Jar Jar Binks/Legends

"You almost got us killed. Are you brainless?"

- Qui-Gon Jinn

Jar Jar Binks was the first Gungan to represent his people in the Galactic Senate, first serving as a Junior Representative along with Senator Padmé Amidala, and then, after her death, serving as full Senator himself. Like most Gungans, Binks was lanky and spoke Basic with a unique accent. Despite being naïve and clumsy, Jar Jar Binks contributed greatly to the fate of the Galactic Republic, both for good and ill. He was a General, Representative, and later a Senator.

Binks was also one of Qui-Gon Jinn's companions during the Invasion of Naboo, traveling to distant worlds such as Tatooine and Coruscant, an activity not taken up by many Gungans. On his return to Naboo, he served as a Bombad General for a short while in the Gungan Grand Army, and was a joint commander of the Battle of Grassy Plains with General Ceel. Binks later helped his people colonize the nearby Naboo moon Ohma-D'un. During his career as Junior Representative, he acted as Amidala's proxy and proposed giving Supreme Chancellor Palpatine emergency powers in order to deal with the Separatist Crisis. Binks would continue his public service even after the death of Amidala, taking her place as Senator of the Chommell sector in the newly-reformed Imperial Senate.

Early life


Born to George R. Binks and his wife in Otoh Gunga, Jar Jar Binks, was raised in his family traditions to be a great whaler as his ancestors had been for hundreds of years. Due to his clumsiness and ineptitude, however, Binks was never able to become what his father had wanted him to be. Once, while on an expedition to hunt a whale in the southernmost seas of Naboo, George ordered his son to hold the wheel steady; Binks, however, let go. This caused their ship to crash into the whale which resulted in the ship sinking to the bottom of the ocean.

A month later, George Binks, his wife, and Jar Jar were all stranded on a desert island. This caused George to lament over what could have been; he called his son an imbecile and attempted to commit suicide. When Binks offered to swim for help&mdash;a task which would have taken fifty years if it was possible at all&mdash;George Binks first called him a fool, telling him that he would be eaten within a day, but then had a moment of clarity and told him that it was a good idea. Binks was about to jump into the water when George's wife reprimanded him and stopped George from allowing him to do so. Though what happened to George and his wife is unknown, Binks later found his way back to Otoh Gunga.

Life in Otoh Gunga
"You were banished because you were clumsy?"

- Obi-Wan Kenobi

Kicked out of all of Otoh Gunga's schools and not able to turn to his parents for guidance, Binks hopped between job after job throughout his youth. His clumsiness inevitably got him fired before sunset. Once, Binks was working as a street-side shudderup musician when a passerby paid him money to stop the music. That is when he was discovered by local lawbreaker Roos Tarpals.

Tarpals was the leader of a small band of young thieves. Binks was given the job of distracting security patrols while Tarpals and his gang pulled off various scams. Unlike the other thieves, Tarpals treated Binks like a valued team member and a friend. This friendship ended when Tarpals enlisted in the Gungan Grand Army. The band soon scattered and Binks again began searching for his place in life. Fortunately, Boss Rugor Nass, ruler of Otoh Gunga, arranged new employment for Binks, partly out of respect for his parents, and partly on the request of now-Captain Tarpals. When Binks accidentally freed all of the animals in the Otoh Gunga Zoo Nass sentenced Binks to six months of hard labor in the Quarry penal colony.



Nass commuted the sentence when Binks saved him from drowning in an out-of-control Bongo. Binks also saved the life of Nass's niece, Major Fassa. Fassa pledged a life debt to Binks who was embarrassed by her devotion, but excited about a chance at romance. He was both disappointed and relieved when Boss Nass revoked the life debt on a technicality.

