Bantha fodder

"This sack of bantha fodder tried to buy me from that sleemo Calrissian and make me his servant."

―Hera Syndulla, about Azmorigan

Bantha fodder (Huttese: "bantha poodoo") was a slang term for a person deemed to have no value beyond something for a bantha to feed on. It literally referred to food for banthas, which was known for having a terrible smell and attracting stink-flies. The term was also used as a synonym for nonsense, e.g. "Enough bantha poodoo flowing out of you to fill up this whole lake." The phrase "sack of bantha fodder" referred to a despicable person.

History

During the year 32 BBY, there was a fierce competition between the Dug Sebulba and another podracer pilot, Anakin Skywalker. Just before the Boonta Eve Classic was about to start, the Dug couldn't resist one last taunt directed at young Skywalker, and the two exchanged insults in Huttese. The young boy called Sebulba a "sleemo," and Sebulba retaliated by calling Skywalker "bantha poodoo."

During the hunt for Vader in 1 BBY, Dengar grew increasingly impatient as he received no reply from Urrr'k, exclaiming, "I know you can hear me, you bantha poodoo."

In 4 ABY, following his capture by the ruthless gangster Jabba the Hutt, Han Solo was presented to Jabba for judgement. Solo attempted to beg for his life, but Jabba showed no interest. He declared that Solo may have been a skilled smuggler in the past, but now he was nothing more than "bantha poodoo."

Behind the scenes

A common misconception is that "poodoo" refers to a bantha's feces. However, despite referring to fodder, "bantha poodoo" as a synonym for nonsense is similar to the real-world noun "bullshit." The phrase "sack of bantha fodder," which refers to a despicable person, is similar to the real-world vulgar slang phrase "piece of shit."

Appearances

• The High Republic: Escape from Valo (and audiobook)
• The High Republic: Beware the Nameless (and audiobook)
• Master & Apprentice (and audiobook)
• Darth Maul – Black, White & Red 3
• Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace
• Dooku: Jedi Lost script
• Hyperspace Stories 5
• Star Wars: The Clone Wars film
• Star Wars Rebels — "The Wynkahthu Job"
• Target Vader 4
• "The Luckless Rodian" — From a Certain Point of View (and audiobook)
• "Rogue Two" — From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back (and audiobook)
• Star Wars (2020) 40 (In flashback(s))
• Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi (First appearance)
• "Rules of the Game" — Canto Bight (and audiobook)

Sources

• Star Wars: The Visual Encyclopedia
• Star Wars: How Not to Get Eaten by Ewoks and Other Galactic Survival Skills
• Ultimate Star Wars, New Edition
• The Star Wars Book of Monsters, Ooze and Slime