Since the
Neimoidians were distant genetic relatives of an other Star Wars species, the Duros, they retained many similarities to them, including basic form, noseless and earless face characteristics, and green-blue skin (though Neimoidians tended to be grayer). We can see some mixture of these colors often on their hairless skin, however. They have large eyes, in which the pupils split the eye horizontally, and they were distinguished by small lumps on their foreheads and down-turned mouths. Their sense of smell came from glands under their eyes. These genetic differences were attributed to the distinct features of their homeworld, Neimoidia, including its gravity, which was heavier than Duro. Additionally, the planet's star was dimmer, and the planet itself was humid and widely shrouded by fog and mist.
Neimoidians (as the name tells) were native to the planet of Neimoidia and also lived on colony worlds in the same sector like Cato Neimoidia, Deko Neimoidia, and Koru Neimoidia. They had a reputation for greed, lazy, and corrupt. Neimoidians placed tremendous value on wealth; the richer went to great lengths to gain money and power. However, they were very easily intimidated, and hated combat and open confrontation, so they were told coward, too.
Famous Neimoidian was captain
Mar Tuuk from the Clone Wars cartoon, who was a military mastermind, almost won a large space battle after seriously damaging some of Anakin Skywalker's ships, but despite of studying Anakin's files, he never would have thought the Jedi would navigate his hardly working Republic cruiser into the CIS flagship like a torpedo. Also, famous Neimoidians were
Nute Gunray, Lott Dod, and Rune Haako. They were famous for running the Trade Federation, a massive corporate entity in the movies. They were first high ranking members of the Trade Federation and later they were joined by other
separatist planets and organizations, founding the Confederacy of Independent Systems, a separatist movement which waged war on the Republic until the end of the Clone
Wars. In the Clone Wars Season 3 Lott Dodd will have more role, and will be able to show his diplomatic skill and arguments.
Neimoidian skin often took on a different color if the being was too nervous, or scared, (nauseated Neimoidians' skin turned pink) and often took an almost painful crooked back stance because of great stress. A Neimoidian's lung pods would expand and contract convulsively under great stress, leading to an old saying characterizing Neimoidians as the only sentient species with an entire organ devoted to worrying.
It is well-known that Neimoidians were notorious disease carriers. According to a joke, "the principal export of the Neimoidian home planet is Brainworm Rot Type C". At several times in the past, their cargo transport ships took the virus all over the world infesting everywhere, so Neimoidia had been quarantined and forbidden to travelers many times.
Neimoidians were raised as grubs in communal hives on Neimoidia until the age of seven standard years. They were given limited amounts of food. This method weeded out the weaker individuals and allowed the stronger Neimoidians to survive. This conception taught the young Neimoidians early in their life to be cruel, and to take what they need from the others. Maybe that is the reason why the average neimoidian was supposed to be greed, hang-dog, eager, avid. The most successful (so the most greedy, hang-dog, eager, and avid) Neimoidians could get higher,
they were taught to be skilled, went off-world where they were trained for
occupations within corporations like the
Trade
Federation, got into the
world of business, and
some of them got into the
important positions, delegated
into the senate, into the power, while the weaker and less capable Neimoidians remained on Neimoidia and the purse-worlds, and became clerks, officials, or were employed by a larger Neimoidian as a dignitary, advisor, or as the worst alternative they could still be a boot licker of them.
Neimoidians were also very conscious of rank which gave them better status in their culture. Some representative clothing could help a lot, too. Elaborate clothing asserted the wearer's wealth and social position in Neimoidian society. Even hats, cloaks, and drapes, as well as colors and texture, all had certain symbolic meanings. By the way, hats.
It was said that no one ever saw a Neimoidian without their hat, unless they were dead. But that is not true! We could see some Neimoidians in the movies without any hat, their large bold head immediately attracted my attention, that is why I made a custom Neimoidian clerk figure for me.
This guy in white cloak was standing in the background, when Padme Amidala and her group launched a counter attack against Theed. Nute Gunray and his men were shocked, they thought the fight would be on the field outskirts of the city, and was scared, since the battle could cause them unexpected effect, losses and injuries. In the background 3 Neimoidian dignitaries was talking something, if we knew Pak-pak language, we maybe would have heard the following sentences. What shall we do now, where to run, oh my...
Since the white Neimoidian is in the background and there is no official reference photo on him, it was a good chance to customize freely. So I painted his skin green, like a klaatu, and his eyes got red. The other areas were strictly by the movie character, so his cloak was painted white, and his hat was removed. I really like the separatist army, included their vehicles and droids, so I felt like I have to get some Neimoidians on that shelf, too. So beside the 3 available Neimoidians from the shops I decided to handmake this white cloaked clerk, official, or a boot licker, whatever, I don't know his status, but anyway, he was a cool character in the movie, and he looks cool on the shelf, too.
Please take look at my Custom Neimoidian officer figure!
Custom Neimoidian dignitary figure front
Custom Neimoidian official figure
Custom Neimoidian advisor's face close up
Thanks for your attention. CustomStarWars hopes to see you back!
written by: Norbert Rostas
2011.01.03. the figure was made many years before.
