Confused by the silver droid with Ahsoka Tano? This is Huyang, a droid that has served the Jedi Order for millennia. From centuries of helping Padawn construct lightsabers to his time working with Ahsoka Tano, here is everything you need to know about the droid Huyang from the Disney+ series Ahsoka.
Spoiler Warning: This article includes spoilers for both Ahsoka and The Clone Wars. Avoid spoilers by skipping ahead to the spoiler-free essential Huyang watchlist.
Who Is Huyang in Star Wars?
Huyang is a Mark IV architect droid professor who worked with the Jedi Order. Built approximately 25,020 BBY, Huyang served as a lightsaber architect for more than a thousand generations.
His primary role was teaching younglings to build lightsabers aboard the Jedi vessel Crucible. Notable students include Yoda, Bell Zettifar, Mace Windu, and Ahsoka Tano.
Huyang took Jedi younglings to Ilum to locate their kyber crystal. After finding the crystal that called out through the Force to them, he assisted each youngling in creating their first lightsaber.
As a Padawan, Ashoka Tano joined Huyang on one such adventure in 20 BBY. After the younglings located their kyber crystals, Hondo Ohnaka’s pirate gang boarded the Crucible in an attempt to steal the valuable crystals.
Huyang safeguarded the crystals, while Ahsoka Tano fended off Hondo’s pirates with the help of the younglings. However, Hondo captures Ahsoka and damages Huyang. After fixing Huyang, the younglings track Hondo to his base on Florrum.
After a daring rescue, General Grievous and a Separatist Droid Army arrive to occupy the planet. Hondo and the younglings are forced to work together to escape Florrum
Little is known about how Huyang escaped Order 66. While not a Jedi, his role as the lightsaber professor seemed strategic enough that Palpatine would want him destroyed.
Huyang then joined Ahsoka Tano aboard the T-6 shuttle One-Nine-Seven-Four sometime after the end of the Clone Wars in 19 BBY. He was seemingly a part of the crew by the time Ahsoka took Sabine Wren as a Padawan, around the time of the liberation of Lothal in 0 BBY.
In 9 ABY, Huyang assisted Ahsoka, Sabine, and Hera Syndulla in finding Ezra Bridger and Grand Admiral Thrawn.
Does Ahsoka Own Huyang?
It’s not clear in the series, but it seems unlikely that Ahsoka owns Huyang. The droid has existed as part of the Jedi Order for millennia, so Ahsoka suddenly owning him doesn’t seem right.
Instead, it seems more likely that Huyang is a free droid that has chosen to work with Ahsoka. This is similar to how L3-37 chose to work as Lando Calrissian’s co-pilot in Solo.
It is also possible that Ahsoka rescued Huyang at some point, with the droid holding a sort of life-debt to her. If that were the case, it would be more like Han Solo and Chewbacca’s relationship.
Ultimately, this is all conjecture. Future episodes of the series or even other Star Wars stories might shed more light on Huyang between The Clone Wars and Ahsoka.
Who Is the Droid Huyang in Real Life?
Huyang was first introduced in the Season Five episode of The Clone Wars “A Test of Strength”, appearing in a three-episode arc in 2012. The droid later appeared in Ahsoka in 2023. David Tennant voices the character in both The Clone Wars and Ahsoka.
The Jedi droid appears in a flashback during the comic short story “The Weapon” from the 2019 canon comic Star Wars: Age of Republic Special 1, an anthology series set before the Clone Wars. It depicts Huyang helping Mace Windu make his lightsaber.
Huyang is briefly mentioned in the novels Brotherhood (2023), The High Republic: The Rising Storm (2021), and Ahsoka (2016). The character also appears in the short story “Almost a Jedi”, part of the 2020 anthology The Clone Wars: Stories of Light and Dark. The story is a retelling of part of 2012 The Clone Wars arc.
In Brotherhood, a group of Jedi Initiates discuss Huyang’s origins, with one saying, “Professor Huyang was so old that the ancient droid supposedly arrived at the Jedi Temple in a big blue box thousands of years ago.”
This is a direct reference to Doctor Who. David Tennant played the Tenth Doctor from 2005 to 2010, later reprising that role in 2013. Tennant returned to Doctor Who in 2022 as the Fourteen Doctor.
