I was fidging around with my Kenner Star Wars figures and noticed just how many of the designs seems to be directly inspired by an animal. Does a list exist siting the the various inspirations for each character/ creature? Is there a publication revealing these influences or were any of them sited in interviews with officials etc?

I found this site: http://bogleech.com/scrapbook/starwars.html, which sites from the Expanded Universe but that publication doesn't seem to have that particular purpose in mind.

Many characters and creatures seems to each have one particular inspirational source. Yakface, squidhead and walrusman titles their inspirational source.
The Ewoks main influence would be bears.
Amanaman belongs to a race apparently evolved from planarians.
Snaggletooth looks very much like like a Honey Badger.

I've also picked out Chewbacca, Hammerhead, greedo, Ugnaught, 4-LOM, Zuckuss, Imperial TIE Fighter Pilot, Gamorrean Guard, Bossk, Ree-Yees, Jabba, Max Rebo and Droopy McCool

Imperial TIE Fighter Pilot looks like a shrew or maybe a mole.
Ree-Yees looks bovine.
4-LOM and Zuckuss definitely have some insect inspiration.
Droopy McCool looks like a mole.
Max Rebo is reminiscent of an elephant.
Ugnaught and Gamorrean Guard have some ungulate inspiration going on either boar or pig.
I always figured Chewie to be lion, canine or feline for sure. (EDIT: inspiration was an Alaskan Malmute owned by George Lucas)

Any info or suggestions to these themes? Does a thread already exist somewhere?

Cheers, Philip

This promises to answer a lot of questions. Still, any additional input greatly appreciated:

Animal Icons: Season 1, Episode 4
Star Wars Creatures (May 2005)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0797972/

Yoda dog:

Uh huh.

Greedo Fish ?

Barada a dog.

Yoda a cat?

Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Han Solo, Death Squad Commander, Hoth Rebel Soldier, Lando Calrissian, Bespin Security Guard (black & white),Dengar, Lobot, Rebel Commander, Imperial Commander, AT-AT Commander, Cloud Car Pilot, Rebel Commando, General Madine, B-Wing Pilot, AT-ST Driver, Rancor Keeper, Anakin Skywalker, A-Wing Pilot and the Imperial Dignitary all seems to bear an uncanny likeness to the Homo Sapians found on Earth

Chewbacca, apparently was based on the Lucas' family dog, an Alaskan Malmute http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Chewbacca. A resemblance I don't really see clearly. I would see maybe more of a Bearded Collie (I guess the lion thing was mainly due to hair really).

The Yoda dog is great (Halloween and costume parties must be a nightmare for that poor dog)!

Greedo does bear a lot of similar traits to various sea creatures.

Guess Barada could be a dog (a Bulldog or the like)

And of course the Homo Sapiens (missed the Emperor )
Were there by the way ever any asian characters? Definitely some inspiration in various creature designs but any actual human characters?

Scratch that last question: http://youoffendmeyouoffendmyfamily.com/star-wars-does-have-asians/

Before the Empire extended it's budget, allowing for the purchase of Speeder Bikes, the old Scout's had to make do with the indigenous population, a couple of which look similar to the American Mink and the Stoat.

Slimey ? My home this is ............