Darth Vader’s story has been incorporated into every aspect of the Star Wars saga, from films to shows, comics, and books. So now, it’s time to chart his entire course from an enslaved boy on Tatooine to the inspiration for the galaxy’s current reigning big bad. This is Darth Vader’s story, explained. Four decades before he walked onto Princess Leia’s ship as the embodiment of the evil Empire, when audiences got their first glimpse of Darth Vader, Anakin Skywalker was born on Tatooine as the child of a slave woman named Shmi Skywalker. When the Jedi master Qui-Gon Jinn asked Shmi about the boy’s father years later, she simply told him that there wasn’t one, leading Qui-Gon to deduce that Anakin had been conceived by the Force entities known as midi-chlorians .
Though it hasn’t been conclusively stated, it’s heavily implied in both the film and the comics that Anakin’s conception was caused by the manipulations of the Sith Lord Darth Plagueis and his apprentice, Darth Sidious. Anakin showed tremendous intelligence and skill from a very young age, and was so adept at mechanics and repairs that he built the protocol droid C-3PO before he’d turned ten. He was also a skilled podracer, making him a rarity as human reflexes were usually too slow to allow them to survive in the sport, which drew the attention of a pair of Jedi knights. After learning about Anakin’s curious parentage and testing his midi-chlorian count, Qui-Gon became convinced of Anakin’s potential as a Jedi. With Qui-Gon’s encouragement, Anakin won his freedom in a podrace and accompanied Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan to Coruscant, sadly having to leave his mother behind. Qui-Gon took Anakin before the Jedi High Council, convinced that the boy could be the Chosen One who would bring balance to the Force. Masters Yoda and Mace Windu were wary of Anakin’s age and his fearful demeanor, but Qui-Gon pleaded for the opportunity to train him anyway. In the Battle of Naboo, Anakin piloted a starfighter against the Trade Federation, proving that his Jedi reflexes and skill as a pilot extended beyond podracing. After the battle was over, he discovered that Qui-Gon had been killed at the hands of Darth Maul, and Obi-Wan made a vow to train Anakin himself, in keeping with his lost master’s wishes. The High Council consented, and Anakin became a Jedi Padawan. Keep watching the video to see the entire Darth Vader story finally explained!