The visual identity of the Galactic Rebellion in Star Wars has evolved over decades, and the recent Disney+ series Andor is no exception. A new companion book, The Art of Andor, reveals that the show's distinctive 'proto' rebel symbol took inspiration from an unexpected source within the Star Wars universe: the animated series Star Wars Rebels.
Barry "Baz" Gingell, the lead graphic designer for Andor, sought to create a symbol that represented the early, less unified days of the Rebellion. He aimed for a design that predated the iconic Rebel Alliance starbird seen in the original trilogy, envisioning something sharper and more dangerous.
"I wanted to create a 'proto' rebel symbol, a pre-evolution of the symbol that we know [but] sharper and more dangerous looking," Gingell explained in the book. "I found it difficult to ignore the bird notion set up in Star Wars Rebels with Sabine's phoenix."
Sabine Wren, a Mandalorian warrior and artist from Star Wars Rebels, created a distinctive symbol known as the Starbird. This emblem, often depicted as a phoenix rising from flames, served as her personal trademark and a mark of rebellion for her Ghost crew. While it was eventually adopted by the wider Rebel Alliance, its origins were more personal.
Gingell noted the visual similarities between Sabine's Starbird and the symbol developed for Andor, though he intended a different interpretation. "I saw this symbol as more of a dangerous talon than a swooping bird," he stated. "It's a weapon."
This connection highlights how different eras and projects within the vast Star Wars franchise can influence one another. The evolution of the Rebel symbol across various media reflects the changing nature of the Rebellion itself as it grew from scattered resistance cells into a unified force against the Galactic Empire.