my first memory of Yoda came with the release of the action figure, back then in Australia we were at least 6 months behind the U.S with the release of most movies, but we got the action figures a couple of months before the movie, and I remember buying this cute little green guy with pointy ears and a snake around his neck (which was soooooo cool!) without having any idea what part he played in the story. I was ten at the time. Essentially I had created this funny little characters identity in my head well before seeing the movie, so I was a bit shocked when I eventually saw the movie and saw what a prominent role he had in the movie and I was amazed how different his voice was to how i had imagined, although I was also a big fan of the muppets, I didn't make the Frank Oz connection for a few years after that.

anyway the big shocks for me in the movie, were the Vader/ luke's dad revelation and the fact that Luke got his hand cut off, I was one of the last kids in my year to see the film, and I remember many a schoolyard arguement over one of the kids telling me that not only was Darth Vader Luke's father, but also that he cut off his hand, of course I refused to believe their 'lies' until I saw the film for myself.