| Din Grogu | |
|---|---|
| Star Wars character | |
.jpg) Grogu inThe Mandalorian (2019). | |
| First appearance | |
| Created by | |
| Voiced by | David Acord (effects) |
| In-universe information | |
| Full name | Din Grogu (né Grogu) |
| Nicknames |
|
| Species | Yoda's species |
| Gender | Male |
| Occupation |
|
| Affiliation |
|
| Family | Din Djarin / The Mandalorian (adoptive father) |
| Masters |
|
| Age | 50 years (born ca. 41 BBY) |
Din Grogu (/ˈɡroʊɡu/), colloquially referred to asBaby Yoda, is acharacter from theStar WarsDisney+ originaltelevision seriesThe Mandalorian andThe Book of Boba Fett. He is a toddler member of the samespecies as theStar Wars charactersYoda andYaddle, with whom he shares a strong ability inthe Force. In the series, the protagonist known as "the Mandalorian" is hired to track down and capture Grogu for a remnant of the fallenGalactic Empire, but instead, he becomes his adoptive father and protects him from the Imperials. The character's real name was not revealed until "Chapter 13: The Jedi", which also explained that Grogu was raised at theJedi Temple onCoruscant during theClone Wars. Before this, the character's official name, used in subtitles and captions, was "the Child". At the end of "Chapter 24: The Return", he is given the name Din Grogu after being formally adopted by the Mandalorian, whose family name is "Din".
Grogu has appeared in every episode of the first three seasons, except "Chapter 15: The Believer". He was created byThe Mandalorian creator andshowrunnerJon Favreau based upon his desire to explore the mystery around Yoda and his species. The character was further developed in early conversations between Favreau and executive producerDave Filoni, and the character's imagery was defined by concept artist Christian Alzmann. Grogu is mostly a work ofanimatronics andpuppetry, although accentuated withcomputer-generated imagery.
The puppet was designed byLegacy Effects. ActorAdam Pally has stated that showrunner Jon Favreau told him it cost about $5 million to make.[1] It is controlled by two technicians, one who operates the eyes and mouth and another who controls other facial expressions. The character's voice and sounds were created using a combination of adult and infant vocals, as well as recordings of abat-eared fox andkinkajou. The dynamic between the Mandalorian and Grogu embodies a theme ofparenting andfatherhood prevalent inThe Mandalorian, with the character also raising questions aboutgood and evil andnature versus nurture in the series.
Grogu has received a positive reception from fans and reviewers, is widely considered the show'sbreakout character,[2][3] and quickly became a popularInternet meme.The Guardian called him "2019's biggest new character",[4] andThe Hollywood Reporter has said the character "represents the future of Hollywood".[5] Many writers have described Grogu as a key part in the success of Disney+.[6][7][8][9] Grogu was kept secret and was deliberately withheld fromThe Mandalorian's pre-release marketing and merchandise plans to avoid leaks and spoiling Grogu's reveal before the show aired.
A member of the samespecies as theStar Wars characterYoda,[10][11] he is 50 years old during the events ofThe Mandalorian "Chapter 1: The Mandalorian", but still appears to be aninfant because of the pace at which that species matures.[12][13][14] The species has never been given a proper name becauseStar Wars creatorGeorge Lucas wanted Yoda to maintain a sense of mystery.[2][4][15] Until Chapter 13 (i.e. episode 5 of season 2) ofThe Mandalorian, Grogu was not identified by a proper name, being referred to by sympathetic characters as "the child", "the kid", or "the baby", and by the antagonists as "the asset", "the bounty", "the target", or "the donor".[11][16]
Grogu first appears in the series debut, "Chapter 1: The Mandalorian", when the Mandalorian accepts a valuable commission from a mysterious man known only as "The Client" (Werner Herzog), who works for a remnant of the now-fallenGalactic Empire. The assignment is to track down and capture an unidentified fifty-year-old target.[17][18][19] The Mandalorian and a fellow bounty hunterdroid,IG-11 (Taika Waititi), infiltrate a remote and heavily defended encampment on the planetArvala-7 and find Grogu. When IG-11 attempts to kill Grogu, the Mandalorian protects him and instead shoots and destroys IG-11.[19][20][21] In "Chapter 2: The Child", Grogu is present when the Mandalorian is attacked by a giantrhinoceros-like creature called a mudhorn. As the beast rushes toward the Mandalorian for the kill, Grogu usesthe Force to levitate the mudhorn, allowing a surprised Mandalorian to kill it.[22][23][24] The Mandalorian delivers Grogu to the Client on the planetNevarro and collects his bounty in "Chapter 3: The Sin", after which the Client orders his colleague,Dr. Pershing (Omid Abtahi), to "extract the necessary material" from Grogu.[25][26] The Mandalorian later has second thoughts and returns to the Imperial compound to rescue Grogu, killing multiplestormtroopers.[27][28] This violates the code of the Bounty Hunters' Guild, and a group of bounty hunters led by guild leaderGreef Karga (Carl Weathers) ambush the Mandalorian and attempt to take Grogu back from him.[29][30][31] The Mandalorian and Grogu are saved when fellow warriors from the Mandalorian's tribe come out of hiding to defend them, allowing them to escape Nevarro.[25][31]
In "Chapter 4: Sanctuary", the Mandalorian seeks refuge in the sparsely populated planetSorgan. He plans to leave Grogu in a village there under the care of a widow namedOmera (Julia Jones), but after another bounty hunter tracks them down, he realizes the planet is not safe.[32][33][34] The Mandalorian and Grogu visit the planetTatooine in "Chapter 5: The Gunslinger", during which the Mandalorian leaves Grogu in the care of a mechanic namedPeli Motto (Amy Sedaris). Grogu and Peli are briefly abducted by a bounty hunter namedToro Calican (Jake Cannavale), whom the Mandalorian kills.[35] In "Chapter 6: The Prisoner", the Mandalorian participates in a rescue job as part of a team of mercenaries organized byRanzar Malk (Mark Boone Junior). The Mandalorian keeps Grogu hidden on his ship during the mission, but the other mercenaries eventually find him. One of them, a droid namedQ9-0 (Richard Ayoade), learns of the bounty on Grogu and tries to kill him, but is himself destroyed by the Mandalorian.[36][37] At the start of the first season's penultimate episode, "Chapter 7: The Reckoning", the Mandalorian is contacted by Greef Karga, who says the Client has tightened his control over Nevarro as a result of the Mandalorian's actions there. Greef proposes that the Mandalorian help him kill the Client and eliminate the Imperial presence from the planet, and in exchange, he and Grogu will be safe from any further reprisals from the Guild.[38][39][40]
