George Lucas Explains Yoda’s Unique Speech at Film Festival

Los Angeles, CA — Yoda, the beloved character from the “Star Wars” series, is known for his distinct way of speaking. This unique speech style helps deliver his profound messages effectively, as explained by George Lucas during a recent film festival.

At the 2025 TCM Classic Film Festival held on April 24, Lucas discussed the creation of Yoda’s unusual dialogue. He pointed out that phrases like, “The greatest teacher, failure is,” force viewers to pay closer attention to the character’s wisdom.

“Because if you speak regular English, people won’t listen that much,” Lucas said. “But if he had an accent, or it’s really hard to understand what he’s saying, they focus on what he’s saying.” This approach was designed to ensure that audiences, particularly younger viewers, understand the importance of Yoda’s messages.

Lucas described Yoda as “the philosopher of the movie,” emphasizing the need for viewers to really absorb his lessons. The director said he was particularly focused on making the character relatable to 12-year-olds.

In celebration of the character’s enduring legacy, Disney+, along with the official accounts for “Star Wars” and LucasFilm, shared behind-the-scenes footage on social media. This included images of Frank Oz, who performs Yoda’s voice and operates the puppet during filming.

“Suffice it to say: One for the ages, Yoda is,” Lucas concluded, highlighting the character’s lasting impact on pop culture.