An ancient being and Time Lord, the doctor travels in a time machine that looks like a blue 1960’s London Metropolitan Police box.
Huyang in the Ahsoka TV Series
Huyang appears as a supporting character in the 2023 Ahsoka series on Disney+. Rosario Dawson stars as Ahsoka, with Natasha Liu Bordizzo as Sabine Wren, Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Hera Syndullah, and Eman Esfandi as Ezra Bridger.
Other cast members include Ray Stevenson as Baylan Skoll, Diana Lee Inosanto as Morgan Elsbethand, Ivanna Sakhno as Shin Hati, and Lars Mikkelsen as Grand Admiral Thrawn.
Actor David Tennant reprises his role as Hyang, which he originated in the animated series The Clone Wars. Clancy Brown reprises his role as Ryder Azadi from Star Wars: Rebels in at least one episode.
The eight-episode series was created by Dave Filoni and executive produced by Filoni, Jon Favreau, and Carrie Beck. Favreau created The Mandalorian in 2019. Often called the Mandoverse by news outlets, the Disney+ series of The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, and Ahosoka exist in the larger Star Wars Universe at approximately the same time.
While Obi-Wan Kenobi and Andor are also canon, they take place at different points within the Star Wars timeline. Still, they are part of the overall Star Wars canon timeline.
Essential Star Wars Content To Learn About Huyang
Strictly speaking, you can watch Ahsoka without knowing anything else about Huyang.
However, you will need to watch three episodes of The Clone Wars if you want to understand the history between Ahsoka and Huyang.
Additionally, the Mike Chen novel Brotherhood and the comic short story “The Weapon” by Ethan Sacks offers more information about Huyang’s history.
The Clone Wars series is available through Disney+ in the US. Brotherhood and Star Wars: Age of Republic Special 1 are available for purchase through a variety of bookstores and retailers.
However, many libraries also lend books and comics for free. You can even use apps like Libby for books and Hoopla for books, audiobooks, comics, and more to check out library content for free. If you do not have a library card, you can sign up for free in person. Some libraries even let you sign up directly from their website. Check your local or regional library for more details.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars — Young Jedi arc (TV episodes)
This three-episode arc from Season Five of The Clone Wars establishes Huyang’s character. Together with Ahsoka Tano, Huyang takes a group of younglings to Ilum to select their kyber crystal in “The Gathering.” With Ashoka captured by Hondo Ohnaka’s pirate gang, the younglings mount a daring rescue in “Bound for Rescue.” In “A Necessary Bond,” the Jedi and Hondo’s pirates have to work together to escape General Grievous and the Separatist Army.
“The Weapon” in Star Wars: Age of Republic Special 1 (Comic Short Story)
Written by Ethan Sacks with penciler Paolo Villanelli, letterer Travis Lanham, and colorist Erick Arciniega, “The Weapon” comic short story includes a flashback where Huyang teaches Mace Windu to make a lightsaber. Surprisingly, Mace fails at his first attempt at making a lightsaber. He says, “I’m never going to be able to build my lightsaber.” After a moment, Huyang responds with, “Patience, young Mace. The secret is that the pieces never needed to be built.” The interaction showcases Huyang’s experience and patience, as well as an unexpected moment of weakness of desperation for Mace.
Star Wars: Brotherhood (Novel)
Although only mentioned, the 2023 novel Brotherhood by Mike Chen offers some background about Huyang. It’s a great tie-in for geeks who also love Doctor Who. Although only mentioned briefly, it makes a direct connection to Huyang’s voice actor David Tennant’s role as the Tenth Doctor.
Spoiler-Free List of Essential Content About Ahsoka’s Droid Companion Huyang
Here is the spoiler-free list of essential Star Wars content about the Jedi droid Huyang that appears in Ahsoka. The materials are listed in chronological order within the Star Wars universe.
- “The Weapon” — Star Wars: Age of Republic Special 1 (Comic Short Story)
- Star Wars: Brotherhood (Novel)
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars — Season 5, Episode 7 “A Test of Strength” (TV Episode)
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars — Season 5, Episode 8 “Bound for Rescue” (TV Episode)
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars — “Season 5, Episode 9 “A Necessary Bond” (TV Episode)
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