The original Star Wars trilogy is beloved by fans because of its creative worlds, classic storytelling, and, most importantly, iconic characters. Following the success of the original trilogy, the prequel trilogy had the tall task of introducing new planets and new characters. While the prequels were initially divisive, fans have come to embrace many of the elements and characters from the films.
Set during a time when the galaxy was influenced by the Republic and the Jedi Council, many of the most memorable characters from the prequel trilogy are Force users or politicians. Featuring a combination of new original characters and familiar returning fan favorites from the original trilogy, the prequels are filled with great characters.
Anakin Skywalker
Perhaps the most difficult task the prequels had was finding a satisfying way to tell the backstory of Darth Vader, one of the coolest characters in Star Wars. The prequels follow Anakin Skywalker's fall from the Chosen One to a Sith.
Fans have been divided on the character, with some frustrated by his stiff dialogue and drastic shift to the dark side while others enjoyed his relationship with Obi-Wan and found his motivation of protecting Padmé to be understandable. Undeniably, Anakin has some of the most memorable moments in the prequels such as his attack on the Jedi temple and his duel with Obi-Wan.
Count Dooku
A former Padawan of Yoda, Count Dooku is a skilled and powerful foe who is able to defeat Anakin and Obi-Wan in a duel, nearly killing both of them. He was even able to hold his own against Yoda. The bent hilt of his lightsaber also compliments his unique fighting style.
Elegant and calculated, Count Dooku is less physically imposing than Darth Maul or General Grievous but he made up for it with his high level of intellect. Despite his limited screen time, Count Dooku is a smart and skilled villain who leaves a lasting impression.
Qui-Gon Jinn
As one of the central characters in The Phantom Menace, Qui-Gon Jinn gets more screentime than many of the other characters introduced in the prequels. In many ways, he embodies the Jedi way with his good nature and serene demeanor, prioritizing following the Force over the Jedi Council.
He is intelligent, perceptive, and a strong leader. He is a great mentor to Obi-Wan and looks out for Anakin, making Obi-Wan promise to take him on as his Padawan. His commitment to the Force ultimately leads him to become the first modern Jedi to discover the secret of becoming a Force ghost, paving the way for others to follow him.
Jango Fett
Prior to Boba Fett's memorable scenes in The Mandalorian, he was a character whose reputation far exceeded his actual impact on the story. The prequels made up for this by introducing Jango Fett, revealing that Boba Fett is a clone of Jango Fett.
Donning the iconic Mandalorian armor, Jango Fett is a skilled warrior who greatly impacts the story by serving as the basis for the clone troopers. He gets to show off some personality and builds an endearing relationship with Boba Fett. His fights against Obi-Wan and Mace Windu are both some of the most memorable from the prequels.
Darth Maul
Darth Maul is a cold-blooded killer with a unique weapon of choice in his signature double-bladed lightsaber. He barely speaks in The Phantom Menace but his iconic character design and overwhelming fighting style have made him a fan favorite and one of the clear standouts of the prequel trilogy.
He provides an intimidating threat for Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan throughout the movie. Audiences were so captivated by his brief appearance in the film that he has been brought back in Clone Wars and Solo, hopefully signifying more appearances in the future.
Yoda
When audiences were introduced to Yoda in the original trilogy, he was a wise, old master who trained Luke without ever getting personally involved in the fight against the Empire. The Yoda of the prequel trilogy, however, is shown to also be an incredibly skilled fighter.
Retaining his beloved personality and unique speech pattern, the prequels build upon the character of Yoda by showing him leading the Jedi council and engaging in duels against Count Dooku and Palpatine, further fleshing out an already iconic character.
Padmé Amidala
As a queen and then senator, Padmé Amidala is a key figure in the political machinations of the prequel trilogy. She is a kind and compassionate ruler who genuinely wants the best for her people. She is a smart politician who argues for peace and diplomacy.
She also proves herself to be an effective fighter in Attack of the Clones. She is ultimately undone by her relationship with Anakin, but she loves and cares for him, even as he begins to spiral towards the dark side.
Sheev Palpatine
While the Emperor was a memorable and important figure in the original trilogy, he was more of a plot device and ominous threat than a well-rounded character. The prequel trilogy provides the character with more of an identity, personality, and motivation.
Sheev Palpatine is shown to be a cunning, manipulative, puppet master who orchestrates the events of the prequels in order to seize power and exterminate the Jedi. He is a brilliant evil mastermind that outsmarts all the other characters to become the ruler of the galaxy.
Mace Windu
Perhaps the greatest Jedi warrior in the prequels, Mace Windu is powerful and influential, helping lead the Jedi Council and the Grand Army of the Republic. His experience and abilities make him one of the greatest Jedi in Star Wars.
His unique lightsaber color and attitude also make him a distinct and cool character. He demonstrates his incredible fighting ability by killing Jango Fett and pinning Sheev Palpatine before Anakin intervened. His wisdom, ability, and leadership make Mace Windu one of the best characters in the prequels.
Obi-Wan Kenobi
Easily the biggest standout of the prequel trilogy is Obi-Wan Kenobi. In the original trilogy, Obi-Wan is mostly confined to the role of the elderly mentor but in the prequels, he is given the opportunity to show more of his personality.
Obi-Wan is wise and good-natured, but also a little bit mischievous, frequently getting into trouble with Anakin. The mentorship and friendship between Obi-Wan and Anakin is arguably the best part of the trilogy and adds a layer of depth and sadness to Obi-Wan's death at the hands of Darth Vader in the original trilogy.