Yoda & Chian (Jedi Temple Training) - SW [S - P3] - Basic (’03 #15)

Diminutive and unassuming, Jedi Master Yoda is one of the wisest and most recognized members of the Jedi Council. For over 800 years, Yoda has trained Jedi Knights and young pupils such as Chian in the ways of the Force. He instructs them to be calm, passive, at peace; to be aware of the present and mindful of the future; and to use the Force only for defense, never for attack. In these dire times, the dark side has begun to cloud even Master Yoda's insight into the future – into the fate of the Republic's encroaching war and the uncertain destiny of the young apprentice Anakin Skywalker.

In Attack Of The Clones, we saw Jedi Master Yoda train younglings in the Jedi Temple. People, including Hasbro, mistook them for Padawans, but they were actually Jedi Initiates. Obi-Wan Kenobi sought Yoda’s infinite wisdom out to solve a puzzle of a missing planet that no longer appeared in the archives. It was a youngling however that solved the riddle: the information he was seeking was erased. It was in this scene that we were introduced to Chian, a Kajin’sa’Nikto that was as cute as a button and a student to the ways of the Force. Younglings are also called Jedi Initiates, the stage before Jedi Padawan. It is during this time that they learn the very basics in the ways of the Force to see if they’re truly Jedi material. Knowledgeable, attentive and passionate, these young children are the future protectors of peace for the Galactic Republic. Hasbro was quick to get a few of them out to collectors in the 2003 Star Wars “Saga” line. Due to their very small size, the younglings are not a collector’s dream, but they are important for helping to explain the metamorphosis of a Jedi, and why attention to detail is such a pivotal trait to possess. Keeping in mind that these Jedi initiate two-packs are really just meant for background fodder, it's surprising that these were even made. We're thankful of course. We're just a little surprised is all.

Yoda & Chian get released for a second time as a two-pack. They've been carried forward into the third phase of the Star Wars "Saga" line look and get a re-titled name too! The figures are fun. They are evidently small, so two for the price of one is more than adequate in this regard. But you get a decent amount of articulation and accessories to feel like you are getting value for your money. Both action figures have nice sculpts, but the articulation that most collectors would like to see is lacking on them. We will go through each character separately. Yoda is well sculpted but the expression on his face is a little too dazed in our opinion. He comes with cool accessories. The largest accessory, the hoverchair is done up very nicely and Yoda has been sculpted in a way that allows his to be seated on the cushion while his Jedi robes hang off of the back of it while sitting. Clear plastic has been sculpted with the intent to be “invisible”, but the effect is still admirable and you get the idea that this thing floats in mid air. Yoda also comes with a lightsaber and walking stick (or gimer stick). Both can be posed effortlessly in his right hand while his left hand can be used to command the Force or give instruction, or whatever other “task” you want him to complete. On or off the hoverchair, Yoda honestly looks fantastic and it’s on of the better sculpts we have seen Hasbro make in a long time for this character.

As mentioned earlier, Chian is of the Nikto species and is the featured youngling in this two-pack. We have to hand it to Hasbro for making a truly excellent version of this young character for as simple as they had to make him. The head sculpt in particular is nearly perfect. His size and stature is about comparable as Yoda’s. It really does help to accentuate his small size. Plus, Hasbro has effortlessly captured Chian’s youth with round and pudgy facial features, just like the onscreen character, maybe in an effort to help show his “greenness” in the ways of the Force. Chian comes with a Jedi training helmet and lightsaber. Both accessories fit the action figure well. Since he only comes with four points of articulation, you can’t really attain too many diverse looking poses with Chian, but you can create enough to keep things interesting. Together, Yoda & Chian look great together. We are happy to see Yoda and the children he mentors in the basic figure lineup. These aren't action figures in the sense that they're fully articulated. But they get the job done. And how can you possibly be disappointed in getting two different characters with a healthy dose of accessories each for the same exact price as a single action figure? At least we get a nice amount of plastic with these sets.