Star Wars Art: Ralph McQuarrie - scene and painting comparisons

Star Wars Art: Ralph McQuarrie is a tribute to the legendary concept artist who helped shape the visual identity of the Star Wars universe. McQuarrie's art was essential in translating George Lucas’s vision into stunning and iconic imagery, influencing the look and feel of Star Wars for generations.
In this video, we compare scenes from the Star Wars films with McQuarrie's original paintings, showcasing how his artwork laid the foundation for the iconic visuals we know today. This comparison highlights the evolution of his designs from concept to the final film, honoring his immense contribution to the Star Wars legacy.

[@hanniffydinn6019]

Pure genius Ralph is who created the Star Wars visual universe.

[@sexobscura]

McQuarrie had what's basically essentially necessary for any artist: an imagination

[@andreiyesipenko6634]

Yeah, popcorn sellers should praise him and Lucas, no doubt!

[@matthewstringer5675]

I love how close they made the films to Ralph's original paintings

[@SceneComparisons]

even the new ones and the cartoons they are always looking for unused ralph mcquarrie paintings and sketchs

[@matthewstringer5675]

Dimitri Bitu I can see why the guys creative vision is incredible

[@aylix2137]

Matthew Stringer Likely one of the larger reasons they were so successful.

[@amin_taheri]

They recently used his original design of emperor's throne in ep. 9

[@chocotrueno3602]

And the spider in season 2 episode 2 of the mandalorian

[@chesterfield7089]

Ralph deserves any amount of money for creating this magnificent universe he has made for us to enjoy. Not only our life time but for our children and children's children to enjoy. God rest his soul.

[@lukas562]

brilliant artist, rest in peace, ralph

[@max_mittler]

One of the greatest visionaries in sci fi history. I just know george's original descriptions were probably amazing but he could never have predicted just how perfect and awesome Ralphs images would be.

[@andyarg.1152]

Love 80’s movies..never again these masterpieces..

[@ellecue]

I just go the comprehensive art books, Star Wars Art: Ralph McQuarrie, and this video is a nice complement. It was nice to hear the artist's voice. Thanks for making this.

[@SceneComparisons]

you welcome :)

[@swagathon6967]

Looking at Ralph’s work I feel that what truly shines through is the essence of Star Wars . The surreal futuristic landscapes looking mystical and never before seen makes this seem so much more like a galaxy far far away

[@Cityaperture]

I'm sharing this with everyone I know, I love Ralph McQuarrie's work and you did an awesome job editing this together.

[@SceneComparisons]

I love his work too! I made this with such love and care. Thanks for sharing with your friends. :)

[@darkempire37]

love this comparison , one little nitpick though , the sketch of the second death star around the 7:26 mark was by production designer Joe Johnston , all the other stuff is Mcquarrie though . amazing work .thank you for making and sharing this .

[@SceneComparisons]

oh shit, thanks for pointing out! thanks! :)

[@olivier3847]

is there any artwork of mcquarrie before star wars?

[@RebelBuilder]

Great video! It's amazing how close the movies turned out.

[@SgtZaqq]

Awesome video, thanks! And the music from KOTOR was a surprise :)

[@SceneComparisons]

yeah, I couldn't use the music from the movies so I thought to use something similar ;)

[@JafuetTheSame]

i believe he is responsible for succes of star wars more than anyone else

[@SceneComparisons]

in my opinion 1 George Lucas 2 Ralph McQuarrie 3 Dennis Muren/ Joe Johnston/ Gary Kurtz 3 Ben Burtt 4 John Williams

[@Airehcaz]

In my opinion, the film would have been a miserable failure without the amazing editors that turned Star Wars from a mess to a masterpiece. George Lucas’s rough cut was a jumbled mess of (really cool) ideas, thank goodness they good editors! The music score helped too of course ^_^

[@Grivian]

@@Airehcaz George Lucas was supervising every part of the movie. The terrible first cut wasn't done by Lucas, it was done by his first editor who Lucas fired when he didn't want to edit it in a way that Lucas wanted. The editing that his wife and the others did were based on the requests from Lucas. Any creative changes that they wanted to do had to go through Lucas. Also John Williams made an absolutely fantastic job with the music, yet he had many meetings with Lucas to go through what the vision of the music was.