Later, Boss Nass threw a lavish party at his mansion and gave Binks a job in the kitchen. However, Binks destroyed the gasser oven. The explosion cracked the bubble wall and flooded the party. Binks tried to save Boss Nass's luxury heyblibber, but ended up crashing it instead. Boss Nass was outraged, and decided that he had had enough. In the Gungan Council Chamber of Judgment, Nass, along with his peers, enforced the Nocombackie Law, banishing Binks and preventing him from ever returning to Otoh Gunga upon pain of death. Binks tried to hide in Otoh Gunga but Captain Tarpals found him in Chef Brass Marshoo's restaurant scrounging for scraps. Tarpals apprehended him and prepared to take him to the surface, however, he was ambushed by Marshoo and several thugs. Tarpals was knocked out in the scuffle, but Binks saved him. The hapless Gungan pleaded with Tarpals for clemency, but was ignored. Tarpals then escorted Binks to the shores of the Lianorm Swamp, the place of Binks's banishment.

Meeting the Jedi
"You almost got us killed. Are you brainless?''" "I spake." "''The ability to speak does not make you intelligent. Now get out of here."

- Qui-Gon Jinn and Jar Jar Binks

One day in 32 BBY, Binks went out foraging for food, when he stumbled across OOM-9's Trade Federation invasion force. Panicking, he bumped into Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn, an ambassador who had been sent to resolve the crisis between the Naboo and the Federation. Jinn tackled Binks to the ground and held him there to prevent them both from getting crushed by a Multi-Troop Transport that was passing by. As a result of this life-saving act, Binks, despite being an outcast, adhered to the Gungan principle of a life debt and insisted on following Jinn, much to the Jedi's annoyance. Both Jinn and his apprentice, Obi-Wan Kenobi, needed to contact Queen Amidala in Theed, but had no way of reaching her. Binks suggested that they go to Otoh Gunga, his old home, but quickly regretted mentioning it. The Jedi persuaded him to take them there, but Binks rightly feared for his life.

The two Jedi escorted Binks past twenty battle droids and a half-built droid camp. Binks panicked and ran off, leaving the Jedi to Force Jump up mushrooms to reach the top of the tree and the nearby plateaus, which they traversed, eventually moving into a cave, where they faced a Slaatik hagworm. After defeating the hagworm, they then rejoined Binks and continued their journey.

Upon reaching Otoh Gunga, Binks was arrested by his old friend, Tarpals, and brought before Nass, the former also telling Binks upon arresting him that he made "big doo-doo thisa time." The Jedi bartered with Nass, and persuaded him to provide them with transportation to Theed. Following that, Nass sentenced Binks to death, but Jinn quickly interceded, citing that Binks's life belonged to him, due to the Gungan life debt system. Nass had Binks freed and sent along with the Jedi to Theed. Binks was dismayed over the fact that he had to tag along with the Jedi, but he figured that he had a higher chance of survival with them than in Otoh Gunga.

Upon reaching Federation-occupied Theed, the central bridge across the river was blasted apart by an Armored Assault Tank, cutting the city off from other regions and separating the group. Kenobi eventually met back up with Jinn and Binks. Binks watched as the Jedi rescued the Queen, and escorted her to safety. Jinn convinced the Queen to go to Coruscant, to plead her case to the Senate, a choice that would result in Binks leaving the planet for the very first time. While the Queen's ship got past the Federation blockade of the planet, it sustained mild damage, and lost its hyperdrive capacity, leaving it only enough power to reach Tatooine, the only planet in the area devoid of Federation presence.

Beyond Naboo
"This sun doin' murder to mesa skin&hellip;"

- Jar Jar Binks

Upon reaching Tatooine, Jinn, Binks, Amidala (disguised as a handmaiden), and R2-D2 ventured into the city of Mos Espa in search of new parts for the ship. They came across Watto's Shop, which had the parts they needed. However, they had no way of purchasing them, due to the Republic Credit's lack of use in backwater planets like Tatooine. At Watto's Shop, they encountered a young boy, Anakin Skywalker. After leaving the shop, Binks crossed paths with Sebulba, a thug who threatened to beat Binks to a pulp after an incident where Binks inadvertently ruined his meal by spitting out a Gorg that he attempted to eat before learning from Gragra that the Gorg cost seven wupiupi. Only the timely intervention of Skywalker saved him. Skywalker was but a poor slave, nonetheless, he offered the group shelter and hospitality when they were caught in a sandstorm. At his home, they discovered that he had a talent for podracing, which Skywalker thought would be a good way for Jinn and Amidala to get the money required for the new hyperdrive.

