Here’s another great little figure (following on the heels of yesterday’s Ugnaught review).  Utai were one of the two species native to the planet Utapau.  They handled the menial tasks on the planet, but seemed content to do so.  They had a respectful relationship with their planetary brethren, the tall and majestic Pau’ans, who ran things on Utapau by using their weird teeth.  The Utai could be seen hurrying around the landing platform when Obi-Wan Kenobi visited the planet seeking information about the whereabouts of General Grievous.  While he conferred with Obi-Wan, the Pau’an Port Administrator, Tion Meddon, signaled for a group of Utai to refuel and do a maintenance check on the Jedi Starfighter.  Utai can also be seen in the background during the same scene wrangling varactyls.

This figure was originally meant to be the first carded release of an Utai, followed by a running change of what is simply known within collector circles as “the tall Utai.”  It seems that both figures were briefly on display at SDCC ‘09, but the running change figure was removed shortly thereafter, never to be seen again. 

This image was found in the Rebelscum forums

While we may live hollow lives without the tall Utai, we at least have this one to add to our collections.  For those of you who are huge fans of the Tion Meddon scene, adding this Utai to your diorama is a real treat.  The figure is sculpted well, with a lot of details in the crew jumpsuit and padding/armor, the separately sculpted air hose gives the outfit a nice level of depth and realism.  Of particular note are the boots, which show off the cloven hooves of the species, which may or may not mean Utai are Kosher.  The figure sports a great headsculpt, capturing the mole-like qualities of the face.  The eyestalks are done well, as are the eyes themselves, giving the face a solid level of character.  This Utai sports standard super-articulation, including ankles, which were conspicuously absent from the Ugnaught.  Those ankles really go a long way in allowing extra posability.  Again, for the millionth time, no ankles basically means all other lower body articulation is reduced in effectiveness, if not rendered completely useless.  Articulated ankles are often the determining factor on whether or not a figure is truly super-articulated.  Even if a figure lacks ball jointed hips, wrists, or a waist, having ankles is enough to get a figure across that line.

As for accessories, this figure only comes with a cattle prod, of sorts.  Or maybe, more accurately, it’s a varactyl prod.  It’s not really accurate to the Utai that refueled the Jedi starfighter, but would have been used by the wranglers seen in the distance, if you can actually get over Tion Meddon’s teeth.  I give Obi-Wan a ton of credit for not flinching when Tion began speaking for the first time.

There’s not a ton here to show for your money (even at retail).  It’s a nice little figure, with super-articulation, and a weapon of sorts.  If it came in a two-pack, it would probably be a lot more exciting.  Or maybe it’s exciting because this is the only figure available of the Utai species.  Or maybe it’s less exciting because he has no friends.  I don’t know.  I’m glad to have it, but it’s not particularly thrilling.  It’s certainly definitive for this character, other than the possibility of seeing the tall Utai someday.  It gets a 7 because it seems to lack value.  Even though it has ankles, it gets the same score as the nankled Ugnaught, which included the pretty cool console accessory.

Oh, one other thing…this figure was repainted, in silly colors, as part of the Star Tours Travel Agency multi-pack.  He’s a baggage handler, or something.  He’s in the Utapauan group shot in the gallery. 

Build-A-Droid 

Utai contains the left leg of YVH-1, a battle droid developed to help fight against the Yuuzhan Vong.  Source:  New Jedi Order - (Legends).

Verdict: No Action 

It’s a definitive figure, and it’s a nice, super-articulated version of a background alien.  However, secondary market values are low to moderately priced.  If there’s any pent up demand within the community for an Utai figure, it would most certainly be for the tall Utai, not this one.

Verdict Guide:
Re-sculpt = The figure is not definitive, and a new version should be developed.
Re-issue = This version is definitive (or close enough), and shows sufficient secondary market demand to warrant a straight repack.
No Action = This release does not require new attention.