The cutest creatures in The Rise of Skywalker

Get ready for a bit of a bummer, true believers.
Whether you love, hate, or are somewhere in the middle on Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker, there’s one area in which the final installment in the Skywalker saga unquestionably succeeds: its creatures. Not only does Rise of Skywalker introduce us to a number of adorable new inhabitants of a galaxy far, far away, but it also brings back a number of past favorites — some of which we expected to see, and others who were a delightful surprise. 
Although not every new alien and droid introduced in Rise of Skywalker is of the cuddly variety (some are even downright monstrous), there’s no shortage of creatures in the action-packed sequel that we’d want to snuggle — or, in the case of the skittish droid D-O, squee over softly from a safe and respectful distance. Adding to the appeal of the new crop of Star Wars creatures is that most of them were created practically, making them feel as lovably tangible as the creations of the original trilogy. Below, we’ll celebrate some of our favorite new non-human additions to the Star Wars universe, as well as some of the franchise’s cutest returning faces.