Binks was more than willing to help in the enterprise, offering to perform maintenance on Skywalker's podracer. Whether or not his efforts were of any help was irrelevant (having once gotten his hand stuck in one of the compressors of the engines of Skywalker's podracer, as well as inadvertently causing his tongue to go numb from making contact with the energy binders while getting up to retrieve a wrench he dropped); Skywalker appreciated the assistance. On the day of the Boonta Eve Classic Race, Binks continued to assist, and observed the race from a special platform reserved for the racer's family and friends. Binks was thrilled when Skywalker won, mostly at the prospect of being able to leave the inhospitable Tatooine.

If Binks was taken aback by Tatooine, nothing could prepare him for Coruscant. A sprawling ecumenopolis, Binks was out of his depth in the capital, and understandably retreated to the sidelines of the political action taking place. He stayed at Senator Palpatine's apartments in the 500 Republica, eagerly awaiting the chance to return home. The chance came when Amidala was refused aid in the Senate, and decided to take matters into her own hands. She formulated a plan, based on Binks's mention of a Gungan Grand Army, and decided to take the fight to the Federation.

General
"So, wesa make you 'Bombad General'.''" "''General?! (faints)"

- Boss Nass and Jar Jar Binks

Upon returning to Naboo, Binks discovered that Otoh Gunga had been evacuated due to a major battle. He knew of the Gungan sacred place however, and took the Queen there. Upon meeting Nass, she made an alliance with him, unifying the Gungan and the Naboo people after years of bitter hatred and isolation. Nass was most pleased with the new alliance, and attributed it all to Binks, much to the latter's embarrassment. As a "reward," Nass appointed Binks as joint commander of the Gungan Grand Army, giving him the rank of Bombad General – a decision that made him faint with shock. Shortly after the promotion, Amidala revealed her plan: The Gungan Grand Army would draw OOM-9's army out of Theed, leaving the capital relatively unprotected. She and her task-force, along with the Jedi, would first liberate the Theed Hangar, allowing pilots to take their starfighters and attack the Droid Control Ship, hopefully deactivating all of the droids in the Federation droid army. Then, her task force would enter the Palace and capture the Federation Viceroy, Nute Gunray.



Binks led the army out to the Great Grass Plains, where, on General Ceel's order, they would wait for OOM-9. The battle droid commander did not disappoint, and attacked the Gungans. They held up a solid defense against the mechanized army, but sheer numbers overwhelmed them, forcing Ceel to call for a retreat. During the chaos, Binks accidentally sent a cascading wave of energy balls into a pack of B1 battle droids and Armored Assault Tanks, which slowed the Federation advance for a while and allowed some Gungans to escape. However, Binks and his old friend, Tarpals, were rounded up and captured. Shortly after their capture, however, young Anakin Skywalker, who had accompanied them from Tatooine, destroyed the Droid Control Ship, deactivating the droids. The Gungans rejoined, knocking over the limp droids and celebrating.

However, the victory was not without bitter loss. Jinn, Binks's savior and friend, had died at the hands of the Sith Lord Darth Maul, releasing Binks from his life debt, and many Gungans had fallen at Grassy Plains. But their deaths were not in vain. Amidala had succeeded in her mission and had re-taken Naboo. Binks joined in the celebrations and looked forward to a new era of peace.