[@Hal--bk3oc]

@@SceneComparisons No...how could you put Williams last, especially after the producers?

[@illusions97]

This is an absolutely beautiful video. Thank you, sir, for posting it!

[@svijj_]

Did I only noticed, that Resistance X-wings are based of what X-wings were suposed to look in the first place?

[@FKMDC]

Yes

[@cooper4590]

I like how the new trilogy’s xwings have engine intakes very similar to the original artworks, maybe a subtle tribute?

[@FKMDC]

Even the Millenium Falcon design in Solo is simillar to the original work

[@chrisval04]

Ralph/George: The great symbiosis!

[@noahlawson8405]

The concept art at 9:24 was used in the Star Wars Holiday Special for some exterior shots.

[@wabisabi3343]

0:12 Oh my god, I can't believe that I JUST realized that's C1-10P aka Chopper from rebels!

[@arturdomanski7102]

I never realized importance of Ralph McQuarrie on the look of SW.

[@emendez3809]

The Master and the Apprentice = Ralph McQuarrie and George Lucas... Thank you to both of them for giving us Star Wars.

[@zoobee]

Amazing, thank you for this great tribute to a great artist

[@solanoscrossoverproduction3930]

Catchy beat at the end

[@ellhil12]

I loved this video and learned so much about the concept art for these timeless films!!! My fave concept art was at 4:59 and 7:20. Great video!!!

[@SceneComparisons]

thanks!

[@thespacecatjenkins8539]

9:16 AND NOW YOU KNOW WHY THE SAND PEOPLE DO SIGN LANGUAGE IN THE MANDALORIAN

[@rageoftheredphoenix]

Great art work /conceptual work. I need to learn from him for my story.

[@minicle426]

The music goes well with the images.

[@Tackz777]

Ralph McQuarrie & John Williams are as much Star Wars as Lucas. Disney doesn't exist.

[@jediking12]

Nice comparisons and commentary.

[@ShotDrawnCut]

Excellent vid!

[@neil6958]

Wow - Just fantastic!

[@SceneComparisons]

thanks :)

[@FKMDC]

Star Wars Rebels is Ralph Mcquarrie's work brought to life. Just look at the designs

[@OracleTheRonin]

'They were just sketches' wow! talk about humble

[@russellkellett9535]

Worlds greatest artist

[@Vilen30]

This trailer show us that concept work shoud be finished before production is running

[@max_mittler]

Ralph, John Williams, and George Lucas are all the godfathers of sci-fi cinema in my mind

[@yegenek]

He was the real genius behind Star Wars.

[@dbenz16]

George may have created Star Wars. But Ralph brought Star Wars to life.

[@TheCombatartist]

First and foremost he was a wounded war Veteran. Thank you Ralph, slow salute. Rest.

[@Dan.50]

The OT was lightening in a bottle. All the stars lined up.

[@kuikai100]

เยี่ยมมากคับ

[@MrNeuroamante]

I loved

[@vgovger4373]

The lighting is better in the paintings.

[@smittenthekitteninmittens2679]

genius

[@mortlow6688]

5:09 I like the white Boba Fett....

[@cirtap99]

Version of the movie showing here? Looks manipulated in colors.

[@Justabadplayer12]

whos here because of the latest bad batch episode

[@jensBendig]

The paintings have a better light than the moving pictures, don't they?

[@JediKnight207]

Am I the only one who prefer the special edition over the original?

[@ReesesCupsable]

Ralph McQuarrie created the entire Star Wars Universe! One man!

[@skynet5305]

John Williams is the man and ralph mcquarrie.

[@poppetrurazvan3900]

😁

[@daveunbelievable6313]

if anything he's a co creator

[@humphrey_bear_MDC]

Who is doing great star wars art now?

