Comments on: Wookie Roar

Question: Wookie Roar

brownpau — Wed, 18 May 2005 10:42:10 -0800

How do I do a wookie roar with only my voice?

By: TonyRobots

TonyRobots — Wed, 18 May 2005 10:55:10 -0800

Is this like some kind of Koan?

By: Dr. Wu

Dr. Wu — Wed, 18 May 2005 10:56:30 -0800

From this page, which is an article about Star Wars sound designer Ben Burtt:

Chewie was actually a baby brown bear called "Pooh" whom, Burtt jokes, they didn't feed for a few days, then teased with bread soaked in milk. That sound was then overlaid with dogs and a stranded walrus.

So, first, get a baby brown bear, deny it sustenance for a while, and learn to imitate the frustrated growlings that result when you tease it with snacks.

Then, pay close attention to your dog's vocalizations.

Next, strand a walrus, and listen carefully. I'm sure we would all be very interested to hear your success in this endeavor. I stranded a walrus once, and, boy, do I have some stories!

Finally, read this book (in all seriousness, it's a great resource for this kind of thing). Lots of great tips on growls and animal noises.

By: sciurus

sciurus — Wed, 18 May 2005 11:04:38 -0800

Trill your tongue on the roof of your mouth, open and constrict your throat while shoving your fists into the air. At first you'll sound like one of the Sand People, but you'll get the hang of it with practice.

By: freudianslipper

freudianslipper — Wed, 18 May 2005 11:09:09 -0800

gargle without any liquid in your mouth

By: sourwookie

sourwookie — Wed, 18 May 2005 11:10:58 -0800

This is one of my favorite questions ever.

By: sourwookie

sourwookie — Wed, 18 May 2005 11:11:57 -0800

Wow. I just noticed my user name. However, I can't help you.

By: poppo

poppo — Wed, 18 May 2005 11:12:41 -0800

wow, freudianslipper that was really well-put. have you answered that question before?

By: Specklet

Specklet — Wed, 18 May 2005 11:15:40 -0800

So how do we write the wookie roar?

Glglglglaaachghhhh?

By: freudianslipper

freudianslipper — Wed, 18 May 2005 11:16:38 -0800

haha no but i'm infamous around my friends for performing chewie.

also, the flirtatious *growl* can be done in much the same way.

By: headspace

headspace — Wed, 18 May 2005 11:25:28 -0800

Harland Williams can do Chewie- rent one of his stand ups (or if hard pressed, "Sorority Boys,") and watch his throat to see how he does it. I'm guessing the "gargle with nothing in your mouth" method freudianslipper suggested is right on the money.

By: ObscureReferenceMan

ObscureReferenceMan — Wed, 18 May 2005 11:33:54 -0800

Wow! A question I can actually contribute to. I don't know whether to be proud or depressed...

What freudianslipper said. And, as you do that, try to make various vowel sounds (er, ah, ooh). Also, cup your hands around your mouth for a good muted effect. My friend and I do this at work to identify our locations - we're weird, what can I say.

And I also second what Dr. Wu said - Fred Newman does a good job explaining a topic that is difficult to explain.

By: Gamblor

Gamblor — Wed, 18 May 2005 12:14:39 -0800

I'm embarrassed to admit this, but...

It's easier if you start like you're about to let out a big, loud yawn, and then like freudianslipper said, go into a dry gargle.

Wow, that's the strangest sentence I've written in a long time.

By: defcom1

defcom1 — Wed, 18 May 2005 12:40:44 -0800

*whew* wipes eyes and monitor.

Thanks guys, just spit water all over from laughing.

By: schyler523

schyler523 — Wed, 18 May 2005 12:43:30 -0800

Some sort of mix between yawning/dry gargle/Rocky yelling Adrian...

Yeah, that should do it...

Yeaargghhruhguhooo!

By: Gamblor

Gamblor — Wed, 18 May 2005 12:54:31 -0800

Dammit, I'm sitting here at my desk now with this overwhelming urge to just stand up and let one of those Wookie battle-cries rip at full volume over the top of my cubicle. But I have a feeling that might sour things with my new employer.

By: Cranberry

Cranberry — Wed, 18 May 2005 12:54:54 -0800

My friend and I do this at work to identify our locations - we're weird, what can I say.

Any one else curious about where ObscureReferenceMan and his friend work? My imagination supplies a large room divided into cubicles like an egg crate. A man stands up, he dry gargles, another man stands and replies. What do all the other workers do? Applaud? Head for hyperspace?

By: ObscureReferenceMan

ObscureReferenceMan — Wed, 18 May 2005 13:15:37 -0800

Yup - cube farm. And our "mode C interrogation" does cause some prairie-dogging...

By: Mid

Mid — Wed, 18 May 2005 13:41:37 -0800

And our "mode C interrogation" does cause some prairie-dogging...

That has to be the dorkiest thing I have ever ever read here. Awsome!

By: sourwookie

sourwookie — Wed, 18 May 2005 14:04:18 -0800

By: id

id — Wed, 18 May 2005 14:55:51 -0800

Yep, do this all the time.
Yep, do it like a dry gargle.
Yep, work at a cube farm.
Yep.... I'm a dork.

But damn, there's nothin' finer than a loud belting wookie call at 5:30pm when everyone else has left.

By: DakotaPaul

DakotaPaul — Wed, 18 May 2005 16:09:01 -0800

Geez you guys, it's Wookiee.

*sigh* I would expected more from MeFites. :-)

By: deborah

deborah — Wed, 18 May 2005 18:08:00 -0800

DakotaPaul beat me to it.

*grumble-damn nerf herders-grumble*

By: kindall

kindall — Wed, 18 May 2005 19:34:21 -0800

It's too bad you didn't word the question as "How do I make a Wookiee roar with only my voice?" Because then the answer would be: say "Out of my way, you walking carpet."

By: brownpau

brownpau — Wed, 18 May 2005 20:18:47 -0800

Well, all I can seem to make with the above methods is hissy retchy noises which sound more like Yoda being sodomized. But to the consternation of my neighbors, I will persevere in my endeavors.

kindall - I got as far as Preview and had my pointer over the "Post" button with "How do I make a Wookie roar?" before I realized the double meaning of that.

By: brownpau

brownpau — Wed, 18 May 2005 23:45:32 -0800

Got it. A tiny amount of spit is needed, and it does work better when you tilt your head back and show fists into the air. Thanks, Ask Metafilter!

By: brownpau

brownpau — Wed, 18 May 2005 23:48:11 -0800

s/show/shove ^^