Cavelos, Jeanne (2007). The Science of Star Wars: An Astrophysicist's Independent Examination of Space Travel, Aliens, Planets, and Robots as Portrayed in the Star Wars Films and Books. Macmillan. pp.29–32. ISBN 978-1-4299-7176-8. In April 2014 (with the sequel film The Force Awakens in production), Lucasfilm separated the Star Wars Expanded Universe (rebranded as Star Wars Legends) from official Star Wars canon. [7] Television films [ edit ] George Lucas intended that a primitive race should overthrow the Empire in what was intended at that time to be the final episode, and had originally planned to use Wookiees, but decided against it after it had been established that Chewbacca was already proficient with technology at that point. His answer was to create a new race called Ewoks, which is "Wookiee" with the syllables reversed and altered to resemble the name of a Native American people, the Miwok. [22] Chitwood, Adam (September 1, 2011). "More Changes to STAR WARS Include Blinking Ewoks and Different Cut of Greedo Shooting First". Collider . Retrieved November 28, 2019.

The Ewoks are seen to be a controversial element of Return of the Jedi and the Star Wars universe in general, and are seen by some to be the weakest part of the original trilogy. According to Tami Katzoff of MTV News, "a prevailing theory among Ewok-haters is that the creatures were originally conceived as a sure way to appeal to small children and sell plush toys to their parents." [21] Others enjoy the Ewoks, and they have proven to be very popular with children from their introduction in 1983 to the present day. [22] Film In a (non-canon) Star Wars Tales comic entitled Apocalypse Endor, an Imperial veteran of Endor refers to the moon being devastated by the impact of falling debris from the Death Star, which was blown up while in orbit around the moon, causing devastation to the Ewoks. However, another character dismisses this as a myth, saying that most of the Death Star's mass was obliterated in the explosion, and that the Rebels "took care of the rest". [19] Jeffrey Miller. Where There's Life, There's Lawsuits: Not Altogether Serious Ruminations on Law and Life. ECW Press, 2003. English. ISBN 1550225014. "I took the end of Wookiee, the 'ie' of Wookiee, and put it at the head, like Pig Latin, and then started, when I said it phonetically, it sounded like Ewok which is very similar to Miwok which is the Indians that sort of inhabited the area where I live and where my studio is. Matter of fact, there was a Miwok village just outside my office. So I thought that was a nice, nice sort of reverberation of the idea and eventually took the 'i' and one of the 'os' out and it was Ewok." ( web archive) The Ewoks enjoyed singing and playing music during celebrations, festivals, and rituals. During the Ewok and Rebel celebration after the destruction of the Death Star II, one Ewok in Bright Tree Village used a series of Imperial stormtrooper and naval trooper helmets as drums, producing a variety of tones. [1] Existing in harmony with nature, [19] Ewoks lived high among the trees of the forest moon of Endor, in villages built between the closely spaced trees. The canopies of the great trees were filled with watchers who could alert the tribe of approaching gorax or condor dragons, and could use gliders to patrol the lands beyond their local village. Bachelors, on the other hand, often lived on the ground and kept watch for even greater dangers, such as Duloks, who often emerged from the swamps to prey on Ewoks and lantern birds. [5]Breznican, Anthony (April 13, 2017). " Star Wars highlights female heroes in Forces of Destiny — first look". Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved April 19, 2017.

Zurowski, Monica (January 19, 1990). "Lucas Testifies in Calgary Court That 'Jedi' Ewoks Were His Idea". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved October 3, 2020. Outstanding Children's Program - 1985". 37th Primetime Emmy Awards, September 22, 1985. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences . Retrieved February 6, 2016.The Ewoks are something people know about, they really make an impression and that's a good thing. I'm always hoping fans will make the connection, every which way to get the Coast Miwok name out there. We're talking about a people that were here for thousands of years, and they're not now. People should know." ―Lucina Thomas-Vidauri of the Coast Miwok discusses the link between the Ewoks and her tribe [21]

All the Ewok-Related 'Star Wars' Paraphernalia I Just Bought Online, Ranked". www.inverse.com . Retrieved March 16, 2017.

Baby Teddy

Well, short help is better than no help at all." ―Han Solo reluctantly accepts the Ewoks' help in the Battle of Endor [1] Leverence, John. "Outstanding Special Visual Effects - 1985". 37th Primetime Emmy Awards, September 22, 1985. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences . Retrieved January 13, 2016.

It’s interesting to note that neither the term “Ewoks” nor any of the Ewoks’ individual names are part of the movie, but were only revealed in the end credits and in their subsequent films.

Personalised Teddy

Not knowing that the Emperor knew of their presence on the Forest Moon, the strike force assaulted the shield generator bunker, but were soon overcome by a large force of Imperial Stormtroopers. It was then that the Ewoks entered the fray, freeing the strike force to destroy the generator and helping defeat the technologically-advanced Stormtroopers. For despite their small size and primitive weapons, the Ewoks were strong and knew the forest inside and out so as to lay traps for the Stormtroopers and their AT-ST walkers. Breznican, Anthony; Robinson, Joanna (December 20, 2019). "25 Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Cameos You Might Have Missed". Vanity Fair . Retrieved October 4, 2020. With the shield generator destroyed, the Rebel Admiral sent his fighters, led by Lando Calrissian piloting the Millennium Falcon, to destroy the Death Star’s main reactor. They were successful and the Death Star blew up. Luke, however, was safe, having survived a light saber fight with Darth Vader and almost death until Darth Vader had killed the Emperor. Luke escaped the Death Star in an Imperial shuttle with the body of his father Anakin Skywalker, formerly Darth Vader, who had returned to the good side just before his death. That night, C-3PO told the Bright Tree's Council of Elders the adventures of the Rebel heroes. The Ewoks accepted the Rebels into their tribe and allied themselves to their cause. [1] Multiple Ewok tribes [9] helped in the ground battle to destroy the Imperial shield generator on the forest floor, and their primitive weapons felled the stormtroopers and the scout walkers of the Empire, although they took many losses to Imperial blaster fire. Their assistance paved the way for the destruction of the DS-2 Death Star II Mobile Battle Station and the Rebel victory at the Battle of Endor. [1] Legend claimed it was the first time the Ewoks had returned to combat in generations. [13] Later that night, the Ewoks held a huge celebration that could be heard throughout the forest. [1] After the Battle of Endor [ ] At the end, the Rebels and Ewoks celebrated their victory as the Force-ghosts of Obi-Wan, Yoda and Anakin looked on.