Following the resolution of the Naboo crisis, Jar Jar Binks became involved with the restoration of peace on the planet. With the help of a precocious Jedi youngling, General Binks set up traps in the Sacred Forest for the last operational battle droids. As a key player in the reconciliation between the two cultures of Naboo, Jar Jar Binks participated in the Victory Races; mounted on a kaadu, he competed against his friend, Queen Amidala, who rode a tusk cat."

In 23 BBY, Binks appeared in his capacity as the Associate Planetary Representative of Naboo on In the Political Pit.

Clone Wars
"It's a clear desa Separatists made a pact witha desa Federation du Trade. Senators! Dellow felegates! In response to this direct threat to the Republic, mesa propose that the Senate give immediately emergency powers to the Supreme Chancellor! ''[sic]"

- Representative Jar Jar Binks



Following the Battle of Naboo, the new alliance between the Naboo and Gungans expanded to include a Gungan Representative to support the Senator for Naboo in the Galactic Senate. Binks served as Gungan Representative in 22 BBY before the outbreak of the Clone Wars, along with now-Senator Amidala.

When Amidala was forced to go into hiding following a series of assassination attempts, Representative Binks stood in for her in the Senate. In her absence, however, Binks was easily manipulated by more experienced politicians, and as they preyed on his innocence, they convinced him that the creation of an army for the Republic was a course of action that Amidala would have taken. In fact, the creation of an army was exactly what Amidala had been fighting against. Feeling that it was his duty to act in her stead, he suggested that the Senate give Supreme Chancellor Palpatine the emergency powers required to create a Grand Army of the Republic. The motion passed, and soon afterwards, with the First Battle of Geonosis, the Clone Wars began.

Mission to Toydaria
Binks met up with Senator Bail Prestor Organa on Toydaria, a neutral planet, to ask King Katuunko if the Republic could use the planet as a supply staging base to get relief to the Twi'leks of Ryloth. Organa and Binks are granted an audience with the king and his council, but negotiations are complicated by the arrival of Lott Dod, the Senate representative of the Trade Federation. Organa and Binks stressed their humanitarian intentions in the matter, but Dod pointed out that by agreeing to deliver supplies to Ryloth, it would be aiding Republic troops, and with Toydaria having declared strict neutrality in this war, it would destroy their neutrality. After thorough consideration, Katuunko officially denies the Republic their rights to a base on Toydaria, but afterwards he secretly met Organa and Binks and tells them that the humanitarian factor had actually gained his favor. He agreed to load the supply ships they already had at the time with with a preliminary supply of provisions if Organa could keep the involvement of Toydaria secret. Organa protested, as the supplies would only aid the Twi'leks for a few days, but the king said this was the best he could supply. Knowing these supplies were better than none at all, the Senator created a plan to have Binks distract Dod and his aide during a banquet, which he did with extraordinary skill, while Organa supervised the loading of the relief supplies.

The plan was successful, but when Organa and Binks were bid farewell by Katuunko, Dod protested that they had broken the agreement, as he learns of supply ships slipping through the blockade around Ryloth, a claim for which Organa demanded proof. Unable to give any, Dod left furious. However, before the diplomats departed, Katuunko announced that in the light of these events Toydaria may reconsider it's stance of neutrality.

Negotiations on Rodia
"I think Jar Jar's dead, Threepio.''" "''Oh, not again."

- Padmé Amidala and C-3PO believing Jar Jar to be dead



While preparing to leave Coruscant on a mission, swindlers Dannl Faytonni and Achk Med-Beq, on the run from the Senate Guard, attempted to trick Amidala's skiff out of Binks and C-3PO to escape. However, after Binks accidentally switched the gravity on the platform, Threepio forgot to disengage the autopilot, and the two swindlers were unknowingly sent back to the Senate. Amidala arrived, and the three took the yacht to Rodia.

