TheStar Warsgalaxy is filled with incredible characters, fantastical aliens, and memorable droids. While the franchise is known for its “cool” characters like Darth Vader, Boba Fett, and Han Solo, it also isn’t afraid to embrace its cute side. George Lucas did intendStar Warsto be a galactic fairy tale aimed at kids, so it is no wonder the franchise has plenty of adorable characters alongside the more terrifying ones.
Some fans might want to dismiss this aspect ofStar Wars. But these cute characters are part ofStar WarsDNA. George Lucas always had an eye for merchandise and marketing; otherwise, he wouldn’t have made the deal to retain the merchandising rights when he was developing the original deal forStar Wars. Over the franchise’s nearly fifty-year history, plenty of fan favorite characters have made audiences smile at the sight of them. These 10 Star Wars characters would make even the most stoic Jedi go “aww.”
10Babu Frik
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalkerwas a disappointment for many fans. However, one thing many could agree on is thatBabu Frikis a standout character. While the droid D-O seemingly was set to be the breakout cute character for the final entry in the Skywalker Saga, it was Babu Frik that captured audiences' hearts. Babu Frik is an Anzellan, a short species that seemingly specializes in working on machines. Voiced by Shirley Henderson, who fans might know best as Moaning Myrtle in theHarry Potterfilm series, Babu Frik’s distinctive voice pattern made him a standout character.
Babu Frik might not have the biggest role inThe Rise of Skywalker, but he leaves an impression.One person who liked Babu Frik a lot was Steven Spielberg.Creature Effects Creative Supervisor Neal Scanlan revealed toEmpirethat after screening a cut ofThe Rise of Skywalkerto Steven Spielberg where the filmmaker asked what happened to Babu Frik after the planet Kimiji was destroyed, J.J. Abrams added Babu Frik’s final moment where he pops up alongside Zori Bliss and says"heyhey!“Babu Frik was so popular that his species was later featured inThe Mandalorianalongside Grogu for maximum adorable overload.
Yoda’s “cute” factor has seemingly been taken thanks to Grogu (who we will get to), but Yoda was the original. While younger fans might associate Yoda as a cool, powerful character thanks to his role in the prequel trilogy, part of the charm about Yoda inThe Empire Strikes Backis how this unassuming creature could be a powerful Jedi Knight. Yoda is very wise, and while nobody judges him by his size, it’s hard to argue that it is a charming feature that makes Yoda all the more adored.
With a walking cane, short stature, and the vibe of the funniest grandparent, fans went wild for Yoda.Thanks to a combination of a great vocal performance by Frank Oz, a talented team of puppeteers led by Oz to bring the character to life, and Mark Hamill’s believable performance, Yoda felt like a full flesh and blood character. There is no denying that audiences shed tears when he grabbed his little blanket inReturn of the Jediand closed his eyes one final time.
Ewoksare a controversial part ofStar Wars, showing that people have had strong opinions about what is “ruining” the franchise since 1983. Introduced inReturn of the Jedi, this band of teddy bear-like creatures on the forest moon of Endor help the Rebel Alliance defeat the Empire. The Ewoks proved popular with young children, and Lucas used them to expand theStar Warsfranchise after the original trilogy ended with the1984 television movieCaravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventureand 1985’sEwoks: The Battle for Endor, as well as an animated series.
Ewoks have often been criticized for showingStar Warscreator George Lucas becoming more interested in merchandise than storytelling (as if the toy deals were not there from the beginning). Yet many overlook that despite their cute teddy bear-like appearance, these little guys are as fierce as they are cute, and even a little scary since they were about to eat Han, Luke, and Chewbacca. Also, let’s be real; who didn’t get incredibly sad inReturn of the Jediwhen the one Ewok tries to wake up his friend only to discover he is dead? Truly heartbreaking stuff.
Star Warshas no shortage of cute droids (in fact, there will be more on this list). YetBD-1from thevideo gameStar Wars Jedi: Fallen Orderand its sequelJedi: Survivorbecame a fan-favorite as soon as he was first glimpsed. BD-1 is an explorer droid and a companion to the game’s protagonist, Cal Kestiss.The “BD” in his name is short for “Buddy Droid,” if that wasn’t enough to make someone fall in love with this little helpful friend.
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With bipedal legs, BD-1 was very different from many other droid companions in theStar Warsgalaxy. He comes across almost like a cute mechanical dog. BD-1 proved so popular beyond the video games that Disney started selling toys of the droid, and BD units were even seen walking around Disney’sStar Wars-themed land, Galaxy’s Edge. BD-1 is a companion anyone would want to have. With the customization aspect inJedi: Survivor, where fans could change BD-1’s color and features, his popularity has only grown due to fans having a special bond with a Star Wars character they can make their own.
Nubsis certainly one of the cutest Jedi in a galaxy far, far away.Introduced in the Disney Jr. seriesYoung Jedi Adventures, Nubs is a Jedi padawan during the era of the High Republic. He is a member of the Pooba species, blue furry aliens that seem like a cross between a koala bear and the world’s most plush teddy bear that stands at just 2 ft 5 inches.
Nubs does not speak in Basic, the universal language ofStar Wars. Instead, he speaks in a series of growls and whistles, and the other characters are able to understand him, which is similar to Chewbacca speaking in roars. His speech pattern is designed to resemble that of a child learning to talk, making him not only a character that appeals to the series' young preschool demographic but also one that the parents who are likely watching along with them will have the urge to be protective of.Nubs has amassed a fan base outside ofYoung Jedi Adventures’key demographic because of how adorable he is.
