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| ANAKIN SKYWALKER |
| Character - Jedi Order |
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| "I will be the most powerful Jedi ever! I promise you" - Anakin Skywalker |
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| Species human Age 9 (32 BBY) Homeworld Tatooine Affiliation Jedi Order Weapon lightsabre (blue blade) Vehicles podracer; Jedi starfighters |
| 32 BBY |
| Behind the Scenes Played by Jake Lloyd (I) Hayden Christansen (II, III) Sebastian Shaw (VI) Voiced by Mat Lucas (CW) Pronounced an-ah-kin sky-walk-ur |
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Anakin Skywalker was believed to be the Chosen One, destined to restore balance to the Force. While he eventually fufilled that prophecy, the means saw a profound change in both the galaxy and Skywalker himself.
Anakin's life began simply enough; born as a slave, Anakin and his mother, Shmi, were sold to Gardulla the Hutt on Tatooine, though she later lost the Skywalkers to an orney Toydarian named Watto. Watto was a little fairer than Gardulla had been, and allowed Anakin a degree of freedom. This usually involved racing pods, as Watto aimed to shape Anakin into a prize-winning pilot. Despite the boy's skill - few humans could race the super-fast podracers - his age meant he could not compete in the cut-throat world of professional podracing. However, his ability as a racer soon earned him the greatest prize of all. He helped a band of offworlders - among them a Jedi Master, who recognized Anakin's potential in the Force - by racing in the Boonta Eve Classic to win a new hyperdrive from Watto. Not only did Anakin beat resident champion Sebulba to win the race, he also won his freedom, thanks to an additional wager placed by Jedi Qui-Gon Jinn. Though Anakin was free, Shmi could not be similarly rescued, so Anakin bade her a tearful farewell. Anakin had always dreamed of becoming a Jedi, though his hopes fell when the Jedi Council refused to train the boy - at the age of nine, he was already too old to begin training. However, he was able to accompany Qui-Gon to Naboo, as the Jedi aided Queen Amidala in a plan to oust the Trade Federation from her planet. During the battle, Anakin found himself in the midst of a tense dogfight above Naboo. Though an able pilot, he could not match the Federation's droid starfighters, and crash-landed inside the hangar of the enemy Droid Control Ship. This proved to be a stroke of good luck, as Anakin was able to destroy the ship's reactor from within, and race to safety moments before it exploded - shutting down the Federation's droid army in the process. In light of the battle, the Council reassessed their verdict, and allowed the late Qui-Gon's Padawan, Obi-Wan Kenobi, to train Anakin. The two had a series of adventures over the next ten years, from stopping an attack on Zonama Sekot to confronting the space pirate, Krayn. Though Anakin's skill developed quickly, there was also something else lurking within the young boy. His anger and fear from his days as a slave had never left Anakin, and had instead been buried deep inside him. These emotions were dangerous for a Jedi, and were slowly building up within Anakin. Ten years after the Battle of Naboo, Anakin was given his first solo assignment, and one he was particuarly pleased in taking on. He was to protect Senator Padm� Amidala following an assassination attempt. Anakin had fallen in love with Amidala during the Battle of Naboo, though he had not seen her once in the intervening years. Now, back on the tranquil Naboo, the two shared a kiss, though Padm� was adamant the relationship would not develop further - Jedi were forbidden to love, and even a secret union would eventually destroy their lives. Anakin reluctantly agreed, though he was soon caught up in more pressing matters. For some time, Anakin had been receiving terrible nightmares concerning his mother, and he decided he had to return to Tatooine, to learn of her fate. Though it appeared she had found happiness by marrying a moisture farmer named Cliegg Lars, Anakin learned Shmi had been kidnapped by Tusken Raiders, and had not been seen since. Though Skywalker tracked her down, Shmi died in his arms. Upset, Anakin took his anger out on the Tusken camp, murdering not just the men, but the women and children too. Following his disturbing act, Anakin attempted to rescue his mentor, Obi-Wan, from the Separatists on Geonosis, but he and Padm� were soon captured themselves. Just before they were to be executed, Padm� professed her love for Anakin - reasoning that a relationship could not destroy them, if they were about to die anyway. However, they survived the execution, and were saved by the Republic Army - though Anakin lost his right arm in battle against Count Dooku. The Battle of Geonosis marked the first stage in the Clone Wars, in which Anakin fought. From the space battle over Muunilinst to the rain-drenched warfare on Jabiim, Anakin fought on, becoming a great warrior and an ace star-pilot. However, notions of revenge clouded his vision, as he attempted to track down Dooku for his part in initiating the war. Anakin got his chance three years after Geonosis, when Dooku kidnapped Chancellor Palpatine. Anakin slew the Count aboard a Trade Federation Cruiser, and escaped to Coruscant with Palpatine. Branded a hero, Anakin - now also a full Jedi Knight - became the Chancellor's personal bodyguard, though this new duty soon conflicted with his role as a Jedi. Mace Windu confronted Palpatine in his office, suspecting the Chancellor of actually being Darth Sidious, the Dark Lord of the Sith. Anakin was forced to choose who to side with: Palpatine or the Jedi. In the end, he chose, and Mace Windu was killed by Anakin's hand. Soon after, Anakin was sent to kill the Separatist leaders, though he met up with Obi-Wan soon after. The two engaged in a vicious argument, which eventually led into a deadly duel. Though Anakin was the stronger combatant, Obi-Wan proved to be the victor, sending Anakin into a molten pit. It was believed that Anakin died in that pit, and, from a certain point of view, he did. However, the body of Anakin was recovered, though the man inside was changed beyond recognition. In place of Anakin's light in the Force was a black pit of anger and hatred. Darth Vader was born. He became Emperor Palpatine's servant, and hunted down the Jedi Knights - though Obi-Wan managed to elude him. There was one other Jedi Vader could not rid himself of completely - the essence of Anakin Skywalker, buried deep within the black armour of the Sith Lord...and waiting to be released. That release came with the ascent of Luke Skywalker. Just after the Clone Wars, Padm� had given birth to twins, though the children were hidden from Anakin and Palpatine to protect them both. Obi-Wan watched over the son, Luke, and trained him in the ways of the Jedi. He faced Vader, and learned the Dark Lord was his father. Though Kenobi wanted Luke to kill Vader, the younger Skywalker attempted to reach for the light side still residing within the dark sider. On the second Death Star, Anakin Skywalker returned to save his son from death at Palpatine's hand. Anakin killed the Emperor, though at the cost of his own life. Anakin became one with the Force, fading into the embrace of the light side. |
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| Behind the Scenes Anakin Skywalker appeared in the earliest of drafts for The Star Wars (later known as Episode IV) though this was Annakin Starkiller, the sixteen-year-old son of Kane Starkiller. His role was not too dissimilar to that of Luke Skywalker in the final film. |
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Images Anakin, podracer pilot Anakin on Geonosis Anakin in the Clone Wars Anakin in Episode VI Episode I concept art Sounds "Are you an angel?" (85kb) "Simpler when you're fixing things" (207kb) "Most powerful Jedi" (222kb) |
| The Chosen One |
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