Tell me more ×
Science Fiction & Fantasy Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for science fiction and fantasy enthusiasts. It's 100% free, no registration required.
up vote 42 down vote favorite
3

One of the changes made to the Special Editions of Star Wars: Episode VI: Return of the Jedi was at the end of the film. Luke sees 3 ghosts during the celebration on the forest moon of Endor, Yoda, Anakin, and Obi-Wan. In the Special Editions, the actor who played Anakin earlier in the film, Sebastian Shaw, is replaced with Hayden Christiansen who played young Anakin in Episodes 2 and 3. Before and after picture of the ghosts My question is, why is Anakin the only one de-aged? Shouldn't Obi-Wan also be his younger self, along with Yoda?

share|improve this question
42  
I don't think there's any good reason for this. I consider it a really bad decision by George Lucas in the editing to try to tie back the original trilogy to episodes I-III.. Just saying. – sunpech Nov 10 '11 at 17:34
9  
Because Obi-wan was born old. – zzzzBov Nov 10 '11 at 18:59
6  
They're appearing to Luke, so it makes sense for Obi-wan to appear as Luke knew him. This doesn't explain young Anakin, though. – Martha Nov 10 '11 at 20:24
1  
It looks like Yoda is smoking a joint! – Wikis Jan 4 '12 at 16:44
1  
@TobiasKienzler Have you ever tried to find Ewan McGregor? He's a willy fellow. – Keen♦ Feb 11 '12 at 23:27
show 7 more comments

8 Answers

up vote 37 down vote accepted

Anakin is the only one de-aged because Anakin hasn't lived the past 30 or so years - Anakin was more or less killed by Darth Vader. He left behind the parts that made him Anakin Skywalker when he lead the clones into the Temple.

When he was redeemed by Luke, he reclaimed those parts of him. His sense of honor, pride, decency, love, etc were all restored. His mental self-image would likely have returned to the way it had been when he last felt that way - as a young man.

The out-of-universe reason? Controversy sells better. Also, Shaw doesn't look a thing like Anakin ever did (on screen), so there would be a major disconnect for first-time viewers if he weren't replaced by Hayden.

share|improve this answer
3  
-1 Your oou reason is good though your in universe reason is not supported by any canon I am aware of. – Chad Nov 10 '11 at 19:05
@Chad: As Obi-Wan said, "So Darth Vader did betray and murder your father, from a certain point of view." Also see Shadows of the Empire, where Darth Vader's inner monologue discusses the 'tiny spark of Anakin left within him'. – Jeff Nov 10 '11 at 19:45
That explains the curing removal of the scaring but not the deaging that only Anikin seems to experience. There is lots of other experiences of people being met that have become one with the force and this is the only instance where someone deaged in appearance. Your oou reason is right but your In universe reason does not follow existing canon. – Chad Nov 11 '11 at 15:03
2  
Existing canon clearly shows that Darth Vader and Anakin are essentially different people - the Vader persona distanced himself as much as possible from the Anakin one. When Anakin shows up as a Force Ghost, he shows up as he pictured himself - like the 'Residual Self Image' idea from the Matrix. – Jeff Nov 11 '11 at 15:14
1  
@Lèsemajesté: It's not invalid for a movie to assume you have seen any previous films in the series, especially when there's a tight storyline the films follow. – Jeff Dec 1 '11 at 15:18
show 4 more comments
up vote 15 down vote

With the release of the prequel trilogy, I imagine Hayden Christiansen is now more immediately recognizable as Anakin/Vader than Sebastian Shaw, whereas old Yoda and Obi-wan are still just as recognizable as their younger counterparts (and thus no change is needed for them).

