User:Deckiller/Walker (Star Wars)

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thumb|right|An AT-AT walker at the entrance to the Disney-MGM Studios attraction, Star Tours. In the fictional Star Wars universe, walkers are vehicles that traverse the landscape on mechanical legs. They are used primarily by the Galactic Empire for ground assault or transport.

There are a variety of walkers in the Star Wars universe: Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back introduces the AT-AT (All Terrain Armored Transport) and AT-ST (All Terrain Scouting Transport), while Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith and the Star Wars Expanded Universe feature numerous others. The AT-AT and AT-ST variants have been merchandised by companies and featured in popular culture.

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[edit] AT-AT

Patented drawing of the AT-AT
Patented drawing of the AT-AT

The AT-AT (All Terrain Armored Transport) is a large, four-legged walker introduced in The Empire Strikes Back during the Battle of Hoth sequence.

[edit] Origin and design

Star Wars creator George Lucas based the idea of the AT-AT (and other walkers) on the tripods from The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells.[citation needed] For The Empire Strikes Back, the walkers were filmed by Industrial Light and Magic (ILM) using stop-motion animation. To allow shooting from a variety of camera angles, different model sizes (ranging from 6 to 50 centimeters) were constructed in Finse, Norway. Additionally, ILM studied elephants to determine the best way to animate the four-legged AT-ATs.[1]

ILM encountered several problems during filming of the Battle of Hoth sequence. The stop-motion animation style gave the AT-AT models a jerky, "staccato-like" effect on film. However, ILM found this awkward movement acceptable because the AT-ATs were mechanical vehicles, not creatures. In addition, time constraints and mediocre results forced ILM to scrap the idea of filming the walkers on live action backgrounds; instead, they hired artist Mike Pangrazio to paint miniature sets on which most of the AT-AT scenes were filmed.[1]

[edit] Depiction

Info.[2]

[edit] AT-ST

right|250px|thumb|An AT-ST walker, as depicted in Return of the Jedi. The AT-ST (All Terrain Scout Transport) is a two-legged walker introduced in The Empire Strikes Back and featured extensively in Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983). Due to their design and movement, they are often dubbed "chicken" or "scout walkers".[3]

[edit] Origin and design

The AT-ST model used in The Empire Strikes Back was to have more screen time; however, one scene depicting a Snowspeeder shooting at the AT-ST model was ruined when the set's background shifted.[4] For Return of the Jedi, the AT-ST design was modified to include more detail. Numerous models were created, including a full sized AT-ST for on-location shooting. During the scene where Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew) and the Ewoks commender an AT-ST, the pilots seen are Director Richard Marquand and Producer Robert Watts.[4]

[edit] Depiction

Star Wars guidebooks describe the AT-ST as a "reconnaissance or defensive vehicle [that] is lightweight and built for speed".[3] Their agility allows them to defend the slower AT-ATs or support other Imperial ground forces.[3][5] They are 8.6 meters tall (although some sources describe them at seven meters[3]) and seat two people: a pilot and co-pilot.[5] AT-STs are armed with laser cannons on the "chin" and sides, feet claws for destroying small defenses, and side-mounted concussion missile launchers.[5][3] They are manufactured by Kuat Drive Yards.[5]

Although few AT-STs are seen during the Battle of Hoth, many are featured in the Battle of Endor as portrayed in Return of the Jedi. During the battle, the protagonists — including Chewbacca, Han Solo (Harrison Ford), Princess Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher), and the local Ewok tribes — capture or destroy many of the walkers. In the Expanded Universe, AT-STs are often featured in Imperial attack forces. Video games such as Star Wars: Rogue Squadron and Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire include numerous AT-STs. Several walker designs have been influenced by the AT-ST's design.[6]

[edit] AT-TE

The AT-TE (All Terrain Tactical Enforcer) is a four-legged walker that first appears in Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002). It is also featured extensively in the Clone Wars multimedia campaign, as well as Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith.

Conceived by Ryan Church as a predecessor to the AT-AT, the AT-TE's animation for Attack of the Clones was supervised by Rob Coleman. Tom St. Amand, who had worked on the AT-AT scenes in The Empire Strikes Back, provided his experience to create a similar appearance to the Battle of Hoth.[7] No merchandise has been released for the AT-TE.

