Character Bio

As a 9-year-old slave, who would have suspected that Anakin Skywalker would grow up to be one of the most feared men in the galaxy? An inventive boy with a knack for fixing and building things, he was also the only human on Tatooine capable of Podracing. These talents were due in large part to the boy's midi-chlorian count being higher than that of even Jedi Master Yoda, meaning he had great potential in using the Force. However, later in his life he would be tempted by the dark side and become the Dark Lord of the Sith known as Darth Vader.

Until he was 9 years old, the only life Anakin knew outside of the stories he heard from space travelers was that of a slave. Though he was not born on Tatooine, Anakin was taken early in his life to the desert planet by his owner at the time, Gardulla the Hutt, and later became the property of a Toydarian named Watto. While strict, Watto had no problem with letting the boy enjoy himself as he spent his free time using his creative nature and technological know-how to invent things. His most impressive creations were a protocol droid named C-3PO and the fastest Podracer ever built, which he knew he would use someday.

Anakin got his chance when a group of outlanders led by Qui-Gon Jinn needed his skills so as to acquire a part for their damaged spaceship that only Watto possessed. Qui-Gon sensed an enormous presence of the Force within the boy and would later learn of his high midi-chlorian count. He saw this potential as a way off the planet and arranged for Anakin to race in the Boonta Eve Classic. Aside from betting for the needed part with Watto, the Jedi secretly raised the stakes to involve the boy's freedom. After Anakin won the race, he was thrilled to learn of his liberation and that Qui-Gon wanted to take him back to Coruscant, where he would begin his Jedi training. The boy's only reservation was leaving behind his mother, Shmi Skywalker, who urged him to leave while he had the chance. (Incidentally, he had no father, the midi-chlorians conceiving him within Shmi's womb.)

Once on Coruscant, Anakin was put before the Jedi Council, which saw his future as clouded and did not allow him to be trained. In defiance, Qui-Gon declared that he would train the boy whether he had the Council's approval or not.

Anakin accompanied Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan Kenobi to Naboo, where the two Jedi faced off against Darth Maul. Meanwhile, he accidentally started a Naboo fighter in which he only sought shelter and found himself in the midst of a space battle with the Trade Federation's battleship. Piloting his out-of-control vessel into an opening in the ship, he began firing away at Battle Droids and inadvertently damaged the ship's main generator, soon destroying it. Anakin escaped, however, and made his way home a hero.

However, he returned to find that Qui-Gon had fallen in battle to Darth Maul, who was in turn slain by Obi-Wan. At Qui-Gon's funeral, Obi-Wan informed the boy that he would now take on Anakin as his Padawan, a promise he made to his dying master.

What exactly happened under the tutelage of Obi-Wan will not be unveiled until the releases of the second and third episodes of the prequel Star Wars trilogy. However, it is known that he married Queen Amidala and father two children by her, Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia Organa. Their births were unknown to him, though, as he became seduced by Emperor Palpatine and the dark side of the Force. It has long been rumored that a fight ensued between Anakin and Obi-Wan, with Obi-Wan the victor after throwing his former student into a volcano. The results almost killed Anakin and forced him to wear a protective suit and mask in order to survive. At that moment, Anakin Skywalker was killed -- and Darth Vader was born.

However, as seen in Return of the Jedi, Anakin would be resurrected. After years of persecution and tyranny as Vader at the side of Emperor Palpatine, he had just been defeated by his son in a lightsaber battle, only to see the Emperor attack Luke with incessant lightning bolts he was powerless against. At that moment, the good man who was Anakin conquered the Vader within him as he picked up his dark master and threw him down a shaft leading to the far reaches of space. Though he died soon after, Anakin would take solace in seeing his son with his own eyes -- and dying the ultimate hero in the cause of the Rebel Alliance.

EDUCATION: Brought up as a slave, Anakin's first taste of formal education was under the tutelage of Obi-Wan Kenobi as a Padawan learner.

FAMILY: Shmi Skywalker (mother), Amidala (eventual wife), Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa (eventual children)

HOBBIES: Building and fixing things

AMBITIONS: To become a powerful Jedi.

HEROES: Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Shmi Skywalker

QUOTES:

"I'm the only human who can do it." (in reference to Podracing)

"I had a dream I was a Jedi. I came back here to free the slaves."

"I can help! I can fix anything!"

"We have to help them, Mom. You said that the biggest problem in the universe right now is that no one helps each other."

"Let me look on you with my own eyes." (to Luke in his last moments of life)

"You already have." (response to Luke's, "I have to save you.")

BEHIND-THE-SCENES CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT: In The Phantom Menace, Anakin was originally to be 12 years old instead of 9. However, he was made younger so that his departure from his mother would be more emotional.

HOW THE CHARACTER GOT HIS NAME: "Annikin Starkiller" was George Lucas' original name for the character who would become Luke Skywalker.

OTHER MEDIA: Besides in movies and games, Anakin Skywalker is also available as a Kenner action figure and in comic books and children's books. His likeness can also be found on a myriad of merchandising gimmicks, just as with any other major Star Wars character.

SOURCES:

Star Wars: Behind the Magic

Star Wars: Episode I -- Insider's Guide

Anakin Skywalker is a trademark and copyright of Lucasfilm Ltd. © 1999 ~ Christopher Michael Baker, All Game Guide

Appears In

Star Wars: Episode I: Racer (Nintendo 64), Star Wars: Anakin's Speedway -- Build and Drive (Hybrid Windows/Mac), Star Wars: Super Bombad Racing (PlayStation 2), Star Wars Early Learning Activity Center (Hybrid Windows/Mac), Star Wars: Racer Revenge (PlayStation 2), Star Wars: Episode II: Attack of the Clones (Game Boy Advance), Star Wars: The Clone Wars (Nintendo GameCube), Star Wars: The New Droid Army (Game Boy Advance), Star Wars: The Clone Wars (PlayStation 2), Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (Game Boy Advance), Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (Nintendo DS)

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