The yoda from Acolyte
Recent Star Wars series The Acolyte concluded with a surprise visit by Jedi Master Yoda. Although fans are thrilled about the comeback of the legendary character, it has also spurred discussion regarding whether the franchise will continue with live-action appearances using puppet versions of Yoda.
CG Yoda for the Prequels
The only sensible way to bring Yoda to life when he first arrived in The Empire Strikes Back was via a puppet. But George Lucas choose computer-generated imagery (CGI) in the prequel trilogy.
Many elements motivated this shift. Lucas wanted to let Yoda more freedom of movement and let him execute more intricate actions like lightsaber duels. More realistic portrayal and more expressive facial movements made possible by CGI also helped. For Yoda, this choice signaled the start of a new chapter and changed him into a CGI character.
There was debate around the change to CGI since some supporters thought the puppet form of Yoda more faithfully portrayed the character. For Yoda's extra screen time in the prequels, CGI clearly had advantages, though.
Come back to Puppet Yoda.
Though CGI Yoda dominates the prequel trilogy, the franchise shockingly returned to puppetry in Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Practicality combined with artistic taste and nostalgia for the original trilogy drove the choice.
Creature designer Neal Scanlan for The Last Jedi thought a puppet rendition of Yoda felt more real and physical. He also aimed to uphold the visual consistency with the first trilogy.
Puppeteer Frank Oz, who created the first Yoda, agreed with this and backed the comeback into puppetry. He thought Luke Skywalker knew and loved the puppet form from the original movies. The rising fans who yearned for the realistic effects of the original movies and felt Star Wars was veering too far into CGI connected with this decision as well.
Additionally pragmatic was the choice to use a puppet for Yoda. It would have been expensive and time-consuming to use a CGI Yoda for a fleeting visit.
Prospect of Yoda
Given the taste for puppet Yoda in most recent Star Wars films and the expense of CGI, it is doubtful that CGI Yoda will make a comeback in next live-action projects.
Although CGI Yoda keeps showing up in animated Star Wars films including Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi and Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures, the live-action future of the character seems to lean toward the puppet form. The Acolyte's choice to feature a puppet Yoda for a quick cameo implies that next visits would also be in line.
CGI could still be used, though, for particular actions—as seen in The Mandalorian, where Grogu's CGI was utilized in particular sequences. Future projects could also incorporate puppetry in addition to computer-generated imagery to enable a practical Yoda on set with improved facial expressions and lip motions using CGI post-production.
Yoda's future is yet unknown. The Acolyte's comeback to the puppet form of Yoda points to the franchise embracing the nostalgic resonance of the first trilogy. But as special effects evolve constantly, the use of both puppetry and CGI might become more frequent in the future.
The Acolyte
Set during the High Republic, a time when the Galactic Empire was at its height and the Jedi as well as The show centers on a former Padawan looking at crimes suggesting a rising gloom endangering the Republic.