AT-TEs are depicted as "intimidating assault [vehicles]", which first appear at the Battle of Geonosis (seen in Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones and various Clone Wars media). Its six legs and flexibility reduce its speed but increase its mobility and stability; however, its low speed allows it to walk through energy shields. Armed with laser cannons, a powerful projectile cannon, and heavy electromagnetic armor, the AT-TE is a workhorse of the Old Republic's clone army. AT-TEs are manufactured by Rothana Heavy Engineering, a subdivision of Kuat Drive Yards (who manufacture many of the other walkers).[8][9]

[edit] Other walkers

[edit] Expanded Universe

The AT-PT (All Terrain Personal Transport), introduced in the novel Dark Force Rising (1992) by Timothy Zahn, is a two-legged, one-person vehicle designed for the Old Republic as a "personal weapons platform for ground soldiers."[2] However, the walker is not featured in the prequel trilogies, which were developed years after Dark Force Rising. The AT-PT is essentially a smaller version of the AT-ST, and is bristled with two blaster cannons, a concussion grenade launcher, and hi-tech sensors.[2] In addition to appearing in Dark Force Rising, the AT-PT is featured in a number of video games, including the Rogue Squadron series, Star Wars: Force Commander, and Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds.

The AT-AA (All Terrain Anti Aircraft), featured in various Expanded Universe media, is a four-leggeded anti aircraft vehicle used by the Galactic Empire. It is relatively defenseless and was manufactured by Rothana during the rise of the Empire.[10]

[edit] Prequel trilogy

In addition to the AT-TE, other vehicles were created for use in Clone Wars media and depicted as predecessors to the walkers featured in the original trilogy. One such walker is the two-legged AT-AP (All Terrain Attack Pod), a variation of the AT-PT seen in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith and Clone Wars media. The AT-AP was designed by Alex Jaeger per Lucas' request to "diversify the Clone armor".[11] The AT-AP features a variety of artillery weapons, a retractable third leg for stability, and other offensive features.[12] The All Terrain Open Transport, also seen in Revenge of the Sith and other sources, is a heavily armored transport whose open design makes it vulnerable from above.[13] Designed by Kuat Drive Yards, the AT-OT can transport 34 clone troopers.[14] During the late stages of Revenge of the Sith's development, it was called the "Clone CAT walker".[15]

[edit] Cultural impact

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b All Terrain Armored Transport (AT-AT): Behind the Scenes. Starwars.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-15.
  2. ^ a b c Slavicsek, Bill (2000). A Guide to the Star Wars Universe: Third Edition. Del Rey and Lucas Books, 12-13. ISBN 0-345-42066-7. 
  3. ^ a b c d e Slavicsek, Bill (2000). A Guide to the Star Wars Universe: Third Edition. Del Rey and Lucas Books, 14. ISBN 0-345-42066-7. 
  4. ^ a b All Terrain Scout Transport (AT-ST): Behind the Scenes. Starwars.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-15.
  5. ^ a b c d All Terrain Scout Transport (AT-ST walker). Starwars.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-15.
  6. ^ All Terrain Scout Transport (AT-ST walker): Expanded Universe. Starwars.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-15.
  7. ^ All Terrain Tactical Enforcer (AT-TE): Behind the Scenes. Starwars.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-15.
  8. ^ All Terrain Tactical Enforcer. Star Wars.com Database. Retrieved on 2007-08-29.
  9. ^ All Terrain Tactical Enforcer (Expanded Universe). Starwars.com Database. Retrieved on 2007-08-29.
  10. ^ All Terrain Tactical Enforcer (Expanded Universe). Starwars.com Database. Retrieved on 2007-08-29.
  11. ^ All Terrain Attack Pod (Behind the Scenes). Starwars.com Database. Retrieved on 2007-08-29.
  12. ^ All Terrain Attack Pod (Expanded Universe). Starwars.com Database. Retrieved on 2007-08-29.
  13. ^ All Terrain Open Transport. Starwars.com Database. Retrieved on 2007-08-29.
  14. ^ All Terrain Open Transport (Expanded Universe). Starwars.com Database. Retrieved on 2007-08-29.
  15. ^ All Terrain Open Transport (Behind the Scenes). Starwars.com Database. Retrieved on 2007-08-29.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links