Chipmunks Go Nuts for ‘Star Wars’ in Adorable Photos

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A chipmunk provides transportation for Darth Vader in Chris McVeigh’s photograph ‘Easy Rider’ (Chris McVeigh Photography)

The Force is strong with these rodents. In a Flickr photo series by Chris McVeigh called “Backyard Adventures,” chipmunks interact with the artist’s Star Wars action figures, with delightful results. Over the course of his photographic adventures, the fuzzy creatures give Darth Vader a lift, accept a snack from Chewbacca, practice their levitation skills with Yoda, laugh at Ewoks, and even repair the hyderdrive of a TIE fighter. Is anyone else thinking spin-off movie? (It would definitely be better than those other chipmunk films…)

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Jawas refuse to accept almonds as payment for a droid in the photograph ‘No Deal’ (Chris McVeigh Photography)

On the website Stuck in Plastic, McVeigh writes that he first encountered the photogenic chipmunks when he caught one sneaking into his garden shed for birdseed. After that, the artist began leaving out food for his furry friend, which the chipmunk would collect and take back to her nest. “This predictable, repetitive behavior allowed me to get some great photos of her (and other chipmunks), and that got me wondering if I could actually stage shots of her interacting with my action figures?” recalls McVeigh. “The answer was a resounding yes, and during the next three years, I’d create a dozen or so pictures of chipmunks in comical (and quite frankly, bizarre) scenarios with Star Wars action figures.” Hence the presence of almonds — a favorite chipmunk snack — in many of the shots.

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A Stormtrooper gives a chipmunk the once-over in the photograph ‘Specimen Found’ (Chris McVeigh Photography)

To view all of McVeigh’s Star Wars chipmunk photos, head over to his Flickr page.