Misplaced Pages

Revision as of 23:31, 13 June 2006

Template:SW Character

In the Star Wars fictional universe, Watto is an on-the-ball and grumpy owner of a second-hand goods store in Mos Espa. He is a tetchy, unkempt Toydarian with a fondness of money and gaming. While one of the minor stores of Mos Espa, Watto's junkyard was nevertheless a wealth of surplus equipment and spare parts.

Relationship with the Skywalkers

Amongst Watto's belongings were the slaves Shmi Skywalker and her son, Anakin. He acquired them after winning a Podracing bet with Gardulla the Hutt, and he put them both to work in his store. Anakin demonstrated an incredible aptitude for equipment repair, and Watto took a liking to the youngster. Despite the fact that he was unprincipled enough to own slaves, Watto was a reasonable master. It most likely had to do with the point that the boy was a major source of profits for Watto, not only in servicing his machinery, but also contending for Watto in the Podraces.

Anakin was an astonishing pilot, the only human to participate in the treacherous speedy sport of Podracing. However whenever Anakin would race against the scheming Dug Sebulba, Watto would always put money on Sebulba for the reason that, "he always wins!"

Watto's greed and gambling got the better of him when the Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn and the young Naboo royal, Queen Amidala, crossed his path. Watto wagered all his money -- and Anakin as well – on Sebulba. For once Sebulba lost the Boonta Eve Classic to Anakin, costing Watto everything.

Watto ultimately sold Shmi Skywalker -- in an effort to recove some of his losses -- to a moisture farmer named Cliegg Lars. The unlucky trader reported as much to a grown Anakin Skywalker, when he revisited Tatooine a decade later to see his mother.

Controversy

It has been suggested that this character is racist in that it portrays an old Semitic (Jewish or Arab) caricature. He has a large nose, beady eyes, gravelly Yiddish-sounding accent, and he is unaffected by Jedi hypnotism, saying that "only money works on me":

• "...the most blatant ethnic stereotype is the hook-nosed merchant insect who owns young Anakin" (Hoberman, Village Voice, 1999)

• "Even in a galaxy far away, the Jews are apparently behind the slave trade" (Gottlieb, Slate, 1999)

• "Although a number of groups have protested that Watto is an insulting Arab stereotype, he struck me as more comprehensively anti-Semitic -- both anti-Arab and anti-Jew" (Williams, The Nation, 1999)

• "As we left the movie theater, a couple of young boys around age 12 made reference to "that weird little Jew guy with wings." The movie's depiction in Watto was not at all subtle. It can be counted on to flush out already-formed Jew-haters among young audiences and give them permission to continue their hatred out loud." (Prettyman, American Review, 1999)

Expanded Universe

Canon

Prior to coming to Tatooine, Watto was part of the Ossiki Confederacy Army during the conflicts of his homeworld of Toydaria. In one battle, Watto suffered injuries that left him with a broken tusk and a disabled leg.

On Tatooine, Watto learned much of his business savvy from dealing with the native Jawas. Not only does he have a talent for haggling, but also cannot be affected by Jedi mind tricks. His preferred targets were outlanders -- whom he regarded as easy marks. Though Watto's junkyard is one of Mos Espa's smaller stores, he stocks such a broad collection of machinery that it is well patronized. If Watto didn't persistently gamble away his earnings it would turn a tidy profit.

Non-canonical

In the non-canonical Star Wars comic book Star Wars: Visionaries, Watto was killed when the still living half-cyborg Darth Maul tracked Obi-Wan to Tatooine, seeking revenge for his defeat (as seen in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace).

Behind the scenes

Initial designs for Watto were of a more bird-like nature, including plumage and a beak. Another manifestation would lay claim to tentacles and a cigar. Watto's face, on the other hand, originated in an early Neimoidian picture by Design Director Doug Chiang. The hooked trunk and crooked teeth were carried over to the Toydarian design.

Animation supervisor Rob Coleman realized that the alien's dental work would need some modification when the time came to create Watto on screen. Watto always speaks (typically to grumble), and the craggy teeth made lip-sync easier said than done. To solve the problem, Coleman broke off one of Watto's incisors, giving him a 'corner-of-the-mouth' vernacular.

The sound of his wings flapping is a looped recording of sound designer Ben Burtt opening and closing an umbrella.

References

1. J. Hoberman: "All Droid Up". The Village Voice. May 19 - 25, 1999. Retrieved June 11. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
2. Gottlieb, Bruce: "The Merchant of Menace: Racial Stereotypes In A Galaxy Far, Far Away?". Slate. May 27, 1999. Retrieved June 11. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
3. Patricia J. Williams: "Racial Ventriloquism". The Nation. June 17, 1999. Retrieved June 11. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
4. Jane Prettyman: "George Lucas serves up anti-Semitic stereotype in Star Wars Episode I". American Review. June 3, 1999. Retrieved June 11. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)

External link

• Watto’s Character entry at the Star Wars Databank