The proposal is a trap, and Greef plans to ambush and kill the Mandalorian and return Grogu to the Client.[29][40][41] Nevertheless, the Mandalorian accepts the offer and returns to the planet along with Grogu and his alliesCara Dune (Gina Carano),Kuiil (Nick Nolte), and the recently-rebuilt IG-11, whom Kuiil has reprogrammed to be a nurse droid and protector for Grogu.[38][39][41] During their voyage, the party is attacked bypterodactyl-like creatures and Greef receives what would have been a fatal injury, but Grogu uses the Force to heal him.[39][42][43] Greef is so moved that he has a change of heart and informs the others about the trap.[29][42][30] They devise a new plan in which Kuiil will bring Grogu back to the Mandalorian's ship, while the others will kill the Client and his troops.[39][40][41] The plan goes wrong and Kuiil is killed byImperial Scout Troopers,[44][45] who briefly abduct Grogu before he is rescued by IG-11 at the start of the first-season finale, "Chapter 8: Redemption".[46] IG-11 brings Grogu back to the Mandalorian, Cara, and Greef and helps defend them against an ambush by the Imperial leaderMoff Gideon (Giancarlo Esposito), who is revealed to have been seeking Grogu all along.[47][48][49] He does not reveal why he wants Grogu, but says he "means more to me than you will ever know".[50]
After surviving an attack by Gideon's stormtroopers, during which Grogu uses the Force to deflect the fire of an attacking stormtrooper'sflamethrower back against him, the group escapes with Grogu through a sewer grate. They seek help from the hidden Mandalorian tribe, but it is revealed the Imperials wiped out the tribe after they revealed themselves in "Chapter 3: The Sin".[51] The tribe's leader, "the Armorer" (Emily Swallow), instructs the Mandalorian to watch over and protect Grogu,[52][53][54] who she formally adopts into the Mandalorian culture as a "foundling", like the Mandalorian once was himself.[53][55] She instructs the Mandalorian to seek out and deliver Grogu to the others of his kind, and that until this occurs, the Mandalorian and Grogu are a "clan of two", and that the Mandalorian will be like a father to him.[55][56] She declares their signet to be a likeness of a Mudhorn, the creature the Mandalorian and Grogu worked together to kill in "Chapter 2: The Child".[57] The group departs, and IG-11 sacrifices himself to destroy an entire squad of stormtroopers to protect Grogu.[47] After fending off a final attack from Moff Gideon, the Mandalorian once again departs from Nevarro with Grogu.[51]
Grogu accompanies the Mandalorian during his search for other Mandalorians who could help him find the child's people: theJedi. In "Chapter 9: The Marshal", the pair return to Tatooine and meetCobb Vanth (Timothy Olyphant), the Marshal of Mos Pelgo, who is not a true Mandalorian but wears Mandalorian armor. The Mandalorian helps Vanth slay akrayt dragon which had been attacking Mos Pelgo, in exchange for his armor. Along the way the pair arrange an uneasy alliance between the townspeople and aTusken Raider tribe. The Mandalorian developed a deep respect for Vanth, to the point he entrusts him to look after Grogu, should he perish during his attempt to kill the dragon. In "Chapter 10: The Passenger", the Mandalorian and Grogu leave for Trask, where they must take a contact, "Frog Lady" (Misty Rosas, voiced byDee Bradley Baker), and her eggs in exchange for a lead on other Mandalorians. During their journey, Grogu takes a liking to the eggs and eats a few of them despite being explicitly forbidden from doing so by the Mandalorian. Grogu's appetite also gets the group into trouble while stranded on Maldo Kreis, where he eats a spider-like creature's egg just as the rest of the swarm hatches. They are ultimately saved from the swarm by twoX-wing pilots (Dave Filoni andPaul Sun-Hyung Lee) from theNew Republic. In "Chapter 11: The Heiress", the group arrives on Trask and after bringing Frog Lady and her remaining eggs to her husband, the Mandalorian and Grogu encounterBo-Katan Kryze (Katee Sackhoff) and two other Mandalorian warriors, who save them from a crew ofQuarrens who wish to kill Grogu and steal the Mandalorian's armor. While the Mandalorian accompanies Bo-Katan's team on a mission in exchange for a lead on Jedi, Grogu is left with the Frog Man and Frog Lady, during which time the eggs hatch and Grogu bonds with the newborntadpoles.
In "Chapter 12: The Siege", the Mandalorian and Grogu return to Nevarro for repairs to theRazor Crest, and reunite with Greef Karga and Cara Dune, who have since turned the planet around. While the Mandalorian goes with Greef, Cara, and their Mythrol companion (Horatio Sanz) to destroy the last Imperial base on Nevarro in exchange for said repairs, Grogu is left at a local school, where he uses the Force to steal some cookies from another child. This episode also provides a clue as to what the Empire's plans with Grogu are; while exploring the Imperial base, the Mandalorian and the others stumble upon cloning experiments performed by Imperial scientists, involving Grogu's blood, some of which has already been transfused to the clones to supposedly give them Force-sensitivity.
In "Chapter 13: The Jedi", the Mandalorian takes Grogu to former JediAhsoka Tano (Rosario Dawson) on Corvus, who communicates with him through the Force, learning his name and that he is a former Jedi youngling who was rescued from the Jedi Temple onCoruscant during theGreat Jedi Purge and hidden for his safety, which is why he suppresses his Force powers.[58] While Ahsoka is reluctant to train Grogu because of his strong attachment to the Mandalorian, she tells the latter to take him to the Jedi Temple on Tython, where Grogu might reach out to another Jedi through the Force and choose his own destiny.
In "Chapter 14: The Tragedy", the Mandalorian brings Grogu to said temple, where he begins meditating and a protective Force field rises around him. Moff Gideon's Imperial remnant, having tracked down the Mandalorian, soon attacks in an attempt to capture Grogu, who continues his meditation while being protected by the Mandalorian and the recently arrivedBoba Fett (Temuera Morrison) andFennec Shand (Ming-Na Wen), who made a deal with the former to protect Grogu in exchange for Fett's armor (which the Mandalorian obtained from Cobb Vanth). Despite their best efforts, Grogu is captured by Gideon's Dark Troopers and taken to his Imperial cruiser, where he is imprisoned inside a holding cell. Later, Gideon witnesses Grogu using his Force powers on two stormtroopers to hurl them around the cell before collapsing in exhaustion. Gideon orders his troops to stun and cuff Grogu, and to take him to Dr. Pershing to complete the blood transfusion.