The three arrived on Rodia, and Amidala went to see her old friend, Senator Onaconda Farr. While Amidala went to ensure Rodia's allegiance to the Republic, Binks tried to communicate with jungle natives, and in response, a fruit was flung at C-3PO. However, Amidala was captured by Nute Gunray, still holding a grudge from the disastrous Invasion of Naboo, and Gunray had promised to help Farr if Amidala was captured. After B1 battle droids and a crab droid attacked Binks and Threepio, they knew that Amidala was in trouble. However, Binks accidentally destroyed their yacht in the attack, and with no means of communication to the Republic, the two were forced to rescue Amidala.

After finding Anakin Skywalker's Jedi cloak, Binks put it on, and he was later mistaken for a Jedi by the battle droids. After falling down a grate, Binks was presumed dead by Threepio, who informed Amidala after he escaped. However, Binks was still alive, and after being chased by a Kwazel Maw, he attempted to rescue Amidala, not knowing she had already escaped. After Amidala glimpsed him, Binks fell into the water again. However, this time, a B2 super battle droid deployed thermal detonators to destroy the "Jedi". Binks ran into the Kwazel Maw again, but was able to befriend it, and named it "Boogie". Threepio, meanwhile, had been sent to contact the Republic, but after getting a short message through, he was arrested. He and Amidala were cornered by Gunray and several droidekas, while Farr watched helplessly. Binks appeared just in time, and Boogie attacked the droids. Amidala cornered Gunray, and after Farr declared Rodia's allegiance to the Republic, several Venator-class Star Destroyers arrived, Commander Gree having got Threepio's message, and Gunray was taken away.

After Skywalker learned that his wife had been in trouble, he ordered his Padawan Ahsoka Tano to accompany Master Luminara Unduli in the transfer of Gunray. However, after a short battle aboard their cruiser, Gunray was rescued by Asajj Ventress and the traitorous Senate Guard Captain Faro Argyus.

Dooku's capture
"He's probably going to get himself killed.''" "''Don't worry. He's smarter than he looks."

- A clone trooper and Commander Stone on Jar Jar Binks

Binks was given a mission by chancellor Palpatine to pay a ransom for the trade of Dooku to the Republic. He and Senator Kharrus left on a shuttle with the ransom of one-million credits in spice. The ship was shot down by the same pirates they were supposed to pay the ransom to. When the attack started, the senator tied down Binks in a seat belt, but when the ship crashed the senator was thrown around and died. The ship was split in two and the pirates attacked with speeders. The clones on board and Binks had no choice but to retreat into a nearby geyser. The geyser started to erupt and they climbed out just in time. Binks realized that by observing skalder behavior around the geysers, they will know when an eruption was imminent, and can take cover in the geysers and time their escape. The pirates took the money and ran. The rescue team needed to get to them but had no way to.

Binks had the idea to use the skalder in the area as mounts and they quickly found the pirate base and reclaimed the money. The clones spotted pirate tanks and the Representative went to "negotiate" with them. He climbed on one of WLO-5 speeder tanks and knocked out the driver, and activated the continuous fire button on the cannon. Binks tried to control the cannon but fired it in random directions. One shot hit another tank and it crashed into a power coupling, knocking out power for the base. Another tank hit the tank Binks was on and destroyed it. One shot from Binks's tank destroyed that one. The angry pirates prepared to kill him, but the clones came out of hiding and secured the area. They entered the pirate base and found Skywalker with his lightsaber to the pirate leader's throat and Kenobi ready to block any retaliation. The clones and Binks brought Skywalker's ship, the Twilight, behind them. They climbed out and released the leader. Clones and pirates prepared to fire on each other but the pirate leader stopped it before someone was hurt. The Jedi, the clones, and Binks left, mission accomplished.

The Blue Shadow Virus
"Yousa not creating life, yousa taking life. Yousa poisoned the Gungan water!"

