Jar Jar Binks

Jar Jar Binks
Star Wars character
Jar Jar Binks in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones
First appearance	The Phantom Menace (1999)
Last appearance	Star Wars: Aftermath: – Empire's End (2017, novel)
Created by	George Lucas
Portrayed by	Ahmed Best (motion capture, some body close-ups, Episodes I-III)
Voiced by	Ahmed Best (most media) B.J. Hughes (three episodes of Star Wars: The Clone Wars) Phil LaMarr (Lego Star Wars: The Padawan Menace) Trevor Devall (Lego Star Wars: The Yoda Chronicles and Lego Star Wars: Droid Tales)
Information
Species	Gungan
Gender	Male
Occupation	General in the Gungan Grand Army Representative of the Gungan race Senator of Chommell Sector (substituting for Padmé Amidala) Clown
Affiliation	Gungan Grand Army, Galactic Republic, Galactic Senate, Delegation of 2000, Galactic Empire, Imperial Senate, New Republic
Homeworld	Naboo

Jar Jar Binks is a fictional character from the Star Wars saga created by George Lucas. A major character in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, he also has a smaller role in Episode II: Attack of the Clones, and a one-line cameo in Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, as well as a role in the television series Star Wars: The Clone Wars. He has a vocal cameo in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi: Special Edition. The first lead computer generated character of the franchise, he has been portrayed by Ahmed Best in most of his appearances.

Jar Jar's primary role in Episode I was to provide comic relief for the audience. Upon the movie's release, he was met with an overwhelmingly negative reception from both critics and audiences.

George Lucas was inspired to develop Jar Jar based on the Disney character Goofy. Singer Michael Jackson was originally considered for the role, but he wanted to portray the character using prosthetics while Lucas wanted him to be all CGI. Ahmed Best, who would end up playing the character, would later hypothesize that Lucas might have felt uncomfortable with the thought of the singer's casting overshadowing the actual movie; Best was chosen based on his work in the production of Stomp as Lucas wanted someone athletic for the role. During his auditions he performed several Martial Arts moves and flips, which was a contrast to how Lucas pictured the character, which according to Best was more in line with comedic silent actors such as Buster Keaton. Best would later remark that after Lucas walked out of the audition he felt he had failed it.