Jar Jar Binks Costume Guide (Star Wars)
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Jar Jar Binks, the Gungan from Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999), is a fully computer-generated character, so there's no simple everyday-clothes version of him. The head, with its long floppy ears, eye stalks and duck-like snout, is what makes him recognisable, so most people buy a mask or full costume rather than making one.
If you build it yourself, put your effort and budget into the headpiece. For the body, a tan or brown vest, loose ragged trousers cut off below the knee and orange-toned gloves are enough. Jar Jar's clumsy, loose-limbed walk does the rest.
At a glance
- Difficulty: Moderate (unless you buy a full costume)
- Rough budget: $40–$120
- Best for: Star Wars group costumes and ironic party costumes
- What people recognise first: The long-eared Gungan head
What you need
- Jar Jar Binks mask or headpiece — The piece to spend money on. Check you can see through it and that the ears are long and floppy.
- Jar Jar Binks full costume — The easiest option if you'd rather not assemble the pieces.
- Tan or brown vest — Worn open over a long-sleeved top in a similar earthy tone.
- Ragged brown trousers — Cut and fray the legs below the knee.
- Orange gloves — To match Jar Jar's skin tone if your arms and hands show.
How to put it together
Body
- Put on a long-sleeved top in a brown or tan tone, then the vest.
- Wear the trousers with the frayed legs ending around the calf.
- Go barefoot-looking with skin-tone or orange socks over shoes, or wear simple brown shoes.
Head and hands
- Put on the gloves before the mask, while you can still see properly.
- Fit the mask so the ears hang evenly behind your shoulders.
Performance
- Jar Jar's movement is loose and clumsy. Flail your arms a little and refer to yourself as "meesa".
About the character
Jar Jar Binks is a Gungan from the planet Naboo, introduced in The Phantom Menace (1999), where he joins Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi. He returns as a senator's representative in Attack of the Clones (2002), where he unwittingly helps Palpatine gain emergency powers, and briefly in Revenge of the Sith (2005).
He was played through voice and motion capture by Ahmed Best, making him one of the first fully computer-generated main characters in a live-action film. The character was heavily criticised at the time, but has since been re-evaluated by many fans, and Best returned to Star Wars in 2023 as the Jedi Kelleran Beq in The Mandalorian.
Frequently asked questions
What does Jar Jar Binks wear?
A tan or brown vest over a lighter top, loose ragged trousers that end below the knee, and a belt. His skin is orange-brown, and his head has long floppy ears, eye stalks and a duck-like snout.
Is it better to buy or make a Jar Jar costume?
Buy at least the head. It's the hardest part to make well and the part people recognise. The clothes are easy to assemble yourself.
Who played Jar Jar Binks?
Ahmed Best voiced and performed the character through motion capture in the prequel trilogy.
What group costumes include Jar Jar?
A Phantom Menace group: Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi in Jedi robes, Padmé Amidala or Queen Amidala, and young Anakin Skywalker.
Further reading
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