In "Chapter 16: The Rescue", the Mandalorian boards Gideon's ship to rescue Grogu, assisted by Cara, Fett, Fennec, Bo-Katan, and Koska Reeves (Mercedes Varnado). While Fett provides cover fromSlave I and the others take control of the ship's bridge, the Mandalorian confronts and defeats Gideon. With Gideon captured and Grogu in their custody, the Mandalorian and his allies have their escape route cut off by a platoon of Dark Trooper droids untilLuke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) arrives withR2-D2 and destroys the Dark troopers. When Luke offers to raise and train Grogu, the Mandalorian, realizing that the child's destiny is to become a Jedi, reluctantly allows him to go with Luke. During an emotional farewell, the Mandalorian removes his helmet to let Grogu see his face for the first time and promises to meet him again.
Grogu appears in the sixth episode, "Chapter 6: From the Desert Comes a Stranger", of the spin-off seriesThe Book of Boba Fett. While training with Luke, he helps Grogu remember some of his past, including his home at the Jedi Temple on Coruscant and the events of the Great Jedi Purge. The Mandalorian comes to visit Grogu, but decides against it after speaking with Ahsoka Tano, not wanting to hinder his training; however, he gives Ahsoka a gift to deliver to Grogu: beskarchain mail forged bythe Armorer. Ahsoka gives the chain mail to Luke, who confesses that he is unsure whether Grogu is fully committed to the Jedi path and that he does not know how to handle the matter. Following Ahsoka's advice to listen to his instincts, Luke decides to let Grogu choose his destiny by asking him to choose between the chain mail and the lightsaber of his old master,Yoda.[59]
In the seventh and final episode, titled "Chapter 7: In The Name of Honor", Grogu lands in Motto's hangar on Tatooine with R2-D2 in Luke'sX-wing starfighter, where it is revealed that Grogu chose the beskar chain mail over Yoda's lightsaber. Motto then takes him to Mos Espa, where he reunites with the Mandalorian. He and Motto aid the Mandalorian, Boba Fett, and Fett's forces in defeating the Pyke Syndicate. However,Cad Bane (Corey Burton) scares off Fett'srancor, which goes on a rampage in Mos Espa. Grogu uses the Force to put the rancor to sleep, stopping it from causing more damage. Afterward, Grogu and the Mandalorian fly away together from Tatooine, in the Mandalorian's newNaboo N-1 starfighter.[60]
Grogu accompanies the Mandalorian on his travels as he attempts to atone for breaking the Creed by removing his helmet. In "Chapter 17: The Apostate", the Mandalorian has IG-11 partially repaired as a prospective companion, but IG-11 defaults to his original programming and attempts to kill Grogu before once again being destroyed. In "Chapter 18: The Mines of Mandalore", Pelli Motto sellsR5-D4 to the Mandalorian and the three travel toMandalore. When the Mandalorian is captured by a cyborg in the mines, Grogu flies with R5 in the N-1 to Kalevala to fetch Bo-Katan to rescue the captured Mandalorian. After the rescue, Bo-Katan leads Grogu and the Mandalorian to the Living Waters and Grogu witnesses the Mandalorian bathe himself. In "Chapter 19: The Convert", the trio are attacked by Imperial starfighters in Kalevala, forcing them to flee to the Mandalorian's convert, where Grogu witnesses the Mandalorian's redemption and Bo-Katan's induction.
In "Chapter 20: The Foundling", Grogu trains with fellow foundling Ragnar Vizsla (Wesley Kimmel) until Ragnar is captured by a large winged Raptor. While the Mandalorian, Bo-Katan, and Ragnar's fatherPaz (Jon Favreau) leave to rescue him, Grogu joins the Armorer at the Forge, where she teaches him Mandalorian culture and forges him a beskarrondel. The Forge triggers more of Grogu's memories of the Great Jedi Purge, revealing that he escaped Coruscant with the help of Jedi MasterKelleran Beq (Ahmed Best) and sympathetic members of theNaboo Armed Forces.
In "Chapter 21: The Pirate" and "Chapter 22: Guns for Hire", Grogu tags along as Bo-Katan and the Mandalorian bring together their respective tribes. In "Chapter 23: The Spies", Grogu is given IG-12, a human-sizedmecha made from the remains of IG-11, which he uses both to walk and to speak, although he can use only the words "Yes" and "No". When a quarrel breaks out between two Mandalorians from different tribes as they cross the ruined surface ofMandalore, Grogu intervenes to calm tensions and restore the peace.
In "Chapter 24: The Return", Grogu saves the Mandalorian after he is captured and helps him fight his way through Moff Gideon's base on Mandalore. Grogu faces off against three Praetorian Guards, which destroy his IG-12 suit; he uses the Force to defeat the guards and Moff Gideon, and later to shield himself, the Mandalorian, and Bo-Katan from a fiery explosion. Once Mandalore is reclaimed, the Mandalorian adopts Grogu as his son and apprentice, and he is given the name Din Grogu by the Armorer. The pair leave Mandalore so that Din Grogu can complete his apprenticeship.[61]
At Disney's first quarter 2024 earnings call, CEOBob Iger announced that a new Star Wars movie was being developed "that brings the Mandalorian and Grogu to the big screen for the very first time."[62]
Physically, Grogu closely resembles Yoda, sharing his signature green skin and long, pointed ears.[63] Grogu is small in size, with wide eyes,short hairs, and wrinkled skin.[64][65] Grogu is capable of sitting up, crawling, walking, and eating. He appears capable of understanding some language spoken around him, but cannot speak except in baby-like babble noises.[66]Anthony Breznican ofVanity Fair stated: "There is an emotional transference happening here. The audience cares more about the unnamed, faceless Mandalorian because he cares so much about Baby Yoda."[67] Rebecca Keegan ofThe Hollywood Reporter believes Grogu displays a form of wisdom despite his young age, describing him as "aDalai Lama in toddler form".[5]Jeanne Cavelos, formerNASAastrophysicist and author ofThe Science of Star Wars, also believes Grogu demonstrates intelligence beyond his years, noting his awareness and empathy toward beings even when their faces or bodies are covered completely, as well as his ability to recognize injury in others and attempt to repair it.[66]
Despite his youth, Grogu demonstrates a considerable ability to use and manipulate the Force, such as when he lifts the large Mudhorn creature into the air in "Chapter 2: The Child",[22][68] and when he deflects the fire of an attacking stormtrooper's flamethrower back against him in "Chapter 8: Redemption".[51] Kevin Melrose ofComic Book Resources noted that in theoriginalStar Wars trilogy filmThe Empire Strikes Back (1980),Luke Skywalker struggled to lift anX-wing fighter due to its large size, so the fact that Grogu can lift heavy objects despite his diminutive size and young age demonstrates the vastness of his Force powers.[68] Grogu also repeatedly shows a desire to use the Force to help those around him, such as when he attempts to heal the Mandalorian's wounds in "Chapter 2: The Child",[22] and when he heals Greef Karga's near-fatal wounds in "Chapter 7: The Reckoning".[39][42] However, after using the Force in this manner, Grogu is often exhausted and slips into unconsciousness,[69][70][71] indicating that he is still developing his power and does not yet have the skills to fully control it. Despite his raw natural ability with the Force, Grogu is untrained and still depends heavily on the Mandalorian and other allies for protection.[69] Grogu has a sweet temperament,[5] and comes across as innocent and kindhearted to most of the people he encounters,[69] but is also occasionally capable of violence, such as during a scene in "Chapter 7: The Reckoning" when he uses the Force to choke Cara Dune while she is engaging the Mandalorian in a friendlyarm wrestling match and in "Chapter 14: The Tragedy" when Grogu slams two stormtroopers together while imprisoned by Moff Gideon.[72][73][74]
