual style, an entirely new digital model for the bantha had to be created for it.[20] Banthas also appeared in a 2019 episode of The Mandalorian, a Star Wars television series on the streaming service Disney+.[37][38][39] Banthas appear as minor villain characters that Luke Skywalker can fight in Super Star Wars, the 1992 video game for Super Nintendo.[40] A bantha ride had been planned for Star Wars Galaxy's Edge, the Star Wars themed area within Disneyland in Anaheim, California, but it was ultimately not created. The planned attraction would have allowed visitors to ride on platforms atop large animatronic banthas, which would then embark on a tour of the area.[41]

Reception[edit]

The bantha has been described as a favorite among both fans, as well as the cast and crew of the films.[20][42] Anthony Daniels, the actor who played C-3PO in the Star Wars films, called the bantha "one of the best things in the movie".[20] Ted Edwards, author of The Unauthorized Star Wars Compendium, wrote that the shot of a herd of banthas in to the Special Edition version of Return of the Jedi was "probably the single most striking image added to any of the three films".[33] The bantha was included on HowStuffWorks' list of "11 Wacky Star Wars Creatures We Love", calling it "a wacky combination of animal parts in a memorable form".[10] Brian Linder of IGN praised banthas as a positive addition to the Star Wars universe, writing: "Banthas are the choice beast of burden of the Tusken frickin' Raiders. That alone makes them cool."[43] The Santa Fe New Mexican writer David Rare called banthas a fan favorite among Star Wars creatures and characters.[42]

The first name of the original newsletter of the Official Star Wars Fan Club was Bantha Tracks, inspired by the creature.[44][45] Originally entitled simply Official Star Wars Fan Club when first published in 1978, the newsletter was renamed after a contest in the second issue invited readers to submit new names. Preston Postole of Avon, Ohio, submitted the winning title of Bantha Tracks.[45] During one scene Return of the Jedi, Jabba the Hutt insults Han Solo by saying: "You may have been a good smuggler, but now you're bantha fodder." The line became a popular one among Star Wars fans, with "bantha fodder" becoming a well-known Star Wars-related insult.[46] An Australian punk band called Bantha Fodder takes its name from the line.[47]

References[edit]

