Zuckuss - Kenner - Vintage The Empire Strikes Back (1982)

Chief Chirpa - ROTJ - Basic

Chief Chirpa

Visual Analysis

Detailed Visual Analysis

General Analysis

I am just going to come out and say it. I am an unabashed lover of Ewoks. I loved them in 1983, 1984 and 1985 as toys and I love them more today as pivotal characters in the Star Wars saga. Sure, they added an element of comic relief in the final story of the Original Trilogy, but these little furballs knew right from wrong and joined our comrades to defeat the evil Empire once and for all. Their primitive tools and battle tactics proved useful during the Battle of Endor, and their temperaments made up for their diminutive size. IN 1983, Kenner produced two Ewoks right from the start in the RETURN OF THE JEDI toy line, but the earliest 65-Backs listed the characters but obscured by blackness. It was only after the release of the film that the back of the RETURN OF THE JEDI figures showed images of Chief Chirpa and Logray (Ewok Medicine Man). Although they’re two great characters, the bigger surprise here is that Wicket W. Warrick and Paploo weren’t chosen as the first two for Kenner to produce. The latter two Ewoks held much more substantial roles in the film, especially Wicket W. Warrick, but Kenner decided on two with less presence in the movie. Chief Chirpa is a character I’ve always adored. I thought they nailed the likeness perfectly, and although he’s much too big for the 3.75” scaled line, his staff, cowl, and paint job accurately reflect the character in the film. The only time Hasbro attempted to remake this character in the modern line came in 2006 during THE SAGA COLLECTION. It’s a fantastic release, albeit with limited articulation. I would love to see Hasbro try to redo this guy again with more articulation, but if they don’t, I’m equally as happy.

Hasbro's Most Definitive Modern Counterpart: 2006's THE SAGA COLLECTION Chief Chirpa (SAGA 039) figure.