Before the Ewoks, before Nubs, before anyone on this list, there wasR2-D2—the original cuteStar Warscharacter. This blue and white astromech droid has been there since the very beginning ofStar Wars, now subtitledEpisode IV: A New Hope.R2-D2 is one of the main faces of theStar Warsfranchise, easily up there with Darth Vader in terms of popularity, and likely one of the most merchandisable characters in the franchise. He has had an enduring appeal to fans, young and old.
Sound designer Ben Burt modeled R2-D2’s signature beeps and boops after a toddler’s baby noises. This, along with his short, round, colorful design, might explain why R2-D2 is one of the most popularStar Warscharacters among young children. Ewan McGregor might have best described R2-D2’s timeless appeal, revealing while making the prequel trilogy that"As soon as R2-D2 comes on the set, everyone goes a bit silly. There is something about him that makes you feel great affection for him.“It is hard not to light up when R2-D2 appears on screen.
Right up front,Porgsrule.The Rise of Skywalkerwould have been improved by 10% if Finn and the Orbak riders were flanked by a fleet of Porgs, but we digress. Introduced in the second entry in the sequel trilogy,The Last Jedi, Porgs are a small bird-like creature native to the planet of Ach-To. With big expressive eyes, round bodies, and little wings that look like they can barely support their shape,Porgs are one of the best additions to theStar Warsfranchise.
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They are also creatures born out of necessity.The Porgs were created to cover up the vast numbers of real-life puffins present on Skellig Michael, the filming site for Ahch-To.Instead of digitally removing them, these incredible bird-like aliens were created to fill in the background shots. They were seen flying and eventually took on a fun supporting role in the story, adding some of the movie’s best comedic bits. The original non-Porg puffins can be seen in the final scene ofThe Force Awakens, which, ifStar Warsstill did digital re-releases, would likely now be covered up with Porgs.
Neelis the most recent Star Wars character to make this list. One part of the great ensemble for the excellentSkeleton Crew, Neel is not the same blue-elephant species as Max Reebo, an Ortolan. While Neel’s species has not been identified, he is someone that fans can’t get enough of.We’ve written at length about what makes Neel so great, yet week after week, it is clear that Neel stands apart from many of the other characters on this list.
Neel is a character the audience has gotten to spend time with, and his appeal extends beyond his friendly, soft design. He feels like a relatable kid; he’s kind, and has a good heart. He cares about others, extending beyond his friends and family to complete strangers. He offers a pair of starving children his food because he knows they need it.
Neel’s strength comes from avoiding violence.While other characters might seek it out, and even the Jedi aren’t afraid of “aggressive negotiations,” Neel is truly a character who tries to avoid conflict at all costs.His simple, childlike belief that conflicts can just be solved by saying sorry is one that dares to make the viewer think, would the world be better if these were the simple rules people abided by? Neel is a pacifist king and a characterStar Warsfans hope to see more of in the future.
On August 25, 2025, Disney released the first teaser trailer forThe Force Awakens, and the internet went into immediate overdrive analyzing the 88-second trailer. In between the excitement for seeing the Millennium Falcon in action and the debate regarding Kylo Ren’s crossguard lightsaber, fans immediately took a liking to a little orange and white droid that seemingly had an astromech’s head on top of a round body that rolled. This was the first look atBB-8, and people have loved him ever since.
BB-8 was so popular he became one of themost in-demand items for the 2015 holiday season. Worth remembering is thatThe Force Awakensopened one week before Christmas. 2015Star Warswas the number one merchandise property, with toys generating nearly $700 million. It helped boost overall U.S. toy sales to $19.4 billion, up 6.7% from the previous year. Most of these sales were likely helped by BB-8 toys, t-shirts, purses, and so much more. It didn’t seem like Disney could ever top themselves in terms of audiences going nuts over aStar Warscharacter, but this wasn’t the end of the story.
Who else did you think it was going to be? Originally known as “The Child” before his name was revealed a whole year later,Groguis undoubtedly the character modern audiences think of when they imagine cuteStar Warscharacters.For over a year, fans called him Baby Yodadue to his resemblance to the famed Jedi master.
Any time an episode ofThe Mandalorianairs, social media floods with people gushing over just how cute Grogu is, from his walk to his little gurgles and his love of treats. With big eyes and bigger ears in a robe that is clearly too big for him, Grogu has become a cultural phenomenon outside of justStar Warsfans. Show his picture to anyone, and even if they have never seenThe Mandalorian, they likely know Grogu, or at least know him as Baby Yoda.
Disney wanted to keep Grogu’s reveal a secret beforeThe Mandalorianpremiered in November 2019, so no merchandise was made for the character. Disney left millions on the table that first year, as fans quickly started making their own merchandise based on the little green alien in time for the holiday season. Disney was ready by 2020, and Grogu was everywhere.
When it comes toStar Warsmerchandise, Grogu is likely as represented as any character from the original series.To an entire generation of fans, Grogu is who they think of when they think ofStar Wars.No wonder the franchise’s first cinematic outing sinceThe Rise of Skywalkerwill put the most adorableStar Warscharacter front and center asThe Mandalorian & Groguhits theaters in May 2026. When Grogu makes his grand cinematic debut, expect a combination of cheers and audible awws from audiences on opening weekend.
