Inspiration for the pressure-suited Umbaran soldiers include the Zentraedi from Robotech and the Sardaukar from David Lynch's Dune.The helmets feed the Umbarans a potent gas mixture that keeps them amped up for combat, increasing their reflexes and aggression. From a production point of a view, such a helmet allowed a single animation model to be created for the military, while keeping the soldiers living, breathing non-droid opponents for the clones.

We've seen Umbarans in the movies and series before. In previous episodes of The Clone Wars, we've met Mee Deechi. In Episode II and III, Palpatine's aide is Sly Moore, an Umbaran.

Pong Krell was not the first Besalisk Jedi Master designed for the series. For the second season of The Clone Wars, artwork exists by Kilian Plunkett of Master Plun Kil, a character who was ultimately not seen in the show.

Though not seen in the final, an interior to an Umbaran hover tank was fully detailed in concept illustrations for this episode.