The Secret Behind Star Wars Rebel's Slim Lightsabers: Unveiling New Dimensions!

Star Wars Rebels' art style presents Jedi lightsabers as notably thinner compared to the Star Wars movies and other Disney+ shows. This design choice has sparked curiosity among many fans, prompting them to question the reasoning behind it. In the original and prequel trilogies, lightsabers were depicted as cylindrical, with a thickness that mirrored the emitter at the base of the weapon. However, in Star Wars Rebels, the lightsabers appeared much slimmer. This distinctive portrayal gained significant attention upon the show's release, as the sabers appeared thin from the center of the emitter, relying solely on the luminous glow to maintain a more cylindrical appearance. With the lightsabers of Star Wars Rebels becoming a prominent topic of discussion online, fans were eager to understand the decision-making process behind this particular style chosen by Dave Filoni and his team.

Star Wars Rebels' Lightsabers Honor Ralph MacQuarrie's Concept Art

In Star Wars Rebels, the thin lightsabers are a direct homage to the origins of the Star Wars franchise. During the creation of the original Star Wars, George Lucas enlisted the help of artist Ralph McQuarrie to visualize various concept art. Remarkably, McQuarrie's concept art has stood the test of time and continues to be a source of inspiration for Star Wars' animated shows.

This is particularly true for Star Wars Rebels, where McQuarrie's original artwork serves as the inspiration for the thin lightsabers featured in the series. In his initial drafts, McQuarrie depicted lightsabers as slender beams of light with a subtle glow. This artistic representation closely aligns with how the Jedi weapon is presented in Rebels, highlighting the ongoing influence of McQuarrie and his collaboration with Lucas in shaping the modern Star Wars universe.

Rebels' "Retro" Look Honored The Star Wars Original Trilogy

The decision to incorporate McQuarrie's original work not only paid homage to his artistry, but also gave Star Wars Rebels a nostalgic and retro vibe. By utilizing McQuarrie's artwork for lightsabers, Darth Vader, stormtroopers, and other elements, the show successfully recreated the visual aesthetic of the original Star Wars trilogy. This choice was particularly fitting, considering that the series is set five years prior to A New Hope and continues until the Battle of Yavin and beyond.

Thanks to McQuarrie's influential art style, Rebels was able to capture the essence, style, appearance, and atmosphere of the original trilogy flawlessly. Even though the design of the lightsabers sparked some controversy, as they were slimmer compared to their predecessors, they still paid homage to the iconic look of Star Wars. This visual appeal was directly inspired by Ralph McQuarrie, whose impact on Star Wars Rebels and the entire Star Wars universe can be consistently seen in new narratives from distant galaxies.