- Jar Jar Binks to Nuvo Vindi

When Captain Gregar Typho found a couple of droids in the grasslands, Binks accompanied Amidala to Naboo. While investigating the droids, Binks accidentally destroyed one of them because he was looking for a small animal that lived near the swamps. Amidala and Binks went to investigate. There, they were attacked by Peppi Bow, a female Gungan. She explained that there was something wrong with the water. They followed the stream and found a secret lab. Amidala asked for reinforcements, but they were quickly captured by Dr. Nuvo Vindi, who had been creating an airborne sample of the deadly Blue Shadow Virus, and his droids. Soon after, however, they were saved by Skywalker and the clones. Kenobi and Tano arrived soon after for impeding anyone release the virus. The doctor had created a set of bombs containing the virus, and if they exploded, the whole planet would be infected. Fortunately, the clones were able to deactivate them while Skywalker and Kenobi searched for Vindi.

They found out that one of the bombs was missing but Binks found the droid that had stolen it and saved all of the people from Naboo. Amidala soon found out that one of the tubes with the virus was missing. The entire lab was covered with the virus and Tano and the clones were contaminated. Binks and Amidala, who were wearing protective suits, helped to destroy the rest of the droids, preventing the virus's escape. In an attempt to help, Binks wanted to shoot one of the droids but hit Amidala suit, thus contaminating Amidala as well. Luckily, Skywalker and Kenobi returned with a cure for the virus. While the contaminated were being removed, Kenobi told Binks that he had been very brave fending off the battle droids and that they might have him trained with a blaster. Binks was very excited.

War on Dac
The Clone Wars eventually found its way to Mon Calamari. The Republic needed reinforcements, so the Jedi Council contacted the Grand Army, which agreed to join in the fight. The army was transported to Mon Calamari in a Venator-class Star Destroyer under the command of Binks. The militiagungs joined in the fight, but were eventually captured in a whirlpool generated by a Trident assault ship.

Binks was held with Amidala and Skywalker, and were interrogated by Commander Riff Tamson. The Karkarodon cracked Amidala's faceplate, but Binks was able to seal it with slime generated by his Gungan physiology. Eventually, they were rescued and the battle won.

Conflict on Naboo
Later, there was a crisis on Naboo. Boss Lyonie was calling for the Gungan Grand Army to invade Theed. He was secretly under the sway of Separatist-allied minister Rish Loo. Binks summoned Skywalker and Amidala to meet with him, and brought them before Lyonie. Skywalker realized Lyonie was mind-controlled by a necklace, and Force-yanked it off. Lyonie then confronted Loo and was stabbed, while Loo ran from Otoh Gunga and tried to rally the army with news of Lyonie's demise.

Amidala noticed Binks bore a resemblance to Boss Lyonie and had him assume his identity. "Lyonie" was able to call off the Grand Army, but General Grievous arrived. Binks continued his masquerade to buy time for General Tarpals to sabotage Grievous' droid guards. Binks fled from Grievous' ship in time to view the duel between two Generals. Tarpals sacrificed himself to defeat the Separatist leader. Binks was later present when the Gungans traded General Grievous for Skywalker, who had been captured by Count Dooku. Queen Neeyutnee then thanked Binks for resolving another crisis between Naboo's two species, as he had done years earlier.

Fall of the Republic
Jar Jar Binks continued to represent the Gungans in Naboo's senatorial delegation throughout the Clone Wars, though his accomplishments in politics were never as significant as his vote on the Military Creation Act. He had also apparently learned to keep his mouth shut after the "Emergency Powers" debacle, learning from his substantial mistake that had led to one of the bloodiest wars in galactic history. After the death of his friend and colleague Padmé Amidala, he was one of the chief mourners at her funeral on Naboo along with Boss Rugor Nass, and succeeded her Senatorial position, representing the Chommell sector in the Imperial Senate beginning in 19 BBY.

Galactic Empire
After the formation of the New Order, Binks was considered an ally of the new Emperor, and an Imperial HoloVision report shortly after the end of the Clone Wars mentioned that he had personally sent Senator Binks to an undisclosed location.

He was succeeded in his post as Representative of Naboo in 6 BBY by Pooja Naberrie, by appointment from Queen Kylantha.