When you consider that the only time we actually see Sebastian Shaw prior is for a brief period when Vader takes off his mask, and even then it is with a bunch of makeup to show a bald, burnt, and beat-up Vader, then many people might see his ghost and think "Now who is that?... Well, Yoda and Obi-wan are there. Oh, must be Vader without all the damage". I must admit that the first time I saw the movie, that scene caused a brief moment of confusion about who the "new guy" was, since they hadn't ever shown him in that form before. Maybe the change strove to avoid this.

share|improve this answer
1  
of course isn't that the point? its NOT the same Anakin Skywalker that "died" in Episode III. He's older, he's scarred, he's different. the answer by @Jeff doesn't really fit either as for the same reason. Even while recovering his past self Anakin would still be affected by everything that happened in the time between epIII and epIV, thus making the image of Sebastian Shaw a valid possible reflection of who Anakin was when he really died in epVI. – Xantec Nov 10 '11 at 19:57
OK, but how long were you actually confused for? If you didn't make the connection until long after the credits had rolled, then maybe that's too much. But sometimes letting the audience figure out minor details is better than spelling everything out for them. Even without the makeup, I was able to recognize Shaw as Vader after a few seconds when I first saw the movie as a kid. It's not like they used a completely new actor and you had to make a huge leap to connect the dots. It's just realistic murkiness. – Lèse majesté Dec 1 '11 at 15:08
up vote 12 down vote

I think the reason is because in order to become a ghost, you must be a Jedi and not a Sith. Since Darth Vader ceased to be a Jedi when young, its ghost took the shape of the last time he was ever with the bright side of the force (i.e. Anakin).

share|improve this answer
This is probably the only answer I'd find acceptable. – Robert S. Nov 10 '11 at 22:22
1  
there are alot of sith ghosts present in the expanded universe (books, games etc.) - Freedon Nadd, Ajunta Pall, Marka Ragnos, Naga Sadow, Exar Kun etc. – AZ. Nov 11 '11 at 13:19
@AZ: True, but it's strongly implied the Sith ghosts used a different (and much more malevolent!) technique for becoming a ghost. Anakin would have had to use the Qui-Gonn / Obi-Wan Jedi technique for doing this. (Either he'd figured it out since ANH, or Obi-wan taught him after death!) – Tynam Jan 11 '12 at 2:12
up vote 2 down vote

There is also a precedence in the original trilogy for Obi-wan being old. He already appeared as a ghost as his old age in Empire Strikes Back.

share|improve this answer
up vote 2 down vote

I think its less about self-image and more about Luke. Luke knew Obi-Wan as an old man, and that is the image (presumably) from which he would derive the most comfort/pride/sense of achievement. Seeing Anakin as a young, and therefore redeemed man (as in, no longer corrupted by machines/the Dark Side) would be more likely to conjure those same emotions than the older, wasted shell of a human that Anakin had become.

Also, George Lukas is silly.

share|improve this answer
1  
+1, and feel free to delete the first paragraph :)))) – DVK Jan 19 '12 at 4:55
up vote 1 down vote

Yes, I too think it depends on how they percieve themselves. Also, Anakin hasn't seen himself for 26 years and it's only natural to revert to the form he knows best and is most comfortable with. Also in the force it's all about mind over matter and energy, thus it would be actually possible for Obi-Wan and Yoda to look as old/young as they want to appear. They choose to appear that way, because that's how they feel they are and because that's how Luke knew them. ... Theoretically a Forceghost that is powerfull and has enough control could theoretically look however he/she/it wants, should he/she/it be able to overcome selfperception,

share|improve this answer
up vote 0 down vote

I think It has to do with how Obi-Wan saw himself in life. He knew what he looked like before he died, and that's how he chose to manifest himseslf as. Why would he appear as the TPM or ROTS Obi-Wan. He hasnt looked like that for many years, thats not him anymore. As for Anakin, he appeared whole, before he turned to the dark side. Also who knows, maybe he assumed that form because he didnt know how he biologically appeared at that time. Plus, he would'nt appear as his burnt self.

share|improve this answer
up vote 0 down vote

While I do think that it was some poor planning, I think there is a reason for it. The reason I would suggest would be that they are all portrayed in their most moral and just form. Obi-Wan by that time had reached his ripe age, had patience and was very Jedi like. Same for Yoda. I would go as far to say that it is showing the characters in their most pure form of being Jedi.

share|improve this answer

protected by Jeff Feb 5 '12 at 19:05

This question is protected to prevent "thanks!", "me too!", or spam answers by new users. To answer it, you must have earned at least 10 reputation on this site.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.