Grogu was conceived byJon Favreau, the creator andshowrunner ofThe Mandalorian.[10] Upon learning thatLucasfilm had been sold tothe Walt Disney Company in 2012, Favreau began imagining working on aStar Wars project, and was particularly interested in exploring the events after the originalStar Wars trilogy.[5] He conceived Grogu based upon a desire to explore the mystery around Yoda and his species,[10] and an interest in presenting a character from Yoda's species at the beginning of his journey, in contrast to Yoda ending his own journey inReturn of the Jedi (1983).[5] Favreau believed part of the appeal of Yoda was that George Lucas deliberately kept his origins and details about the species mysterious, and Favreau believed that sense of mystery would extend to Grogu: "I think that's why people are so curious about this little one of the same species."[10][75]
In mid-2017, shortly after Favreau pitchedThe Mandalorian to Lucasfilm PresidentKathleen Kennedy, she suggested he meet withDave Filoni, who had co-created severalStar Wars animated series. Filoni said of his meeting with Favreau:
When he brought up in the very beginning of doing this child and having it be of Yoda's species, I was like, ‘Oh, that's very tricky, because there's never been this before outside of Yoda, and then Yaddle in the prequels on the Jedi Council. It's kind of a sacred thing ... We just have to be responsible when we're telling a story with what we're deciding to do. The fans want to know things are a calculated, careful decision. Then if you tell a good story, most of the time they go with it.[76]
The character of Grogu was further developed in early conversations between Favreau and Filoni, the latter of whom drew a rough sketch of the character on cocktail napkins during the talks.[5] Multiple artists worked to refine the image of Grogu created by Filoni, but the definitive imagery came from a concept drawing by artist Christian Alzmann, which depicted the character's makeshift garment.[5] Favreau said of this rendering: "It looked cute, but it also looked a little weird. That's part of Yoda. It can't just be cute. It can't just be a straight-up Disney baby, it has to be a little bit tweaked."[5] The team sought to establish mannerisms and expressions for Grogu that would remind viewers of a pet with whom they might share a connection. These characteristics include Grogu's ears, posture, and the way he cocks his head.[5]
DisneyCEOBob Iger said of Grogu: "The moment I laid eyes on the character, I had a strong feeling that it was going to connect with audiences. So cute, so interesting, so compelling. So familiar and yet so new."[5] Favreau has clarified that Grogu is not a younger version of Yoda himself,[10][11][75] but has declined to comment upon whether he is related to Yoda or otherwise connected to him.[11]
Grogu is mostly a work ofanimatronics andpuppetry, although accentuated withcomputer-generated imagery (CGI).[10]Legacy Effects, thespecial effects studio started by protégés ofspecial make-up effects creatorStan Winston, designed the Grogu puppet and supplied the puppeteers to animate it during filming.[77][78] The puppet cost about $5 million to make,[1] and is relatively heavy due to the amount of wires and animatronic technology inside it.[79] It is controlled by two technicians, one who operates the eyes and mouth and another who controls other facial expressions.[16][80] There are several stand-in versions for Grogu used in filming in addition to the primary puppet.[81] The crew ofThe Mandalorian wanted to use animatronics for Grogu as often as possible.[82] However, they also shot versions of the character's scenes both with and without the puppet, so they had the option of replacing it with a CGI effect in post-production if the puppet did not look satisfactory.[82][83] When CGI is used, Favreau said they try to make the character obey the same physical laws that he would if he were a puppet, adding: "I think a lot of times CG makes itself too obvious where you don't create parameters creatively that allow the character to keep the same identity and charm."[10]
The voice and sounds of Grogu were created byDavid Acord andMatthew Wood, sound editors withSkywalker Sound, who had previously worked on variousStar Wars projects. Acord recorded animals' noises at a wildlife rescue nearSan Diego,[84] and used recordings of abat-eared fox andkinkajou to make the initial version of Grogu's voice.[2][84][85] However, Favreau suggested the voice needed to sound more human-like and relatable to audiences, so instead the animal sounds were scaled back and used only for small grunts and cooing noises. Actual infant vocals were used to create the new version of Grogu's voice, and Acord used a highly-pitched version of his voice for some of the more articulated vocalizations.[84] Acord also previously voicedRotta the Hutt, the youngHuttlet son ofJabba the Hutt, in the animated filmStar Wars: The Clone Wars (2008).[85] In "Chapter 23: The Spies",Taika Waititi voices IG-12, apilotable exoskeleton built by the Anzellans (fromIG-11's remains) to be controlled by Grogu, whom Grogu speaks through by clicking buttons to say "yes" and "no".[86]
The character was referred to as "the Child" in screenplays forThe Mandalorian, thoughBryce Dallas Howard, who directed "Chapter 4: Sanctuary", said she always referred to him on set simply as "Baby",[77] and other cast members called it "The Being".[15] During filming, the director of each episode would communicate with Grogu's puppeteers to discuss what was happening in the scene, what emotions Grogu should express, and what actions the character should take.[16][67] DirectorDeborah Chow said in this way, it was similar to providing direction to a living actor.[67][87] Favreau encouraged the directors to test and push the boundaries of the Grogu puppet during filming, urging them to experiment and attempt to get the most realistic movements and mannerisms possible from the character.[77] Brendan Wayne, a body double for the Mandalorian character, said the puppet looked so realistic that performing against it felt like working with an actualchild actor.[78]Rick Famuyiwa, the director of "Chapter 2: The Child", said he was shocked when he learned that the premiere episode ofThe Mandalorian ended with the introduction of Grogu, because it meant he would be directing the next episode that further expanded upon the character.[82]
The Grogu puppet was popular on set with the show's cast and crew.[67][88] Chow said: "With the baby, every time it came on set, the whole crew would respond to it. Even the grip department, every production assistant is coming to the monitors, trying to see it."[88] Howard screamed in excitement when she first saw it,[77] and Gina Carano said of Grogu: "That was our precious. Our precious is this being that we all end up taking care of in some way."[67] Emily Swallow said she "fell in love with it like everybody else",[89][90] adding: "I was thrilled when they brought him in that little bag for the scene that I got to have with it. I just wanted to snuggle it."[91][92] Amy Sedaris said the animatronic Grogu puppet made everyone on the set happy: "The minute you looked into Baby Yoda's eyes you just got lost."[93] Likewise, Giancarlo Esposito said he enjoyed interacting with the Grogu puppet during filming: "It melts my heart, because the reality is, this little baby does things that you could never imagine and when you look at those eyes and that little body, how can you not help but fall in love?"[94] Carl Weathers has said of him: "He is very interesting and very knowledgeable and very cute. I never use that word, but he is a cute little guy."[95][96]
