It might surprise director Rian Johnson to learn that in the build to The Last Jedi the most controversial aspect of his film would be the inclusion of a non-speaking character that resembles a puffin combined with a river otter. The wide-eyed, web-footed, furry and feathered creatures that populate Ahch-To have captured fans love and ire in equal parts.
For every Star Wars lover running out to get a Porg plushie or backpack right now, there’s another who’s ready to roast the creatures on a spit and feed them to Chewie. Despite having only a few seconds in the trailers, they seem to be taking up about half of the conversation. That’s not necessarily a bad thing though. Johnson wants to keep the movie’s plot under lock and key, and Porgs provide a great distraction.
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We think they add a bit more than that though. Porgs represent a lot of what there is to love about Star Wars, and, without having seen The Last Jedi, there are already plenty of reasons to love the oddities.
Star Wars Should Be Fun
For all of the twists and tragedies that populate parts of the Star Wars universe, it’s easy to forget that this franchise is a whole lot of fun. All you need to remember that is a viewing of the very first film; it’s an adventure filled with strange planets, incredible technology, and wild creatures. Even in the most tense scenes, the trash compactor or Death Star trench run, it’s a movie that’s a whole lot of fun to watch.
Porgs look to be a whole lot of fun and they match that consistent tone throughout all of the films. Even at the very start R2-D2 and Chewie were pretty cute, not to mention smaller additions like the Jawas or mouse droid. These movies have always contained silly and exciting little elements. BB-8 was the breakout star of The Force Awakens for many good reasons, including the fact that he was a literal ball of adorable fun. There’s nothing wrong with having some fun, and Star Wars provides regular reminders of this lesson, including the addition of Porgs.
Behind The Scenes Magic
One of the great things about sci-fi and fantasy films is learning how filmmakers bring the worlds to life. Studying classics like Raiders of the Lost Ark, Jaws, and, of course, Star Wars shows us how far ingenuity and technology can go in constructing truly awesome films. While technology has come a long way since the 1970s, there’s still a lot of cleverness that goes into making a new Star Wars, and Porgs provide an excellent example of this.
When filming began on the Irish island of Skellig Michael, Johnson and his crew found the place to be swarming with puffins, too many to be wrangled or physically removed from shots. Rather than spend millions of dollars digitally editing the puffins from the film, it was decided that they could become part of the atmosphere and ecosystem of Ahch-To. From what we’ve seen of the film so far, the result is a more lifelike and interesting landscape. It’s also an example of how great filmmakers can transform challenges into opportunities. The origin story of Porgs is a constant reminder of how the process behind a Star Wars movie can be just as engaging as the movie itself.
We Need Something Cuddly
There’s a real need for something cuddly and fun in entertainment right now. Given the modern news cycle, some amount of escapism feels like a necessity. That’s something Porgs provide for a lot of Star Wars fans, especially younger ones. Whether it’s in the form of a speaking stuffed-animal or backpack, these adorable designs are bringing smiles to a lot of faces everytime they pop up.
There’s nothing wrong with something being sweet or cuddly. Star Wars is a franchise that has always replaced even mundane objects with its own unique twists. So if we aren’t going to see any dogs or other cute animals, then it only makes sense that we get a few invented. They’ll certainly come in handy in a second chapter that is supposed to give The Empire Strikes Back a run for its money.
The Ewok Defense
Ewoks are one of the most unfairly despised elements of the Star Wars franchise, and they make a great case for not judging books by their covers. The typical argument against Ewoks is that they are too cute for the high stakes of Return of the Jedi and ruin the action as a result. There’s some pretty adorable stuff that occurs with these creatures, but at the end of the day they slaughter Imperial troops and many of them die in the process. They don’t hold back when the action starts and genuinely earn some real thrills and pathos in the process.
If you want to put down Ewoks, then you probably aren’t paying that much attention to the movie they were actually in. Porgs will likely turn out the same way. Johnson has earned plenty of credit as a writer and director, and pre-judging something in his newest film because it looks cute is entirely unfair.
They Really Are Adorable
This point ought to make itself. Just look at the few clips and pictures we have of Porgs so far and try not to let out an audible sigh. Those big, black eyes. Those wiggly, Corgi-like bodies. Those little wings and flippers ready for all occasions. If you saw one of these at your local zoo, it would be tough to say whether you’d rather spend time with it or a Red Panda.
That doesn’t even mention the shot of a Porg imitating Chewbacca like a proud pup taken along in the Millennium Falcon. Chewie could certainly use some support right now and maybe Porgs will turn out to be a Wookiee’s new best friend.
In any event, we look forward to seeing these adorable new creatures when The Last Jedi is released in just over two months. No matter how dark things get, there will at least be a little bit of light in the movie, and that’s something worth anticipating.
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