The Dark Side and the Light – An Awe-Inspiring Star Wars Character Connection Map

The Star Wars universe is an ever-evolving masterpiece of imagination and storytelling. One of the most celebrated and captivating facets of the Star Wars universe is the eclectic cast of characters woven into sprawling history. From swashbuckling smugglers and shrewd princesses to fearsome Sith lords and gritty bounty hunters, there are countless unforgettable characters that transcend fiction and win our hearts. Data artist Dr. Kirell Benzi has created this hypnotic visualization that is more than meets the eye. It captures the connections between different characters in the Star Wars universe – 20,000 of them, in fact! The more you look at it, the more connections and correlations emerge.

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Each character is represented by a single node, which are connected by color-colored lines (or edges) to represent an association between the characters. The shades of blue represent the Jedi, the Republic, and the light side of the Force. The darker shades of red represent the Empire and Sith. The yellow nodes expose bounty hunters and other criminals. For example, when a bounty hunter and a Jedi interact, the line appears more green. When a Sith lord and a criminal interact, the line appears more orange. The designer states: “If you pay attention to the center of the picture, you can see the two most influential characters of the whole galaxy: Anakin Skywalker and Emperor Palpatine.” All together, it crystallizes the conflict that rages across the galaxy in a stunning and ethereal way. There truly are infinite ways for data to be beautiful. May the Force be with you!