Wookiee

• Appeared in:
  
  I
  II
  III
  IV
  V
  VI
  CW

• Homeworld:
  Kashyyyk

• Size:
  2.1 meters

• Weapon:
  bowcaster

• Vehicle:
  Wookiee flying catamaran, Wookiee ornithopter

• Diet:
  omnivorous

• 

From the Movies

Shaggy giants from an arboreal world, the tall and commanding Wookiee species is an impressive sight to even the most jaded spacer. Despite their fearsome and savage countenance, Wookiees are intelligent, sophisticated, loyal and trusting. Loyalty and bravery are near-sacred tenets in Wookiee society. When peaceful, Wookiees are tender and gentle. Their tempers, however, are short; when angered, Wookiees can fly into a berserker rage and will not stop until the object of their distemper is sufficiently destroyed.

During the time of the Galactic Republic, the Wookiee homeworld of Kashyyyk was represented in the Galactic Senate by a number of Wookiee potentates. Loyal to the Republic, Kashyyyk was of prime strategic importance, serving as a major navigational point for the entire southwestern quadrant of the galaxy. This made it a target of the Confederacy, who invaded Kashyyyk during the Clone Wars. Republic forces, under the command of Yoda, were dispatched to protect the Wookiee homeworld. Yoda had fostered a good relationship with the Wookiees over his many years, and they trusted his leadership. Jedi, clones and Wookiee forces fought fiercely to protect the tree cities of Kashyyyk.

Kashyyyk's loyalty meant little to the unscrupulous Empire that arose to replace the Republic. Despite their proven intelligence, Wookiees were enslaved by the Empire and exploited for their brute strength. Their homeworld was blockaded, and a free Wookiee was a rare sight in the galaxy.

Perhaps the best-known free Wookiee was Chewbacca, loyal co-pilot and friend of famed Corellian smuggler Han Solo. Chewbacca was instrumental in the defeat of the Empire, and the eventual liberation of his people.

From the Expanded Universe

Kashyyyk is a world enveloped in immense forests. Inland, the trees are so tall and dense that a layered ecoystem has evolved within its branches. The closer one approaches to the forest floor, the more dangerous and primeval the environment becomes. Wookiees inhabit the upper levels of the forest, having built their massive cities within the interwoven canopy.

Though Wookiees do have a primitive appearance, they are quite comfortable with advanced technology. They can repair and maintain modern starships. They have developed a unique projectile weapon called a bowcaster. The Wookiee city of Thikkiiana was one of the key manufacturers of sophisticated computer componentry in the New Republic.

An average adult Wookiee stands more than two meters tall, and has a lifespan of several centuries. Aside from great strength and keen senses, Wookiees also have impressive regenerative abilities that allow them to recover from injury at a remarkable rate. Wookiees also have wickedly curved retractable claws used for climbing. Wookiee honor dictates that these claws are never used in fighting. A Wookiee that breaks this covenant is shunned and exiled, branded a "madclaw" and banished from the cities.

Wookiees are deeply respectful of nature, and have a strong connection to the sanctity of their world's ecology. When the Empire began exploiting the Wookiee homeworld, it was as if the giant people felt the pain inflicted upon Kashyyyk. Wookiees have also shown their own particular affinity for the Force.

When the Empire legalized slavery, one of the first species to profit were the Trandoshans. These reptilians are from a world neighboring Kashyyyk, and have long had grievances with the Wookiees.

Though Wookiees can understand Basic, and other galactic languages, their limited vocal apparatus can only produce their native tongues. The most common Wookiee language is Shyriiwook, a dialect of barks, growls, howls and roars. Wookiee language is very complex and liquid. Violence is such an everyday concern that there are 15 separate words for it in the Wookiee vocabulary. Wood and the crafting of woodwork and technology is so important that over 100 words exist to describe it.

Wookiees have a primitive patriarchy with a complicated lineage structure, initiation rites, and a religion that rejects materialism. One of the most important Wookiee customs is Life Day, wherein extended Wookiee families gather and celebrate a day of joy and harmony, as promised by the Tree of Life. Even the Imperial blockade could not keep Wookiees from recognizing this most important day.

Wookiees greatly value morality, courage, compassion and loyalty. A sacred and ancient Wookiee tradition is that of the honor family. An honor family comprises a Wookiee's closest friends and companions. These family members pledge a commitment to lay down their lives for one another, as well as members of any honor families these individuals may have. Like the similarly sacred Wookiee life debt, Wookiees extend this tradition to members outside their species. Chewbacca considered Han Solo, Leia Organa Solo, their children and Luke Skywalker part of his honor family.

After the Empire was overthrown, the Imperial slaving operation collapsed. The invading Nagai aliens attempted to resurrect the despicable practice, but were repulsed by agents from the Alliance of Free Planets.

Behind the Scenes

The earliest incarnation of the Wookiees can be found in George Lucas' rough story treatment for Star Wars, written in May of 1973. Unnamed shaggy aliens occupied the "forbidden" jungle world of Yavin. In the first draft screenplay written the following year, the heroes, led by General Skywalker, crash-land on Yavin, in a dark area of jungle called "The Forest of Gargantuans." Hanging from the trees are shaggy gray monsters called Wookiees (spelled "Wookees" in the script). These Wookiees would be instrumental in defeating the evil Empire by the end of the story.

As the story for A New Hope developed, Lucas cut out many elements from the draft scripts. Yavin remained, as Yavin Four, the jungle moon. The Wookiees had their ranks cut down to a single representative -- Chewbacca. Instead of being primitive, Chewie was shown to be a sophisticated character, capable of repairing and flying a complex starship. The idea of a primitive tree-dwelling furry species overthrowing a technologically advanced invader would resurface as the Ewok ground battle in Return of the Jedi. The Wookiee world became backstory, remarkably detailed, yet ultimately unexplored on film until the conclusion of the saga, Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith.

Advancements in digital filmmaking made it possible to capture the massive scale of the Wookiee homeworld. Eight practical Wookiees (not including Chewbacca) were constructed and photographed to serve as all the Wookiees in the beachfront battle. These were duplicated digitally, and recomposited to fill out the frame. In addition, Industrial Light & Magic perfected the digital Wookiees necessary to create truly massive sequences, and complex stunt work like the Wookiees that swing in from above on a vine in order to plant explosives on incoming enemy tanks.