  1. ↑ Harry Medved (2006). Hollywood Escapes: The Moviegoer's Guide to Exploring Southern California's Great Outdoors. St. Martin's Griffin. p. 144. ISBN 0-312-30856-6. Search this book on
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Cavelos 2000, p. 70
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Schneck, Marcus. "Animals of 'Star Wars' and their real-life, Earthly counterparts". The Patriot-News. Retrieved December 18, 2019.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "A field guide to Star Wars creatures". Qatar Tribune. December 28, 2017.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Whitlatch 2001, p. 11
  6. ↑ 6.00 6.01 6.02 6.03 6.04 6.05 6.06 6.07 6.08 6.09 6.10 6.11 6.12 6.13 Sansweet & Hidalgo 2008, p. 59
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Whitlatch 2001, p. 14
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Whitlatch 2001, p. 13
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 Pollock 2001, p. 10
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 Chandler, Nathan. "11 Wacky 'Star Wars' Creatures We Love". HowStuffWorks. Retrieved December 18, 2019.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Roberts, Phil (August 13, 2017). "Star Wars Creature Feature: Banthas and Wampas and Reeks…Oh My!". Medium. Retrieved December 18, 2019.
  12. ↑ Whitlatch 2001, p. 12
  13. ↑ Crouse, Megan (December 6, 2019). "Star Wars: The Mandalorian Episode 5 Easter Eggs Explained". Den of Geek. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
  14. ↑ Whitlatch 2001, p. 16
  15. ↑ Whitlatch 2001, p. 17
  16. ↑ Moser, Andy (December 16, 2019). "The weird and wonderful foods of Star Wars, ranked". Mashable. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
  17. ↑ Hoare, James (December 15, 2011). "John Carter Versus Star Wars". SciFiNow. Retrieved December 18, 2019.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 Pollock 1999, p. 172
  19. ↑ White 1999, p. 72
  20. ↑ 20.00 20.01 20.02 20.03 20.04 20.05 20.06 20.07 20.08 20.09 20.10 20.11 20.12 20.13 20.14 20.15 20.16 20.17 20.18 20.19 20.20 20.21 20.22 20.23 20.24 20.25 20.26 20.27 20.28 de Lange, Sander (September 23, 2015). "From Concept to Screen: Banthas". StarWars.com. Retrieved December 18, 2019.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Hartlaub, Peter (May 5, 2004). "It takes computer effects to make movie monsters -- but elbow grease helps". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved December 18, 2019.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 Pollock 1999, p. 175
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 Reynolds, David West (April 4, 2000). "Star Wars Road Trip". Star Wars Insider (48): 59.
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 24.3 24.4 24.5 24.6 24.7 24.8 Langley, Christopher (November 30, 2014). "From Jayhawkers To Jawa: A Short History Of Filming In Death Valley, Part II". KCET. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 25.3 25.4 25.5 Cherney, Max A. (December 5, 2017). "The back story on 'Star Wars' filming in Death Valley". New York Post. Retrieved December 18, 2019.
  26. ↑ Pereira, Alyssa (December 5, 2017). "George Lucas used an elephant from Marine World Africa USA in 'Star Wars' filming". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 27.2 27.3 ""Star Wars" Elephant Put To Death". Contra Costa Times. Walnut Creek, California. November 28, 1995. p. A03.
  28. ↑ Buttelman, Michele (March 11, 2019). "In a galaxy not that far, far away". The Santa Clarita Valley Signal. Retrieved December 24, 2019.
  29. ↑ Langley, Chris (February 25, 2010). "'Star Wars' visits Death Valley to pick up Banthas, Jawas, a sandcrawler and land speeder". Inyo Register. p. A8.
  30. ↑ White 1999, p. 84
  31. ↑ Lamar, Cyriaque (October 3, 2010). "Photos of an elephant dressing up as the bantha from Star Wars". Gizmodo. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
  32. ↑ Arnold, Gary (January 1, 2005). "The Drama Behind Star Wars". World and I. News World Communications, Inc.
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 Edwards 1999, p. 162
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 Andersen, Soren (March 14, 1997). "Review: Lucas trilogy loses steam in 'Jedi'". The News Tribune. p. SL3.
  35. ↑ Moore, Rob (March 21, 1997). "Worst of 'Star Wars' beats best of everything else". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. p. D2.
  36. ↑ Beifuss, John (May 18, 1999). "'The Phantom Menace' – Film's bumps just a blur in hyper-speed tour of the fantastic". The Commercial Appeal. p. C1.
  37. ↑ Myers, Andrew James (December 6, 2019). "The Mandalorian Episode 5 Takes a Nostalgic Tatooine Pit Stop". TV Guide. Retrieved December 24, 2019.
  38. ↑ Lindbergh, Ben (December 6, 2019). "'The Mandalorian' Episode 5 Reaches Peak Fan Service on Tatooine". The Ringer. Retrieved December 24, 2019.
  39. ↑ Romain, Lindsey (November 15, 2019). "A Guide to The Mandalorian's Terms, Aliens, and Characters". Nerdist. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
  40. ↑ "Luke gets into action again". Sunday Star-Times. February 16, 1997. p. F009.
  41. ↑ Scott, Ryan (July 25, 2017). "Canceled Bantha Ride Was Planned for Disney's Star Wars Land". MovieWeb. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
  42. ↑ 42.0 42.1 Rare, David (February 7, 1997). "Creatures, digital sound, add to thrill". Santa Fe New Mexican. p. 41.
  43. ↑ Linder, Brian (April 29, 2005). "Star Wars: Coolest Creatures". IGN. Retrieved December 18, 2019.
  44. ↑ Pollock 1999, p. 320
  45. ↑ 45.0 45.1 Fawcett, Chris (April 2, 2002). "Following the Bantha Tracks". Star Wars Insider (59).
  46. ↑ Hennon, Blake (December 17, 2015). "From AT-AT to Wicket, a Star Wars guide". Waterloo Region Record. p. D3.
  47. ↑ Owen-Brown, Michael (January 15, 1998). "Warped". The Advertiser. p. 050.

Bibliography[edit]

Further reading[edit]

  • Brandon Alinger (1999). "Visiting The Set – Desolation Canyon". Star Wars in Death Valley. — maps and coordinates for "Bantha Canyon", with comparisons between stills from the film, filmed in Spring 1976, and photographs of the canyon taken in October 2000

External links[edit]

  • Bantha in the StarWars.com Databank
  • Bantha on Wookieepedia, a Star Wars wiki
  • Joe Jankovic. "Elephants in Space". The Star Wars Pages. Archived from the original on 2009-07-29. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help) — a picture of the actual bantha mask worn by Mardji, on display in the 1970s/1980s
  • L. Mangue. "Mardji the Elephant". Nerf-Herders-Anonymous. — behind the scenes pictures of Mardji, both in and out of costume

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