[@rageoftheredphoenix]

2015 the force awakens and not 2016

[@neo7058]

I uploaded a McQuarrie tribute today, look it up if you are interested.

[@keanan1892]

9:23 "revenge of the sith" more like the christmas special

[@sandal_thong]

I didn't really understand the importance of his art, seeing them on my Topps Empire Strikes Back cards. Why do I want someone's drawings of film scenes? Not realizing they came before the movie as conceptual art. Also, this featurette is much better than the 40-minute one talking about how great he was in life.

[@Ladondorf]

I don't think Ralph worked on the prequels.

[@SceneComparisons]

yeah, but a lot of his previous work was used in the prequels. also force awakens, star wars clone wars, rebels and rogue one ;)

[@Ladondorf]

I knew they recycled his stuff for TFA but I had no idea about the prequels.

[@SceneComparisons]

They recycled a lot of little drawings too but I chose to put only the paintings. ;)

[@francisco4benites]

why did lucas mostly just flip the pics like it kinda sucks cuz the shots he drew are better angles and so when they are flipped they look off to the pictures before

[@MrJohnnysynth]

In no way does it diminish the awesomeness of Ralph's work but the Empire and Jedi paintings were produced AFTER those respective films. That's why the "New Hope" paintings look primitive compared to their movie counterparts and the others so closely match.

[@SceneComparisons]

+Johnny synth Actually, he started doing some paintings for the first draft of the Return of the Jedi script and was fired later. That's why we have the Jakku and Coruscant paintings. Some of these early paintings do not appear in this video since they aren't in any movie. Like this one: recklessishe.tumblr.com/post/106726257784/rotj-habitation-spheres-two-death-stars But yes, he did some paintings for books later and maybe I got some them wrong and put it in the video, but is due the lack of information. I was trying to avoid post movies painting, sketchs and matte pantings, but I probably missed some. ;)

[@MrJohnnysynth]

+Dimitri Bitu At least for JEDI, this caption tells the truth. thestarwarstrilogy.com/starwars/Magazines/starlog/75/075-035-035.jpg

[@SceneComparisons]

+Johnny synth oh yeah, I got some of them wrong :/ can you send me the link for the whole magazine? I want to check the others paintings that missed

[@MrJohnnysynth]

Dimitri Bitu thestarwarstrilogy.com/starwars/post/2013/05/21/Ralph-McQuarrie

[@SceneComparisons]

Johnny synth thanks a lot bro! the website I send you earlier is very cool, check it out later ;)

[@CondeCalifornia]

mmm wait a minute.. mcquarrie did not work in the prequel... let alone episode 7 (he died in 2012) so.... there but nice video nonetheless

[@SceneComparisons]

but the artists used some of his unused paintings as direct inspirations to some designs clone wars, rebels and rogue one also have some ralph mcquarrie designs ;)

[@CondeCalifornia]

that is not my understanding.. actually lucas tried to hire him for the prequel and he responded that he didnt feel he had eny more contribution in him.. some designer guy from ILM did it instead... I know that some unused work was uses in the animated series, but no the prequel... anyway, good job!

[@SceneComparisons]

If you watch the making of the prequels you will watch Doug Chiang talking about using unused Ralph McQuarrie's paintings. You will also see in this docs kzbin.info/www/bejne/fp3Gm4enrd-Ke80 Or you can see in this very video where winged creatures in episode 2 came straight from unsused Cloud City art. Or you can look this site and see some unused drawings that made in the prequels and the new movies. I chose to put only paintings in the video but he did so much more. recklessishe.tumblr.com/ ;)

[@CondeCalifornia]

ok thanks!

[@trillioncrowns]

Wow wow and i thought George Lucas created star wars

[@conorhansen7060]

He did Ralph just painted the concept art

[@Cinestudi0]

This dude got stolen of a couple of billions

[@mranere]

So Lucas just copied this guys art, literally, and took all the credit?

[@SceneComparisons]

+Mykl R he hired him, pay him and had his name in the credits

[@mranere]

Oh, cook then.