Many reviews and scholars have suggested that George Lucas seems to have based certain species in *Star Wars* human ethnicities, and particularly on stereotypes thereof.  For instance, the Toydarians (who have large noses and are unmotivated by the Force, "only money") are [supposedly meant to represent Jews][1].

> He's called Watto the Toydarian. He's a slave owner and slave driver
> to our young blond hero, Anakin Skywalker. "Even in a galaxy far away,
> the Jews are apparently behind the slave trade," observes Bruce
> Gottlieb in a 5-26-99 piece on Slate, the only article we've seen on
> the subject and one we didn't see until this column was nearly
> finished. Gottlieb also pointed out the racial stereotyping in the
> character Jar-Jar Binks, as have many African-Americans.

 But there are other examples: I've heard that the Neimodians might have been based on [people from Japan][2], among others. 

> Crafty Japanese trade villains aren't the only heavy-handed ethnic
> stereotype in The Phantom Menace.


Is there any truth to these claims? Did Lucas base these or other *Star Wars* aliens on national or ethnic stereotypes? 

  [1]: https://web.archive.org/web/20060512082325/http://www.americanreview.us/back71.htm
  [2]: http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/hey_wait_a_minute/1999/05/the_merchant_of_menace.html