Werner Herzog particularly enjoyed filming scenes with the animatronic Grogu puppet, which he called "heartbreakingly beautiful".[80][97][98] Chow said directing the scene between Herzog and Grogu in "Chapter 3: The Sin" was "one of the weirdest" moments of her career,[67][88][99] because he had so much affection for the puppet and was interacting with it like it was a living being.[88][99][100] She said: "I literally think that he had forgotten that it's not a real-live creature and he had fallen in love with it."[99] Herzog strongly urged theMandalorian filmmakers to use the puppet for the character and not CGI. While filming one scene, Dave Filoni began to remove the puppet to shoot an alternate take, in case they decided to use a CGI version of Grogu in its place. Herzog passionately urged him not to do so and to remain committed to the animatronics and puppetry, saying: "You are cowards. Leave it. Leave it."[82][83] Esposito has also said having an actual Grogu puppet to perform against has been beneficial for the cast, because "that space allows all of us to be so wowed by its presence".[81]
Misty Rosas, who delivered the motion capture performance for Kuiil, often held the Grogu puppet during her scenes in "Chapter 7: The Reckoning". This occasionally proved challenging for Rosas, who also had to manage the weight of the animatronics in her costume and face mask, as well as the weight of the Grogu prop.[79] One full day of filming the episode focused upon Kuiil riding theblurrg creature, a process Rosas described as "intense" due to the amount of time she spent on the fake creature and the speeds at which it was made to run. The process was made further challenging because she was carrying the heavy animatronic Grogu puppet throughout the scenes, and she occasionally needed breaks between takes. Rosas said: "My legs are not exactly long, so I was squeezing for dear life and holding the baby."[101] Nevertheless, Rosas said she enjoyed working with Grogu character, saying: "He just melts my heart, he's so cute."[79]
During the opening scene of "Chapter 8: Redemption", an Imperial Scout Trooper portrayed by comedianAdam Pally punched Grogu. During the first take of filming the scene, Pally punched the animatronic Grogu puppet hard, prompting Favreau to inform the actor that the puppet cost about $5 million to make. This made Pally so nervous that he missed Grogu altogether when he tried to punch him in the three subsequent takes.[102][103] Pally joked about working with Grogu: "I gotta tell you, the truth is that Baby Yoda is a bit of a diva. He's constantlyvaping."[104][105][106] At some point during filming ofThe Mandalorian, George Lucas visited the set and held the Grogu puppet. Favreau posted a picture of Lucas holding Grogu onInstagram on January 16, 2020, which drew considerableInternet attention.[107][108][109]
Grogu was kept secret and was deliberately withheld fromThe Mandalorian's prerelease marketing and merchandise plans due to the risk that details about the character could leak before the show aired.[10][5][110][111] Favreau said of this plan: "I think that part of what people really value is to be surprised and delighted, and I think that's becoming all too rare."[10] Favreau has creditedDonald Glover as the source of that strategy. While developingThe Mandalorian, Favreau was simultaneously directing Glover in the2019 photorealistic remake ofThe Lion King (1994). While discussing music and pop culture, Glover told Favreau that people enjoy being surprised, because true surprises had become much less common in the Internet era. As an example, Glover cited the excitement generated by the sudden releases of surprise albums by singer and songwriterBeyoncé.[5][112] Favreau felt keeping Grogu a secret until he was revealed would allow fans to connect with the character and "discover the story as it was unfolding". The leadership and marketing team at the Walt Disney Company was supportive of this strategy.[10] Screeners of the pilot episode were not distributed to reviewers to avoid leaks about Grogu,[113] and the official Lucasfilm andStar Wars social media accounts did not start posting messages about Grogu until about a week after the series debuted, to avoid spoiling the character's debut as much as possible.[113][114][115]
One of the primary themes ofThe Mandalorian isparenting andfatherhood, particularly through the father-son relationship dynamic between the Mandalorian and Grogu.[116][117][118] Ryan Britt ofFatherly wrote: "For years theStar Wars franchise avoided depicting a parent-child dynamic. With Mando and Baby Yoda, that’s finally changing."[116]Vulture writer Kathryn VanArendonk argued that parenting has been the subject of pastStar Wars stories, but almost always during later stages of parenthood, rather than an infant in early developmental stages such as Grogu. As examples, she citedObi-Wan Kenobi serving as a mentor to the adolescent Anakin Skywalker,Princess Leia lamenting over her grown sonKylo Ren, or the absence ofRey's parents.[119] Several reviewers have compared the dynamic between Grogu and the Mandalorian toLone Wolf and Cub, amanga about asamurai warrior and his young son.[120][121][122][123] Grogu makes the Mandalorian a softer and more relatable character;[12][124] he changes in a positive way because of raising Grogu, becoming less selfish and self-absorbed.[125] Several examples of the Mandalorian parenting Grogu appear throughout the series, such as when he stops Grogu from pressing random buttons in the cockpit of the Mandalorian's spaceship, ultimately by holding him in his lap.[116] In another example, the Mandalorian sets up acar seat for Grogu in the cockpit of his ship, so he can be seated safely and comfortably during their travels.[126]
The relationship between the Mandalorian and Grogu is an example of unexpected fatherhood.[119][125] The Mandalorian feels a connection and parental bond with Grogu because of his own childhood, when he was orphaned upon the death of his parents and was adopted by the Mandalorian culture as a "foundling".[119] Nevertheless, fatherhood was not a role the Mandalorian was initially seeking, and he makes repeated initial attempts to avoid this responsibility. He first does so in "Chapter 3: The Sin", when he leaves Grogu with the Client,[125] and then again in "Chapter 4: Sanctuary", when he plans to leave Grogu with Omera, a protective mother on the planet Sorgan who is willing to take Grogu into her own family. The Mandalorian does not fully commit to the role of fatherhood until the first-season finale, "Chapter 8: Redemption" when Grogu himself is also adopted into the Mandalorian culture as a "foundling" and the Mandalorian is formally declared to be his father figure.[119]
Anthony Breznican ofVanity Fair has noted that none of the day-to-day difficulties of parenthood are portrayed in the series: "There is no shrill squawking from Baby Yoda, no tantrum, no spit-up, no uncontrollable shrieking that burrows into a parent’s psyche like a dentist’s drill shredding a soft, pink nerve."[67] Likewise,Vulture writer Kathryn VanArendonk said the show ignores or does not address many parenting details that make fatherhood difficult, such as what Grogu eats, when he goes to sleep, and whether he wears diapers. She wrote: "The Mandalorian is uninterested in diapers, and so Mando gets to be a very particular image of fatherhood: the guy who doesn't have to sweat the small stuff."[119] VanAnderonk described this as awish fulfillment fantasy for parents or prospective parents: "a vision of parenting stripped so thoroughly of all detail and specificity that all that’s left are archetypes: the parent, the child".[119]
