Which Michael Jackson character did Star Wars: Skeleton Crew canonize? 80's reference from the Disney show, explored

In its latest episode, Disney+'s Star Wars: Skeleton Crew canonized an important character from Michael Jackson's Captain EO from 1986. While Lucafilm's latest series might be a new take on the story, it is filled with many Easter eggs and references to the original universe.

In a moment of complete Epiphany, older fans of Jackson's Captain EO discovered that the show's latest episode paid a nostalgic homage to his sidekick, Fuzzball.

While many fans have speculated that Star Wars: Skeleton Crew is a prequel to Captain EO, the connection between the two is not lost on them. Captain EO was executive-produced by George Lucas, and Francis Ford Coppola directed it.

More on Star Wars: Skeleton Crew connection with 80's canon.

Star Wars: Skeleton Crew canonized Michael Jackson's sidekick from Captain EO

In Episode 2, "Way, Way Out Past the Barrier," the Skeleton Crew canonized Fuzzball, Michael Jackson's sidekick from the Disney Park 3D show, Captain EO, released in 1986.

While exploring the pirate port, KB, played by Kyriana Kratter, stops to pet a grizzly orange-winged cat-like creature in the cage. Fans of the canon spot that the creature was of the same species as Jackson's sidekick, Fuzzball, in Captain EO.

Jackson's 3-D attraction premiered in 1986 at Walt Disney World's Epcot and Disneyland. It followed Michael Jackson, who played Captain EO, who turned evil into good through music and special powers with his special alien crew.

The theme park film was a huge hit in the 1980s because it featured two new Michael Jackson songs when the pop star was at the peak of his career. It also aligned with the 80s MTV era and 4-D effects which were a rage back then.

This 17-minute short film was the most expensive project of that time, costing about $1.76 million per minute. While Captain EO left Disney Parks in 1998, it was bought back in 2010 to commemorate Jackson's death. The last time it was shown at Epcot in December 2015.

Exploring Star Wars: Skeleton Crew connection to Micahel Jackson's Captain EO

While Star Wars: Skeleton Crew is brimming with references and Ester Eggs from the EO, many older audiences have speculated that the show might be a prequel to Captain EO.

Captain EO's fans were delighted to learn that Skeleton Crew's Neel isn't the same blue elephant-like species as Max Rebo's because it also resembles EO's Hooter, which looked like a blue elephant.

There are also theories suggesting that Ravi Cabot-Connors' Wim is a young Captain EO, making it a prequel for the 80's short film.

While makers have remained tight-lipped about the show's connection to Jackson's 80's adventure, Reddit users have their theories about Star Wars: Skeleton Crew connected to Captain EO:

''Yes, although the Captain EO references are even on a structural level—it must have been one of the first things on the mind of the creators.'' u/SagebrushandSeafoam

This Reddit user believes that Jackson's Captain EO inspired the creatures and styling for the new Disney show.

''George Lucas produced Captain EO. This show is all Captain EO inspired and I read an interview with the creators where they name dropped Captain EO casually, but didn’t go into detail whether it was just inspiration or literally intended as a reboot.'' u/LarBrd33