Vulptex (plural: Vulptices) is a crystalline alien fox found on Crait. It appeared in the 2017 film Star Wars: The Last Jedi.
Background
The fox-like vulptex is specifically adapted to its environment by feeding off Crait's mineral surface. This diet has caused the creature's fur to become crystalline like the planet itself.[1] Due to this, its fur can reflect light, producing a bright glow. The vulptex's eyes can also glow in the dark. Vulptices normally run across the salt flats and burrow deep within the planet's crevasses. They inhabit the former hideouts of the Rebel Alliance once stationed on Crait, but they are friendly towards visitors.
Role in the film
Following a narrow escape from the First Order, the remaining Resistance fighters escape to Crait to regroup. Several vulptices are found in the rebel outpost, but they tolerate the presence of the Resistance. While enclosed inside the base during a First Order attack, the vulptices disappear into the caverns. As Finn follows one vulptex, the Resistance discovers the vulptices were using an escape route fit for their size. On the other side of the cave, the vulptices witness Rey's arrival. Their presence alerts Rey that her friends were inside, so she removes the rocks blocking the exit with the Force and gets the Resistance out in time.
Disney Parks
The vulptex appears in the Crait expansion on Star Tours: The Adventures Continue. In the simulation, the passengers fly pass a skulk of vulptices on Crait.
Trivia
- The name "Vulptex" is a portmanteau of vulpes, the Latin word for "fox," and vertex (plural: vertices), the angular point of a polyhedral crystal.[3]
- Like regular foxes, a group of vulptices is called a skulk.
- The vulptex was accomplished by constructing an animatronic version to interact with the actors, and from there the puppet was digitally scanned to construct separate static models.[1]
- When making the puppet, the crew dressed a volunteer dog in a suit covered in drinking straws and watched how it moved. This helped the designers figure how the vulptex would move with its long crystals.[1]
Gallery
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Breznican, Anthony (November 20, 2017). "Luminous Beings: How Star Wars: The Last Jedi’s crystal foxes came to life". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved on November 20, 2017.
- ↑ Napper, Tim (November 20, 2018). "Concept Designer Tim Napper". Retrieved on November 20, 2018.
- ↑ Hidalgo, Pablo (November 20, 2017). "Latin for fox + angular point of a crystalline polyhedron = Star Wars name." (Tweet). Twitter. Retrieved on November 20, 2017.
External links
Vulptex on Wookieepedia: The Star Wars Wiki
Vulptex on StarWars.com (backup link on Archive.org)
