Animatronic Hondo Ohnaka Revealed For 'Galaxy's Edge'

By: Benjamin Hart

Hondo Ohnaka... Pirate. Smuggler. Scoundrel. Hero. And now... Disney cast member?

Since his first appearance in season one of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Hondo Ohnaka has quickly become one of the most beloved characters in Star Wars. After headlining many great episodes of The Clone Wars, the Weequay pirate eventually made his way into Star Wars Rebels, Forces Of Destiny, and most recently starred in his own novel, Pirate's Price. But Hondo's story is far from over as we have just learned that he will play a pivotal role in Galaxy's Edge, the currently-under-construction expansion to Disneyland and Walt Disney World.

Last night we were treated to some first hand accounts from several journalists who visited Galaxy's Edge and detailed everything they saw. One of the key parts of the park is one of the main rides in Galaxy's Edge, Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's Run. Since there will undoubtedly be lots of lines, Disney is making the queue areas an experience unto themselves. While waiting in line for Smuggler's Run, riders will come face to face with Hondo Ohnaka. Hondo will be realized using state of the art Animatronic technology, coupled with vocal talents of voice actor Jim Cummings, who has voiced the character throughout all of his appearances.

Earlier today, Popular Mechnaics unveiled a video of the animatronic Hondo being built and tested by Disney Imagineers. The footage is amazing and shows Hondo brought life in a realistic style for the first time, and via extremely life-like animatronics. You can watch it below:



Popular Mechanics spoke briefly with Kathryn Yancey, one of the Imagineers behind the creation of Hondo, who has been working on the project since December of 2015:

“We work years to see this moment. He’s been on the computer for so long, when he’s right there in front of you…it’s amazing.... He moves, he talks, and has a personality. Hondo is real to us.”

Be sure to visit Popular Mechnaics for the full rundown about Hondo, as well as the history and future of Disney's animatronics. And if you want to learn more about Galaxy's Edge, as well as Hondo Ohnaka's place in it, be sure to check out Anthony Breznican's detailed report over at Entertainment Weekly.

Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge is slated to open first at Disneyland in Anaheim, California in June, and then at Disney World in Orlando, Florida in the Fall.

Source: Popular Mechnaics

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