From the Movies
If there's money to be had, a Neimoidian will be nearby. So says a common spacer stereotype, justified by the species' reputation for excelling at business. While Neimoidians are generally a cowardly lot, in financial issues, they can be bold and aggressive.
It was this instinct that led them to the command of the galaxy-spanning Trade Federation, a vast consortium of business interests that controls interstellar shipping in the Galactic Republic. When the government sought to tax outlying trade routes, the Neimoidians reacted with a brazen blockade of the peaceful world of Naboo. That the skittish Neimoidians could undertake so bold a move is remarkable; some suspect an unseen force manipulating events behind the scenes.
Neimoidians are tall humanoids, with mottled green-gray skin and smooth noseless faces. A nictitating membrane protects their large red-orange eyes.
From the Expanded Universe
The Neimoidian life-cycle has contributed much to their cutthroat business acumen. Born as disgusting grubs, Neimoidian offspring are placed in communal hives and given access to limited food supplies. The grubs then compete for food, and many young die if they are too weak to fend for themselves. Once Neimoidians achieve the age of seven, they emerge from the hives, having learned to fear death and to hoard goods.
Though they call Neimoidia home, Neimoidians can trace their ancestry to the ancient Duros spacefaring culture. The two share a striking similarity in appearance, but their personalities could not be more distant. While the Duros are a gregarious, expressive and adventurous lot, the Neimiodians seal themselves away from others, preferring to let droids do their talking.
Neimoidians place great value on wealth, and dress to display their riches accordingly. High-ranking officials dress in ornate and lavish gowns, towering headpieces, and the elite even travel about in inconvenient yet expensive conveyances called mechno-chairs.
Following the failed invasion of Naboo, the Neimoidians began losing favor in the galaxy. Though the command hierarchy of the Trade Federation still belonged to them, many Neimoidians fled from public view. Those that needed to conduct business took to calling themselves Duros to avoid the stigma.
Behind the Scenes
In the initial design stage, the Neimoidians were to resemble the conical-snouted gangly battle droids that they employ, an indication that the war automata was designed in their image. For a number of reasons, this approach was abandoned, and under George Lucas' direction, the classic trilogy Duros design, which dated back to the original
Star Wars cantina, was modified to become a Neimoidian.
Rather than employ digital creations, the Neimoidians were actors wearing elaborate animatronic masks. The facial movements of the masks were radio-controlled from off-camera.
