Say hello to the Porgs: New creatures from The Last Jedi
The Last Jedi will introduce new, adorable little creatures called Porgs…
If you watched the behind the scenes reel of Star Wars: The Last Jedi at D23, you probably noticed a brief glimpse of the all-new creatures being introduced in the film — Porgs. StarWars.com noticed too (of course) and interviewed Lucasfilm Story Group’s Pablo Hidalgo hoping to get information on the cuddly little bird-like additions to the Star Wars universe.
Hidalgo confirms Porgs are native to the ocean planet of Ahch-to, where Luke Skywalker retreated to in his self-exile from the rest of the galaxy. Apparently, the little creatures are like puffins and they nest in the cliffs on the island where Rey and Luke are.
"They can fly. Their babies are called porglets."
Porg sketches by Stéphane Kardos. StarWars.com
A Porglet! I am dying of a cute overload, as we speak. When asked if the Porgs are friendly, Hidalgo says their curiosity gets the better of them, as they aren’t used to visitors. This probably means they take to Luke and Rey quite fast.
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Hidalgo also confirms the creatures will be brought to life through a combination of puppetry and CGI.
"The porgs are realized through a variety of effects, depending on what’s needed. Sometimes they’re puppets, with the puppeteers digitally removed from the shot. Other times, they’re entirely CG."
The question now is: Do the Porgs share a connection to the Force, since they are on an island where the first Jedi temple was built? If they have been around as long as the Jedi, then it would make sense for them to be connected, at least in some part, to the Jedi order or the Force as a whole.
Star Wars: The Last Jedi will hit theaters on December 15, where hopefully we’ll learn a lot more about the Porgs.