5 Pieces Of Concept Art From 'Kenobi' That Show Ralph Mcquarrie's Lasting Influence
Ralph McQuarrie created some of Star Wars' most iconic designs. From Darth Vader to C-3P0, the franchise would not look the same without his iconic vision. This is why even today, you can see his influence in Star Wars; Obi-Wan Kenobi is no exception. That is why we went out and gathered some concept art from the new show and compared it to some of Ralph's original concept art.
#1: Vader's Throne Is From ROTJ
Perhaps one of the more exciting pieces of art from McQuarrie is this one. Palpatine sits on a throne in a cavern with lava pools all around him. Standing in front of him are both Darth Vader and Luke. The throne Palpatine sits upon bears a striking resemblance to Vader's throne on Mustafar. It makes a lot of sense that they would recycle the throne in the image, given that Fortress Vader was constructed on a lava planet. Maybe the very idea for Mustafar is from this image. Regardless, the throne Vader sits on in Episode 3 mirrors Palpatine's throne here.
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#2 Daiyu Shares Similarities With Art Of Coruscant
Daiyu lives and breathes Coruscant's lower level, turned up to eleven. However, this concept art shows that the idea for a city like Daiyu has always been around. And this art shows the true depth a city like this has, from the towering structures to the crisscrossed walkways above the streets. Looking at the art for Daiyu, there surely was inspiration drawn from McQuarrie's work on Coruscant.
#3 This Outpost Shares Designs With Buildings On Tatooine.
The thing to notice about this row of buildings is very subtle. Looking at the chiseled faces of each of them and the patterns they use, you might notice similarities to the inlay of designs in some of McQuarrie's original sketches of Tatooine's markets. Combining that with the sandstone look of the buildings, the odd design of some of the entryways, and the open-air feel of the area, you can see that original concept art has seeped its way into the lifeblood of Star Wars. This set of buildings would fit right in underneath the twin suns of Tatooine.
#4 Fortress Inquisitorius' Concept Art Looks Similiar To ROTJ Concept Art
There were so many ideas for Return Of The Jedi that never saw any use in the film all over Kenobi. This vaulted underwater hallway full of stormtroopers is oddly reminiscent of the original idea for Palpatine's fortress, which would later become Exegol. The high Vaulted ceilings and, somehow, an air of claustrophobia draw the perfect line between being both beautiful and horrific. This also evokes some of the same architecture of the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. But twisted and malformed like the dark side itself.
#5 Ralph McQuarrie's Imperial Ship Designs Live On
Perhaps the one thing that sets Star Wars apart from other Sci-Fi is the iconic ship designs. McQuarrie, and to some degree the late Colin Cantwell, mastered the look of imposing enemy ships with the TIE Fighter and Lambda Shuttle. The Inquisitors' ships make good use of the most intimidating aspects of both while adding to them. From the adjustable angular wings of the shuttle to the front boarding ramp and even the ship's overall shape, this thing could have been dreamed up by McQuarrie himself. While Star Wars doesn't have hard rules on ship designs, this one is an homage to the early days of Star Wars.
One of the things that made Star Wars so unique was the eye of Ralph McQuarrie. His iconic design ideas elevated the franchise from serialized Sci-Fi to an entertainment juggernaut. Where would we, as fans, be today without the iconic Incom T-65B X-Wing or the Seinar Systems TIE Fighter? These are not only iconic designs but fond memories for fans who grew up watching the films and playing with the toys. And without Ralph McQuarrie and his art, there is the belief that Star Wars would be nowhere near as iconic as it is now. And it shows, even in a show made thirty-five years after the fact, with subtle nods to his work.
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