Utai - LC - Basic (BD41)

The Utai are one of the native species on Utapau. As the working class, they look after the dragon corrals and serve as ground crews on landing platforms. They live in the numerous sinkholes on the planet, taming the indigenous dactillions and varactyls.

Utapau (the system) gets its name from the two species that inhabit it. The Utai and the Pau’an make up the population of the sinkhole planetary system and interestingly they are diametric opposites of each other in the way they look and the roles they serve on their planet. Both humanoid (but on different levels), the Pau’ans are much taller and much more mysterious. Although the two species get along quite well, there is an understood hierarchy of who is technically in charge (the Pau’ans). The Utai are the Prequel equivalent of the Ugnaughts. They are short, some are rotund and all are laborers that seem to never question authority and perform their duties flawlessly without issues. And they appear quite eager to serve as required for the good of their society. They are very mechanical creatures and love interacting with technology as well as organic objects, like wrangling bogas for example. It was only a matter of time before this character would get its day as an action figure and it comes to us four years later in the basic figure line. Trivia lovers will want to know that the Utai figure now available was intended to be released as a two-pack but that was rather quickly shelved (as many other two-packs have been). Fans have been clamoring for the second to be released as a running change, but as of right now, the second version has yet to find a place in the basic figure line. It seems as if Hasbro is testing the waters on this figure to see if a second figure is worthy enough to be placed in the line as well. By the looks of the first figure, we immediately say it is, but unfortunately Hasbro needs to see sell-through to answer the question. We very much hope it gets released one day because the two are very different from each other and we love to have diversity in our displays and dioramas. And it is also a remarkable figure.

If you like the Utai character from Revenge Of The Sith, then you are simply going to love the action figure! Faithfully and expertly recreated from Episode III, we are simply amazed by how authentic the small action figure looks when compared to the character’s appearance in the film. Risking to not be one of the best selling figures in the Legacy Collection since the Utai is clearly not a main character by any mean, we find this to be a small travesty because we believe you will be impressed with the level of detail this smaller than average action figure has. We acknowledge that many will miss out on this figure by skipping it. Sporting a nice 14 points of articulation, the Utai can be posed pretty much any way you want him. He has a rather static pose, save for what is appears to be his right foot stepping forward the tiniest bit and we love getting figures that aren’t in an action pose. So this figures scores high here! Hasbro paid a great deal of attention to so many areas on this character and for that we are simply impressed. The Utai’s skin color is so well done. It is colored in a pinkish beige hue with a dark wash that captures every wrinkle in the skin (especially in the neck area) and the same treatment was replicated for its hands and head. The Utai have hooves for feet and this detail can be seen through his boots and it looks fantastic. Perhaps the most incredible part of this action figure is its eyes. Decorated exactly like what we saw in the film, the duplication of this specie’s unique eye form into an action figure is no small feat. To mass produce this detail is something we are not able to fully comprehend. It is that well done and we are extremely grateful for the time Hasbro has given it. His jumpsuit costume is cast in the military green as seen in the film and has details painted in silver that help make it feel more realistic. There is a tube that is attached to the center of his chest and reaches around to his side. Almost having a starfighter pilot feel to it, it is a great detail that we floored that it has been molded as a separate part and not simply painted on the figure.

If you aren’t a fan of Episode III, this figure will likely do absolutely nothing for you. But if you are, we can say that this is one of the freshest and nicest action figures based on a character for this film in a very long time. Revenge of The Sith has received more than its fair share of attention by Hasbro. In fact, aside from A New Hope, it is probably true that most of the action figures released by them are from this source now. (This is mere conjecture and we haven’t done the official math yet.) So for Hasbro to come up with such a quality and neat figure at this point is a pretty great thing. The Utai holds its own as a very well sculpted, excellently painted and perfectly scaled action figure. It will aid in rounding out your Utapau displays and if you are a fan of the 212th Attack Battalion, this is a character you are going to have to protect against the Separatist Droid Army! We hope that the other version of the Utai does get released one day to keep this one company. While it may not be one of the most exciting or action packed figure you will add to your collection, it keeps in the spirit of the random and obscure characters getting treated into action figure form. We hope this trend continues for a while. It would be tragic to only see Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker on the pegs. Characters like the Utai will ensure that this doesn’t happen. But don’t look at the Utai as just a figure that is different than Luke or Vader. He is excellent and worthy of your consideration on his own merits alone. But it does certainly keep the basic line healthy if collectors like you and us add him to our collections. We encourage you to give the Utai a chance. He is a cool little creature that will absolutely enhance your collection is an extremely positive way.