Watto

Date Uploaded: 12 Feb 2011

Average Rating: Not yet rated

Watto is a character from Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, in which he plays a junk shop dealer and owner of slaves Anakin Skywalker and his mother Shmi, living in the settlement of Mos Espa on the planet Tatooine. Computer-generated, voice played by actor Andy Secombe. This figure stands 19cm from head to foot, 23cm with wings extended up. His taser or laser cord has stretched and I have wrapped it around one wing to keep it out of the way. Wattos arms move up and down and most importantly his wings move up and down. My photos here don't do him justice, but right now it's all I've got.

There are numerous entries on the net for Watto, giving background and character development both in fiction and movie studio.

Watto's character portrayal has been criticised for perpetuating anti-semitic (ie. anti-Arabic and anti-Jewish) stereotypes. Thus I am conflicted, because I love this figurine and his part in the movie, he sits surrounded here by tiny bear, orphan annie, shark, croc and flamingos, and next to caribou man, african dollies and aboriginalia. I choose to see Watto as a single figure in a universe of every type of creature.