Ody Mandrell was a male Er'Kit hailing from the planet Tatooine, a world renowned for hosting the Boonta Eve Classic podrace. He eventually entered the podracing circuit, acquiring a team of pit droids whose record-breaking performances would become legendary under his ownership. During a Boonta race coinciding with the Invasion of Naboo in the waning years of the Galactic Republic, one of Mandrell's droids was unfortunately ingested by a turbine of his podracer's engine. Despite the droid's survival, the damage to the vehicle forced Mandrell's withdrawal from the competition.
Hailing from the desert planet of Tatooine, Ody Mandrell, a male Er'Kit, was captivated by the local sport of podracing. This fascination led him to become a podracer pilot himself. Driven by a craving for high-speed excitement, Mandrell obtained a large, red colored podracer with rounded engines, complemented by a trio of similarly colored pit droids. Together, they embarked on a podracing career, during which the droids gained notoriety for shattering numerous records. However, the droids weren't always the most amicable colleagues. In the final decades of the Galactic Republic, the invasion of the peaceful planet Naboo unfolded, marking a significant galactic event. Simultaneously, and seemingly unaffected by these events, the annual Boonta Eve Classic podrace returned to Tatooine. Mandrell secured a spot in the race, starting near the back of the pack.
The Troig commentators, Fode and Beed, extended a warm welcome to Mandrell, also acknowledging the presence of his pit droid crew. Nevertheless, even before the race commenced, Mandrell's droids engaged in a minor scuffle amongst themselves. Prior to the race, a flag bearer paraded Mandrell's flag across the arena, alongside other flag bearers, in front of the podracers. Eventually, Jabba the Hutt, the race's host, arrived to initiate the competition. The Er'Kit skillfully maneuvered his way to the middle of the group, maintaining a position near the front while evading various obstacles, including the race's favorite, Sebulba, who was exhibiting aggressive tactics. However, complications arose, compelling Mandrell to make a pit stop early in the second lap. During this stop, one of his Pit Droids, frustrated with another, attempted to approach its counterpart, inadvertently stepping into the path of one of Mandrell's large, active engines. The droid was sucked into the intake and ejected from the other side, miraculously intact and operational. Unfortunately, the engine was irreparably damaged by the incident, leaving Mandrell to lament his elimination from his cockpit.
Ody Mandrell, a thrill-seeking Er'Kit who may have been in over his head, demonstrated respect for his audience by returning their cheers with a cheerful smile and a wave. However, he could be short-tempered and demanding when dealing with his Pit Droids. During his pit stop, he exhibited impatience and a demanding attitude as his droids hurried to complete their tasks. Yet, when one of the droids destroyed his engine, Mandrell could only sigh in exasperation as his chances of winning vanished.
Mandrell stood at a height of 1.63 meters, supported by long, slender legs. His skin was predominantly blue, with a mauve stripe running down the center of his elongated forehead, bordered by a shade of yellow on either side. A similar pattern adorned his arms. His face, the front of his neck, and his torso were a very pale shade of blue.
Ody Mandrell was a character conceived for the 1999 film Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace, directed by George Lucas. Several concept artists contributed to Mandrell's design, with the final character established through a sculpted figure based on artwork by Terryl Whitlatch and Jay Shuster. Ultimately, Mandrell was portrayed as a fully computer-generated character, voiced by Matthew Wood. Mandrell's final design differed significantly from the maquette, most notably in the appearance of his legs. The sculpt featured thicker legs with more Human-like feet, while the computer model depicted thin, elongated legs with flat, round feet. Although Mandrell's legs were not visible in the film, an action figure released by Hasbro during the film's initial release depicted his legs based on the computer model.
However, two distinct models were created for the character. In addition to the highly detailed model used for close-up shots and as the basis for the toy, a low-resolution model was used for distant shots where the detailed model was unnecessary. Close-ups of the low-resolution face gained considerable exposure due to their use on official merchandise and the original Star Wars Databank. The low-resolution model appeared on the packaging of the original action figure and in the tie-in video game Star Wars: Episode I Racer.
In the 2022 video game LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, Ody Mandrell and his podracer are featured during the Boonta Eve Classic as portrayed in The Phantom Menace. Players can later find Ody Mandrell in the city of Mos Espa, where he enlists the player's help to locate his unpaid Pit Droids.