Watto
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Star Wars character | |
| Watto | |
|---|---|
 Watto, the greedy junk dealer. |
|
| Position | Junk store proprietor |
| Homeworld | Toydaria (resides on Tatooine) |
| Species | Toydarian |
| Gender | Male |
| Height | 1.37 meters |
| Affiliation | Commercial |
| Portrayed by | Andy Secombe (voice) |
Watto is a fictional character in the Star Wars universe, featured in the films The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones. He is computer-generated and voiced by Andy Secombe.
A mean-tempered, greedy Toydarian, he is the owner of a second-hand goods store in Mos Espa on the planet Tatooine. While one of the minor stores of Mos Espa, Watto's junkyard was nevertheless a wealth of surplus equipment and spare parts.
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[edit] Relationship with the Skywalkers
Amongst Watto's belongings were the slaves Shmi Skywalker and her son, Anakin. He acquired them after winning a podracing bet with Gardulla the Hutt, and he put them both to work in his store. Anakin demonstrated an incredible aptitude for equipment repair, and Watto took a liking to the youngster. Despite being unprincipled enough to own slaves in the first place, Watto was a reasonable master. It most likely had to do with the point that the boy was a major source of profits for Watto, not only in servicing his machinery, but also contending for Watto in the podraces.
Anakin was an astonishing pilot, the only human to participate in the treacherous sport of podracing. However, whenever Anakin would race against the scheming Dug Sebulba, Watto would always put money on Sebulba, who always won.
Watto's greed and gambling got the better of him when the Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn and the young Queen Amidala of Naboo crossed his path. Watto wagered all his money -- and Anakin as well – on Sebulba, who lost the Boonta Eve Classic to Anakin.
Watto ultimately sold Shmi Skywalker -- in an effort to recover some of his losses -- to a moisture farmer named Cliegg Lars. Lars reported as much to a grown Anakin Skywalker, when he revisited Tatooine a decade later to see his mother.
[edit] Controversy
It has been suggested that this character is offensive because he portrays an old Semitic (Jewish or Arab) stereotype. He has a large nose, beady eyes, and speaks in a gravelly, Yiddish-sounding accent.
- "...the most blatant ethnic stereotype is the hook-nosed merchant insect who owns young Anakin" (Hoberman, Village Voice, 1999)[1]
- "Even in a galaxy far away, the Jews are apparently behind the slave trade" (Gottlieb, Slate, 1999)[2]
- "Although a number of groups have protested that Watto is an insulting Arab stereotype, he struck me as more comprehensively anti-Semitic -- both anti-Arab and anti-Jew" (Williams, The Nation, 1999)[3]
- "As we left the movie theater, a couple of young boys around age 12 made reference to 'that weird little Jew guy with wings.' The movie's depiction in Watto was not at all subtle. It can be counted on to flush out already-formed Jew-haters among young audiences and give them permission to continue their hatred out loud." (Prettyman, American Review, 1999)[4]
Other "Star Wars" characters have also been alleged to represent offensive ethnic stereotypes. Another example is Jar Jar Binks.)
[edit] Expanded Universe
[edit] Canon
Prior to coming to Tatooine, Watto was part of the Ossiki Confederacy Army during the conflicts of his homeworld of Toydaria. In one battle, Watto suffered injuries that left him with a broken tusk and a disabled leg.
On Tatooine, Watto learned much of his business savvy from dealing with the native Jawas. Not only does he have a talent for haggling, but also cannot be affected by Jedi mind tricks. His preferred targets were outlanders -- whom he regarded as easy marks. Though Watto's junkyard is one of Mos Espa's smaller stores, he stocks such a broad collection of machinery that it is well patronized. If Watto didn't persistently gamble away his earnings it would turn a tidy profit.
[edit] Non-canonical
The non-canonical Star Wars comic book Star Wars: Visionaries reveals Watto was killed when a half-cyborg recreation of Darth Maul tracked Obi-Wan Kenobi to Tatooine, seeking revenge for his defeat in the Battle of Naboo.
[edit] Behind the scenes
Initial designs for Watto were of a more bird-like nature, including plumage and a beak. Another design had tentacles and a cigar. Watto's face originated in an early Neimoidian picture by design director Doug Chiang. The hooked trunk and crooked teeth were carried over to the Toydarian design.
Animation supervisor Rob Coleman realized that the alien's dental work would need some modification when the time came to create Watto on screen, as Watto's craggy teeth made lip-sync easier said than done. To solve the problem, Coleman broke off one of Watto's incisors, giving him a 'corner-of-the-mouth' vernacular.
The sound of his wings flapping is a looped recording of sound designer Ben Burtt opening and closing an umbrella.
[edit] References
- ^ J. Hoberman: All Droid Up. The Village Voice (May 19 - 25, 1999). Retrieved on June 11, 2006.
- ^ Gottlieb, Bruce: The Merchant of Menace: Racial Stereotypes In A Galaxy Far, Far Away?. Slate (May 27, 1999). Retrieved on June 11, 2006.
- ^ Patricia J. Williams: Racial Ventriloquism. The Nation (June 17, 1999). Retrieved on June 11, 2006.
- ^ Jane Prettyman: George Lucas serves up anti-Semitic stereotype in Star Wars Episode I. American Review (June 3, 1999). Retrieved on June 11, 2006.
