You've seen him. The blue, trunked, adorable little guy from Star Wars: Skeleton Crew who looks like he should be playing a keyboard in Jabba’s palace. The second the first trailer dropped, the internet collectively screamed, "It's a baby Max Rebo!"
But it wasn't. Honestly, it’s kinda funny how quickly we all jumped to conclusions.
Neel, the heart and soul of the Skeleton Crew kid gang, isn't an Ortolan. He’s something else entirely. If you’ve been scouring Wookieepedia or arguing on Reddit about why he has four limbs when Max Rebo supposedly only had two (depending on which "behind the scenes" puppet drama you believe), you aren't alone. This little blue guy sparked a massive debate before the show even premiered.
The Identity Crisis: What Species is Neel?
Let’s set the record straight: Neel is a Myykian. For months, everyone—including some of the biggest Star Wars news sites—tagged him as an Ortolan. It made sense. He’s blue. He has a trunk. He has floppy ears. He basically looks like an elephant that shrunk in the wash. But showrunners Jon Watts and Christopher Ford eventually pulled the rug out from under us.
In an interview with TV Line, they basically admitted they knew exactly what they were doing. They drove their "creative car" right into the controversy. Their logic? It’s a big galaxy. If there can be a hundred different species that look like humans with slightly different foreheads, why can't there be more than one species with trunks and blue skin?
Why the Myykian Reveal Matters
- Limbs: Ortolans (like Max Rebo) are technically supposed to have just two limbs that function as both arms and legs. Neel clearly has four.
- Homeworld: Neel hails from At Attin, a planet that was hidden away for ages.
- Cultural Context: Myykians seem to have a much more suburban, "normal" family life compared to what we know of the music-loving Ortolans.
Robert Timothy Smith, the young actor who voices and performs Neel, brings a vulnerability to the role that makes the species distinction almost secondary to his personality. He’s not a background alien. He’s a kid who just wants to go home to his parents, Nooma and Nol.
Life on At Attin: A Star Wars Suburbia
One of the weirdest things about Neel's introduction is the planet At Attin. If you watched the first episode and thought, "Wait, is this just a 1980s American suburb?" you were right on the money.
At Attin is a "Jewel of the Old Republic." It’s isolated. It’s safe. It’s incredibly boring if you're a kid with a sense of adventure like Wim or Fern. Neel, though? Neel was perfectly happy there. He wasn't some rebellious teen looking for a way out. He was just a guy trying to pass his aptitude tests so he could contribute to the "Great Work."
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This "Great Work" thing is a deep-cut reference to the High Republic era. It’s a nice nod for the book readers, but for Neel, it just meant a stable future. Then he followed Wim into a hole in the ground, and suddenly, he’s dodging pirates in the Greater Pozitree.
The Character of Neel: More Than Just a Cute Alien
It’s easy to write Neel off as the "Grogu" of the show—the marketable plushie-to-be. But he’s actually the emotional anchor of the group.
In Episode 4, when the kids meet Hayna on the war-torn planet of At Achrann, we see the real Neel. Hayna is a hardened survivor who thinks kindness is a weakness. Neel disagrees. He doesn't try to be a Jedi. He doesn't try to be a tough guy. He just offers her a glimpse of what a peaceful life looks like.
He’s sweet. He’s kind. He says exactly what’s on his mind, even when it’s not particularly "cool."
"Neel’s simplicity is his best trait... he represents love and kindness. These are the ideas that keep the world going."
That’s a big burden for a small blue kid to carry, but he does it better than the adults in the room.
The Practical Magic Behind the Character
If Neel looks "real" to you, it’s because he mostly is. In an era where everything is often smeared with CGI, the Skeleton Crew team went old school.
Robert Timothy Smith provided the voice and the performance, but on set, there was a physical presence. Performance artist Kacie Borrowman wore an incredibly complex animatronic head to bring Neel to life. This allowed the other child actors—Ravi Cabot-Conyers, Ryan Kiera Armstrong, and Kyriana Kratter—to actually interact with him.
You can feel that chemistry. When Neel is scared, the ears twitch. When he’s happy, his trunk moves in a way that feels organic. It’s a testament to the legacy of Jim Henson and the creature shops that made the original trilogy so special.
Neel vs. The Pirate Empire
Watching Neel navigate the dark underbelly of the galaxy is a trip. One minute he's worried about a school test, the next he's being hunted by a Gran pirate named Pax or dealing with the terrifying Captain Brutus.
His relationship with Jod Na Nawood (Jude Law) is particularly interesting. While the other kids are obsessed with whether Jod is a "real" Jedi, Neel is often the one looking for the human (or alien) connection. He’s the moral compass that keeps the group from spiraling when things get dark.
Addressing the "Elephant" in the Room: The Species Confusion
If you still find yourself calling him an Ortolan, don't feel bad. Even some of the official merchandise and early leaks used the term. It’s a "Mandela Effect" moment for the Star Wars fandom.
The showrunners likely chose to make him a Myykian specifically to avoid being boxed in by 40 years of Ortolan lore. By creating a new species, they gave themselves the freedom to let Neel have a family, a specific anatomy, and a culture that didn't have to revolve around "jizz music" (the actual name for Max Rebo's genre—Star Wars is weird, y'all).
What We Learned from Neel’s Journey
By the time the first season wraps up, Neel has evolved. He’s still the kid who loves his family, but he’s seen the galaxy. He knows that "At Attin" isn't the only world out there, and he knows that kindness is a choice you have to make every day, especially when things are falling apart.
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He’s a reminder that you don’t need a lightsaber or a high midi-chlorian count to be important. Sometimes, just being the friend who stays by your side when you’re lost in the vacuum of space is enough.
Actionable Takeaways for Star Wars Fans
If you're looking to dive deeper into Neel’s world or want to settle those dinner-table debates, here is how you can stay ahead of the lore:
- Watch for the Limb Count: Whenever you see a blue, trunked alien, count the limbs. Two? Ortolan. Four? Likely a Myykian or another relative species.
- Explore the High Republic: If you want to understand what the "Great Work" Neel’s teacher mentioned actually is, check out the High Republic novels. It adds a layer of dread to the seemingly "perfect" world of At Attin.
- Follow the Voice Talent: Keep an eye on Robert Timothy Smith. His performance as Neel has been widely praised, and he's a rising star to watch in future Lucasfilm projects.
- Support Practical FX: If you liked Neel’s look, look up the work of the animatronic teams on Skeleton Crew. Supporting shows that use practical effects ensures we get more "tangible" characters like him in the future.
Neel might not be the "New Max Rebo," but he's something much better: a new perspective on what it means to be a hero in a galaxy far, far away.