Grogu encounters a handful of other protector figures throughout the first season, including Omera, IG-11, and Peli Motto.[119] Some observers have criticized the series for the fact that the Mandalorian repeatedly leaves Grogu alone or in the hands of relative strangers,[117] as well as for making decisions that place Grogu in danger. One example is in "Chapter 6: The Prisoner", when he allows a team of dangerous mercenaries to use his ship while Grogu is on board, nearly resulting in Grogu's death.[117][127] An interaction the Mandalorian has with Peli Motto in "Chapter 5: The Gunslinger" is one of the most overt discussions about the challenges of caring for Grogu. When the Mandalorian accidentally wakes Grogu, who had been sleeping in Peli's arms, she chides him: "Do you have any idea how long it took me to get it to sleep?"[119] She also condemns the Mandalorian for leaving Grogu alone on the ship, saying: "you have an awful lot to learn about raising a young one".[35]ScreenCrush writer Matt Singer argued the Mandalorian's parenting errors make the show that much more appealing and relatable because making mistakes is a large part of being a parent.[117]
One scene in "Chapter 7: The Reckoning" led many fans to reevaluate Grogu and question whether he may demonstrate evil tendencies. During a scene on the Mandalorian's spaceship, Grogu observes as the Mandalorian and Cara Dune engage in a friendly arm wrestling match. During the contest, Grogu uses the Force to choke Cara, nearly strangling her to death before the Mandalorian intervenes.[72][73][74] Throughout theStar Wars franchise, that ability has been most commonly associated with thedark side of the Force, and particularly with the antagonist characterDarth Vader.[128][129] Sarah Bea Milner ofScreen Rant wrote: "The moment is genuinely shocking — and more than a little disturbing."[128] Some reviewers noted, however, that Grogu likely mistakenly believed the Mandalorian was in danger and intervened to help.[129][130] Additionally, in the same episode, Grogu uses the Force to heal and save Greef Karga, a power typically associated with the Light Side.[128][72][130] Peter Foy ofComic Book Resources wrote: "It doesn't exactly seem realistic that Disney would blow its merchandising potential with the little cutie by going allDamien (The Omen) in his storyline."[72]
Nevertheless, some writers have suggested viewers had been underestimating Grogu's capacity for evil because he is cute.[74][129][131] Fans speculated Grogu could be presenting a false personality or using the Force to manipulate people into caring about him to help ensure his survival.[73]Esquire writer Matt Miller noted that Yoda lied about his identity during his initial appearance inThe Empire Strikes Back, posing as a simple-minded observer to Luke Skywalker before revealing himself to be a Jedi Master. Miller suggested Grogu could be putting on a similar performance.[129] One fan theory suggests Grogu could be related to a prophecy in a pastStar Wars work that predicted an evil that could consume the galaxy. The prophecy, described in the novelStar Wars: Master and Apprentice (2019), says: "The danger of the past is not past, but sleeps in an egg. When the egg cracks, it will threaten the galaxy entire." Fans theorized this could refer to Grogu, who sleeps in an egg-like bassinet inThe Mandalorian.[131] Others have theorized the reason the Imperial remnant wants Grogu is to turn him over to the dark side of the Force,[128] or for use as a weapon.[72] Moff Gideon in the season finale says, "You may think you have some idea what you’re in possession of, but you do not." Peter Foy ofComic Book Resources suggested this could allude to Grogu's potential to cause mass destruction.[72]
Caitlin Gallagher ofBustle suggested rather than building toward Grogu becoming evil, the show could be suggesting the Mandalorian needs to find a way to raise Grogu in a less violent environment.[73] All season long, Grogu has witnessed those around him committing violent acts.[128][73] For example,Vulture writer Keith Phipps noticed that when IG-11 kills multiple stormtroopers in front of him, Grogu has a "look of wonder" in his eyes, which Phipps said "is hilarious, but also a little chilling".[48] Some writers applied anature versus nurture argument to this, contending Grogu is becoming violent because of what he is learning based on the actions around him.[73] This suggests Grogu is not inherently good or evil,[128][72] but that instead, like all children, he is impressionable and does not fully understand the events occurring around him. He is learning about life and needs guidance as he develops his abilities.[127][128] This is why he uses Force powers generally associated with both the light and dark sides of the Force.[72] It will largely fall to the Mandalorian to provide this guidance,[127] as when the Mandalorian stops him from strangling Cara.[128]
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Grogu has received a positive reception from fans and reviewers,[4][67] and is widely considered the show'sbreakout character.[2][3][132][133] Fans immediately adopted the nickname "Baby Yoda" to describe the character,[11][134][135] a moniker Favreau has embraced as "the easiest, shortest, most hashtagable way to identify that character".[11] However, the nickname is not used internally by the crew ofThe Mandalorian, and Disney CEO Bob Iger said he "got [his] wrist slapped" by Favreau for calling the character Baby Yoda in e-mail messages.[136][137] Iger later said the scale of the positive reaction to Grogu was "beyond my expectations by a wide margin".[138][139]
Several writers described Grogu as a pop culture phenomenon, particularly noting the adoration it had received from fans on social media.[4][16][67]The Guardian called Baby Yoda "2019's biggest new character",[4] and Bryan Alexander ofUSA Today wrote: "There's nothing hotter in the universe than Baby Yoda."[11] Some critics noted that fandom for Grogu transcended age and experience, and that few fictional characters unite entire fan bases in the way Grogu had;[67][140] Anthony Breznican ofVanity Fair wrote: "In an era of bitter division on nearly all matters, there is seemingly unanimous adoration for this tiny alien creature."[67][140]
Vox writer Allegra Frank said Grogu madeThe Mandalorian "instantly more memorable and evocative", and alleviated the solitude and tension that might otherwise have surrounded the show's protagonist.[12] Carolyn Giardina ofThe Hollywood Reporter said Grogu helpedThe Mandalorian not only achieve critical and commercial success, but also impact the culturalzeitgeist.[10] Beyond the show, other writers have described the character as a key component in the success of Disney's rollout of the Disney+streaming service.[4][141][142] Julia Alexander ofThe Verge wrote: "There's no question that Baby Yoda is driving interest in Disney+".[141] Some critics called Grogu one of the best and most lauded newStar Wars characters in recent memory,[115][138] while others said the character had made theStar Wars franchise relevant to an even wider range of audiences.[4][75]
