Watch the puppeteers of Star Wars, Dave Barclay and Mike Quinn, from Chicago's C2E2 2022

One of the magical elements of Star Wars is its practical effects, and specifically its puppetry. Two of the veterans of Star Wars puppetry from the original trilogy, Mike Quinn and Dave Barclay, recently came to Chicago's C2E2 to meet fans, sign autographs, and take part in an hour-long spotlight panel - and we filmed the entire thing.

But you might be wondering .... 'So just who is Mike Quinn and Dave Barclay?' Dave Barclay got a unique break into Star Wars - while woring in a London toy store, Mark Hamill hired him to create an 18-inch Darth Vader marionette. Barclay's work was well-received, and he ended up being hired to be an assistant to Frank Oz for Yoda's debut in Empire Strikes Back. Barclay returned for Return of the Jedi, even assisting in the puppetry behind Jabba the Hutt.

Mike Quinn is a veteran of the informal Jim Henson school of puppetry - having worked on various Muppet projects in the '80s including the Great Muppet Caper and he Dark Crystal. He made his Star Wars debut in Return of the Jedi, performing the role of Nien Nunb (Lando's co-pilot of the Millennium Falcon), as well as assisting Frank Oz in his performance as Yoda. Quinn reprised his role as Nien Numb in all three episodes of the new trilogy, as well as in the Disney theme park ride Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.

Popverse filmed this and many others panels from C2E2 2022. These videos are available one of two ways - by becoming Popverse members at the 'Fan' level (or higher), or by buying a C2E2 digital ticket. The C2E2 digital ticet gives you access to live video panels streamed all three days of C2E2 from the Main Stage, VOD panels from two other stages, and access to all the great content from Popverse for 30 days. The Popverse membership does that for the entire year, and would include live video panels from the upcoming Emerald City Comic Con, New York Comic Con, and MCM London Comic Con in October.

Watch the Puppeteers of Star Wars panel from C2E2 2022 now:

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