The end of the Civil War
Binks was alive and well in 6.5 ABY, and was present on Coruscant during its liberation from the Galactic Empire by troops of the New Republic. While he was never involved in this liberation, he was situated relatively close to some of the action.

Personality and traits


Binks was clumsier than most of his fellow Gungans, which was the reason why he was banished from Otoh Gunga. He would often explain his dislike, lashing out with his long tongue. Like all Gungans, he spoke with a peculiar Basic dialect, which sometimes made him hard to understand. Despite his clumsiness, Jar Jar Binks used to be a keen dancer, and he was known to perform notably Deesco and the Gungan Style.

He often held a certain irreverence for his superiors&mdash;often making faces behind their backs, but he would still obey their orders. He was socially active, trying to communicate with sentients around him, and making new friends. He had some aptitude mechanically; he was able to perform maintenance on Anakin Skywalker's pod. As a diplomat, he helped unite the Gungans and the Naboo in 32 BBY. For that deed, he was promoted to general. He would lead the Gungan army against the battle droids, destroying many of them, even if sometimes by accident. In other adventures during the course of the Clone Wars, Binks displayed hidden talents of intellect and improvisation despite his clumsiness and nervousness, contributing greatly to Republic victories on either diplomatic or special combat missions.

As a politician, Binks successfully represented the Gungans for several years, but when he had to take the role of senator, he was easily manipulated by Palpatine's cronies. However, his dedication to his friends made him a very reliable associate and ally, whether it be on a diplomatic or combat mission.

Behind the scenes
"There is a group of fans for the films that doesn't like comic sidekicks. They want the films to be tough like Terminator, and they get very upset and opinionated about anything that has anything to do with being childlike."

- George Lucas

Jar Jar Binks was a computer-generated character, voiced by Ahmed Best,  who also provided the voice for the games Star Wars: Super Bombad Racing and Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds. Best reprised the role in a first season episode of Star Wars: The Clone Wars TV series, however it was later assigned to BJ Hughes. Best returned to voice the role in the third and fourth seasons with the episodes Supply Lines, Gungan Attack and Shadow Warrior. During the filming of the prequel trilogy, Best appeared on set in costume to provide a reference point for the other actors and appeared partially on-screen in a few shots, such as the close-up of Jar Jar's hand getting stuck in Skywalker's podracer. Best also voiced Binks in 2006 for Star Wars creator George Lucas's entry into Stephen Colbert's "green screen challenge" for his show The Colbert Report, and as a parody of the character in 2007 for the Robot Chicken: Star Wars special. The character's name came from Jett Lucas, son of George Lucas.

Many fans pinned their disappointments with The Phantom Menace on Jar Jar and his comedic antics, which they felt both fell flat of their targets and even offended some viewers. Possibly as a result of fan hostility, Jar Jar's role in Attack of the Clones made him a pivotal part of the story, as the one who inadvertently helped Palpatine lay the foundations of the Galactic Empire, while minimizing his screen time. His role in Revenge of the Sith was further reduced to two scenes and only two words.

Many Star Wars fans express their distaste for the character of Binks in a variety of media. One such group of disgruntled viewers were prompted to create a fan film named "Jar Jar's Walking Papers," which depicts the death of Jar Jar.

The Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace game says that Binks was imprisoned upon his return to Otoh Gunga and Obi-Wan Kenobi rescued him before leaving together for Theed. This plot was invented to give an additional action in the Otoh Gunga mission, but the movie does not show that this event occurred, so this event is non-canon.

In Failing Up With Jar Jar Binks, Binks being elected after promising "no new taxes" is a reference to American president George H. W. Bush and his 1988 election promise of "no new taxes."