Vulture writer Madison Malone Kircher described Grogu as an example of a character so popular that his fame nearly eclipsed that of his own franchise, comparing him toBaby Groot from theGuardians of the Galaxy films.[64]The Guardian writer Zach Vasquez noted pastStar Wars works had featured young characters that have not resonated as strongly as Grogu, so he credited his success with the character's designers and special effects.[4] Likewise, Robyn Bahr ofThe Hollywood Reporter said the positive response to Grogu, along with that of the showThe Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, demonstrate that audiences still desire puppetry, animatronics, and practical effects rather than only CGI. Bahr wrote: "If Baby Yoda were entirely 3D animation, he wouldn't have become an icon the minute we laid our eyes on him."[65]
Grogu was featured on the cover of the December 2019 issue ofThe Hollywood Reporter, along with the headline: "Baby Yoda represents the future of Hollywood".[5] In an article in the magazine, writer Rebecca Keegan argued Grogu is the culmination of several shifts and trends in the entertainment industry over the decade prior to the release ofThe Mandalorian. These include the decline of the traditional movie star, the growth of streaming media services, the rise ofInternet culture, and technological advances in CGI.[5]Variety writer Caroline Framke said she fell in love with the character even despite acknowledging that he is an "inherently manipulative product of the most powerful media conglomerate".[143]
Not all reviews of Grogu were positive. An online report conducting an analysis of which U.S. states responded most positively to Grogu, finding that interest in him was highest inUtah, and lowest inMississippi.[144]Rolling Stone writerAlan Sepinwall said the reveal of Grogu was a rehash of the appearance of Rotta the Hutt inStar Wars: The Clone Wars.[145] Emily VanDerWerff ofVox described the character as "yet another merchandising opportunity" and did not feel the character was worth Disney attempting to keep secret before his reveal.[146]BBC writer Caryn James said he did not believe anyone without an emotional attachment toStar Wars would care about Grogu.[147] Jeremy Gordon ofThe Outline called Grogu the "product of a merciless capitalist machine" intended primarily to generate merchandising revenue for Disney. Gordon wrote: "It's not really Baby Yoda I hate, of course. He's really cute. It's the feeling that I'm being pandered to, that all of this is a foregone conclusion."[148] Emma Gray Ellis wrote that there was some backlash to Grogu on social media in response to the character's massive Internet popularity. She wrote: "There's something grindingly, performatively grouchy in leaping forward to damn something that 'everyone' likes, in no small part because everyone likes it."[132]
Grogu ranked first on severalScreen Rant lists about the series, including the most interesting characters from the first season ofThe Mandalorian,[30] the best characters from the show,[149] and the best costumes from the first season.[150]
Grogu quickly became a popularInternet meme.[134][151][152] In the week following the debut ofThe Mandalorian, Grogu was driving almost twice as many social media interactions on news stories about it as any of the 2020Democratic presidentialcandidates.[10][153][154] The Baby Yoda search term saw continuous growth onGoogle Trends in the weeks following the release ofThe Mandalorian.[64] There were 2.28 million social media interactions about the characters on news stories in the first two weeks after the release ofThe Mandalorian,[154] and two million tweets featuring the words "Baby Yoda" were sent onTwitter between November 12 and December 5, 2019.[64] When Favreau tweeted a concept art image of the character by artist Christian Alzmann on November 19, it received more than 34,000 retweets and 217,000 likes within one week.[67] Various celebrities have tweeted about the character, includingAriana Grande,[64]Elon Musk,[155]Dwayne Johnson,Russell Wilson,Alex Rodriguez,[151] andDonald Trump Jr.[156] Zach Vasquez ofThe Guardian wrote: "It's now practically impossible to scroll through any social media platform without being inundated with pics, videos, memes and gifs of the bug-eyed, big-eared tot."[4] TheLos Angeles Times included Grogu in its list of "2019's Internet Obsessions", with writer Christie D'Zurilla writing: "Baby Yoda won the Internet in 2019."[155]
One of the more popular memes involved a screenshot from "Chapter 4: Sanctuary" in which Grogu casually sips from a mug of soup,[64][157] which has been compared to a similar meme ofKermit the Frog passive-aggressively sipping a glass of tea.[158][159][160] Another popular meme used a scene from that episode in which Grogu randomly presses buttons in the cockpit of the Mandalorian's spaceship,[64][161] with most of the memes changing the audio so that it appeared Grogu was trying to put various songs on the radio.[161][162] In late November 2019, the onlineGIF databaseGiphy temporarily removed its GIFs of Grogu due to "confusion" over the legal status of the images, sparking outrage among fans. However, they were quickly restored,[163][164][165] and Giphy issued an apology to Disney for having removed them.[163][164] Various sports teams have created their own memes with Grogu, includingLos Angeles Clippers,New York Islanders,Phoenix Suns,Pittsburgh Steelers,San Francisco Giants,Sacramento Kings,Seattle Mariners, andTennessee Volunteers football.[151]
In December 2019, artwork of Disney CEO Bob Iger with Grogu appeared in theTime magazine article naming Iger their Businessperson of the Year.[166]The New Yorker published a cartoon of a woman pushing ababy stroller and saying to the baby inside it: "No offense, but Baby Yoda, like, blows you out of the water."[67] Ice2Ice, a musician associated with the websiteThe Ringer, released "Dear Baby Yoda: A Love Song" on December 3, 2019, with the music based upon the song "Dear Theodosia" from themusicalHamilton.[167][168][169] The character was also mentioned in the December 2019South Park episode "Basic Cable". In the episode, a character namedScott Malkinson attempts to get Disney+ because the woman he is interested in loves Grogu, so he believes she will love him too if he gets the streaming service.[170] Grogu was also parodied multiple times onSaturday Night Live'sWeekend Update segment by comedianKyle Mooney, starting on the December 14, 2019 episode, in which he gossiped about theMandalorian cast, talked about his future business ventures, and threatened Baby Groot.[171][172] At the77th Golden Globe Awards, hostRicky Gervais jokingly mistookJoe Pesci for "Baby Yoda".[173] On February 20, theUnited States Army revealed that aM1 Abramstank belonging to the 3rd Infantry Division ofFort Stewart inGeorgia had been named after Grogu, with the words "BABY YODA" printed on the barrel of its gun.[174][175] Some critics have noted that other media companies introduced young versions of their own characters following the debut of Grogu, and suggested they could be attempts to capitalize on Grogu's success. As an example, Ashley Carman ofThe Verge cited "Baby Sonic", a young version of the video game characterSonic the Hedgehog who appears in his2020 film, which she described as "like something ripped out of Disney's playbook".[176]
I think that part of what people really value is to be surprised and delighted, and I think that's becoming all too rare. It's very difficult to keep secrets about projects you're working on. By holding back on that one product, we knew that we may have had the disadvantage of not having toys available day and date, but what we got in exchange was an excitement surrounding the character, because everybody felt like they discovered him together.
