Ahsoka's Brilliant Overhaul: Revolutionizing Star Wars Rebels' Design Flaws

Warning! This article contains spoilers for Ahsoka episode 3.

Summary

Ahsoka has adeptly given life to the animated characters of Rebels, such as Sabine Wren and even herself.

The portrayal of Jacen Syndulla in Star Wars Rebels sparked controversy, as it failed to accurately depict his diverse background.

Ahsoka has successfully improved Jacen's live-action design, drawing inspiration from his father Kanan and incorporating a shoulder pauldron as a tribute to Kanan's legacy. The task of translating animated characters into live-action is often challenging, as animation allows for more creative freedom and certain design elements may feel out of place in live-action. However, Ahsoka has managed to bring the animated characters from Star Wars Rebels to life admirably. Characters such as Sabine Wren and Ahsoka herself have been accurately portrayed in their live-action counterparts, as have Hera Syndulla and even Ezra Bridger, despite only appearing as a hologram. Garazeb Orrelios, a character with a particularly intricate design in Rebels, made a brief but notable appearance in The Mandalorian season 3 and remained faithful to his original depiction.

The missing character from Ahsoka's story, Jacen Syndulla, has finally been introduced in Ahsoka episode 3 "Part Three - Time To Fly." Jacen is the son of Hera and the Jedi Kanan Jarrus, who unfortunately passed away before Jacen's birth. With Hera being a Twi'lek and Kanan being human, it was a challenge to create a character that could convincingly be related to both. Initially, the design of Jacen in Rebels generated controversy, but Ahsoka has now enhanced his portrayal.

Rebels' Jacen Syndulla Design Was Hugely Controversial

How Ahsoka Fixes Jacen Syndulla's Design

Jacen Syndulla's appearance in Star Wars Rebels was widely criticized for not accurately reflecting his mixed heritage. Despite having a Twi'lek mother, the only visual cue was his green hair and slightly green ears. His facial features bore no resemblance to his father, Kanan. Many fans questioned why Jacen lacked the prominent lekku or forehead bumps typically seen on male Twi'leks. Although the show required a young character, Jacen's design, with his unusually rounded cheeks and piercing blue eyes, effectively conveyed that he was the son of Kanan and Hera in the impactful Star Wars Rebels epilogue.

Jacen's appearance in live-action has undergone significant improvement. While his Twi'lek characteristics are not prominently displayed, he bears a striking resemblance to his father, Kanan. They share a similar skin tone, and unlike his parents, Jacen's face is distinctly angular and slimmer, devoid of the previously overly round features. Moreover, Jacen's hair mirrors his father's past style, maintaining its signature green hue. It is worth noting that there were concerns about Jacen's design being altered completely when a promotional image featuring his LEGO minifigure with brown hair surfaced. However, the updated live-action depiction offers reassurance. Notably, Jacen proudly dons a shoulder pauldron identical to the one his father once wore, showcasing Kanan's enduring legacy through precise recreation of both color and symbol.

The tips of Jacen's ears, which are currently unseen, are a unique feature. In the animated version, his ears were highlighted in green, symbolizing his connection to his mother. However, in Ahsoka, his longer hair covers his ears, leaving us unaware if this aspect of his design has been retained. Considering that it is one of the few characteristics that link him to his mother, aside from the green hair, it would be logical to preserve it. Perhaps, if Jacen chooses to style his hair in a ponytail like Kanan used to, the color of his ears will be revealed. Overall, Ahsoka has successfully transformed animated characters into live-action, and Jacen Syndulla is no exception to this. Catch new episodes of Ahsoka on Disney+ every Tuesday at 6pm PT / 9pm ET.