I don’t know about you but when I think of the Star Wars prequels I think of blue screen effects. The trilogy is known as being very computer effects-heavy, which to this day is one of its major criticisms. Though the tech seemed cool at the time, it hasn’t aged especially well unlike the visuals and effects of the original trilogy which was mostly practical. However, it’s still shocking fans to find out which bits of the prequels were practical, and oh my goodness those sets are still gorgeous.
A Redditor has posted some images from the behind the scenes making of the prequel trilogy and fans are falling in love with them. From the pod racers to Utapau, a lot of the three films was made practically in miniature sets - but the blue screening element has overshadowed that work almost entirely.
For example, did you know the J-Type Nubian that Amidala, Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi hang out in during the invasion of Naboo is actually a practical effect? That ship looks so shiny and perfect it shocked me to find it was a real physical object. Similarly, the crowds you see during the pod racing scenes were all practical. Tiny tiny little multicoloured blobs were placed in fake stands and it looks just like how you’d see a real crowd from far away.
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Perhaps a favourite is lava planet Mustafar. Of course, this is where Obi-Wan and Anakin Skywalker battle at the end of the trilogy. The miniature looks so intimidating even at a smaller scale, and it’s actually lit internally. A when I say it’s a miniature, that means it’s still pretty large compared to the humans beside it - it’s just straight up an impressive piece of work from the prop makers. I’d recommend having a flick through the photos - they’ll give you a new appreciation for some elements of the prequels, even if they’re not your favourite instalments of the Star Wars film series.
Featured Image Credit: Disney / LucasfilmTopics: Star Wars, TV And Film