Due to the secrecy surrounding Grogu, designs of the character were withheld from product manufacturers in the months prior to the release ofThe Mandalorian. As a result, toys and merchandise of the character were not available in time for the 2019Christmas season, despite a high demand for them.[11][177] The Walt Disney Company accepted this plan despite knowing it would cost the company merchandising revenue in the short term; Favreau said "they understood the value of it".[10] Iger said if Grogu's design had been distributed for toys before the show's release, "it would have gone out to hundreds and hundreds of people, probably all over the world, and we didn't want to do that". Iger reiterated that Disney is a story-first company which has "never set out to tell a story simply because it can become a toy or a game or a consumer product of some sort",[177] and he described the wait to unveil Grogu as "worth it".[138][139] TheAmazon product research toolJungle Scout projected that Disney may have lost $2.7 million in revenue because of the delay in release merchandise of Grogu;[178] demand for toys of Grogu were so high that Amazon customers searched for Baby Yoda products more than 90,000 times in one month.[179] David Lazarus, consumer columnist for theLos Angeles Times, said he understood Disney's strategy, but felt the company missed out on significant commercial opportunity: "The fact that they didn't anticipate that this was going to be a commercial goldmine is insane, and that they let this opportunity slip away strikes me as sheer madness."[110]
Due to the scarcity of licensed merchandise of Grogu, many unlicensed products featuring the character were created and sold through the Internet, including via websites likeEtsy.[67][110][180] These includedfelt andcrocheted dolls, shirts,jewellery,Christmas ornaments, art prints,bumper stickers,coffee mugs, and more.[67][180]Do it yourself videos were also produced showing how fans could make their own toys based upon Grogu.[110] The top 47 unofficial Grogu products by Amazon merchants sold an average of 1,842 pieces of merchandise in the month following the show's release, at an average of $23 per product.[179] In mid-January 2020, Disney issued takedown notices against several Etsy sellers using the words "Star Wars", "Mandalorian", and "Yoda", citing copyright violations.[107][181][182] Officialsoft goods such as T-shirts were the first to be made available because they were the easiest to produce.[11][67] The first two official dolls of Grogu released were a 10-inchFunko figurine and an 11-inch plush toy fromMattel,[183] which began shipping in February.[110] Pre-orders for the Funko doll made it the top toy on Amazon upon its release.[137] More official merchandise was expected to be released in early 2020.[64][179][184] In December 2019, theElectronic Arts video gameThe Sims 4 added "The Child Statue" as a purchasable decoration.[185]
Several toys of Grogu were announcedAmerican International Toy Fair inNew York City in February 2020,[186][187] most notably a nearly life-sized animatronic Grogu toy byHasbro, which moves, blinks, and makes sounds like the actual character.[133][186] The toy sold out within days of its announcement, with new deliveries not expected until December 2020.[188] Other toys announced at the Fair include a Groguwaffle iron,[189]Chia Pets of Grogu,[190] and a vehicle set as part of Hasbro'sMission Fleet toyline, which include the Mandalorian on aspeeder bike and Grogu in his floating bassinet.[187]Build-A-Bear Workshop has also announced it will release a version of a Grogu doll in early 2020.[191] In August 2020,Lego releasedBrickHeadz figures of both Grogu and the Mandalorian, as well as a September 2020 release of a Lego set for the Mandalorian'sRazor Crest spaceship, which included small figurine of Grogu, which has also appeared in the 2021 set Trouble on Tatooine (set 75299).[192][193] A large, buildable figure of Grogu has also been released, as well as a plush toy based on the minifigure.[194][195]
In March 2020, an unofficial user-created mod for the video gameStar Wars Battlefront II allowed the characterBB-8 to be replaced with a playable version of Grogu.[196][197][198] Grogu appears inFortnite Battle Royale as a pet that floats in the hover-pram behind the player in-game.[199] A non-playable Grogu is included as part ofThe Mandalorian: Season 1 character DLC for the 2022 video gameLego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, accompanying Din Djarin in a floating pod that closes to protect Grogu when attacked.[200]
In 2021, Grogu's likeness was published in scientific literature, in a medical journal article titled, "Baby Yoda: Pareidolia and Patternicity in Sacral MRI and CT Scans".[201] The lead author was Patrick Foye, M.D., a professor ofphysical medicine and rehabilitation atRutgers University. In this article, he introduced a novel way of visualizing thesacrum when viewingMRI andCT scans. He noted that in certain image slices the human sacral anatomy resembles the face of "Baby Yoda". Sacral openings for exiting nerves (sacral foramina) resemble Baby Yoda's eyes, while the sacral canal resembles Baby Yoda's mouth. These and other comparisons can help physicians to use the "Baby Yoda sign" to evaluate both normal and abnormal anatomic findings on the imaging studies.[202]
In 2022, a fossil species ofproteidsalamander,Euronecturus grogu, was described from theMiocene ofGermany. The study's authors stated "like the new taxon herein described, Grogu is a member of an ancient lineage we know nothing or almost nothing about, which appears in an unexpected place at an unexpected time."[203]
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