In the 2008 LucasArts game Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, while playing on Imperial occupied Kashyyyk, there is a trophy of Jar Jar Binks frozen in carbonite on the wall of Ozzik Sturn's trophy room. It is flanked by mounted trophies of a Kowakian monkey-lizard head and a Dianoga eyestalk, both nods to Salacious B. Crumb and the trash compactor monster from Episode IV. The carbonite-encased Binks is a nod to a full-sized version that a fan made for one of the Star Wars Celebrations and is now located at the Letterman Digital Arts Center.

Possible family
According to an ambiguously-canon Star Wars Tales comic book story, Binks's father, George R. Binks, in contrast to his son, was a dignified, intelligent character, who despairs at Binks's foolish antics. His wife is assumed to have been the mother of Jar Jar Binks, although George married her because he knew she could bear him an heir, not because he had romantic feelings for her. Also, in the Infinities story Tantive IV, Abso Bar Binks claims to be the son of Binks.

Jar Jar Binks's fate
The Liberation of Coruscant mission of the Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds: Clone Campaigns game, features a sprite identified as Jar Jar among the skyscrapers of Coruscant, seen only if the player decides to explore the whole game map with an air unit or by using cheat codes. This is a superficially canonical indication that Binks was alive and well, and living on Coruscant, during the New Republic era. It may also be only an "Easter egg" like many featured in the game, and thus dubiously canonical. (For example, Clone Campaigns features sprites of C-3PO and R2-D2 appear near a crashed escape pod on Tatooine during a Clone Wars-era mission.)

In the Naboo celebration scene inserted into the end of the 2004-version of Return of the Jedi, several Gungans are seen taking part in the celebrations. One Gungan can be heard shouting "Wesa free!". Some fans thought that this was Ahmed Best as Binks, but the voice actually belongs to Skywalker Sound editor Matthew Wood. Wood says he inserted the unscripted line as a joke, and Lucas liked it enough to leave in the final cut.

Non-canon appearances
"Dexie, why everybody hate mesa?"

- Jar Jar Binks

He was elected to the position of senator on a "no new taxes" platform. During the Clone Wars, Binks was re-elected with wide popular approval, despite the fact that his opponent (another Gungan) brought up his record of clumsiness, political errors, and service in 'war.' His aides tried to convince him to run for President, and he may have been contacted by Darth Sidious. When contacted by Darth Sidious, he also somehow managed to convince Sidious to work for him.

During his time in the Imperial Senate, "Senator Jar Jar Binks Commemorative Drinking Cups with Flexible Straws and 'Talking Action'" were produced, and were even available on worlds as distant as Tatooine.

After Binks's retirement, he married and later fathered a son who they named Abso Bar Binks. He was a kind father and always tried to bring presents home to both his wife and children, but the presents were always confiscated by the Empire at checkpoints. This led his son to join the growing Rebellion and join the crew of the Tantive V.

Binks makes a brief appearance in the special LEGO Star Wars: The Padawan Menace, where he is in the Senate Building during an attack. The result of the attack led to Binks being hit with a blaster bolt and breaking into pieces, though his legs still ran around.

Binks can be seen in the Officers' Club on the planet Coruscant in the video game Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures. He has his name and the words "Gungan Style" above him. If you click on him he does the dance for the song Gangnam Style by PSY.

Musical representation
Binks is represented musically by his own motif called Jar Jar's Theme.

Appearances

 * Racer Rush

Non-canon appearances

 * Star Wars: Republic 41: The Devaronian Version, Part 2
 * Star Wars Episode I: Watch Out, Jar Jar!
 * Tag & Bink: Revenge of the Clone Menace
 * LEGO Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace
 * LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game
 * LEGO Star Wars: Darth Maul's Mission
 * LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga
 * LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars
 * LEGO Star Wars: The Padawan Menace
 * Star Wars Miniatures: Knights of the Old Republic ad
 * Star Wars Manga: Black
 * ''Star Wars: Yoda's Challenge Activity Center
 * Star Wars: Jar Jar's Journey
 * ''Star Wars: Yoda's Challenge Activity Center
 * Star Wars: Jar Jar's Journey