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This article is about the TV series. For the fictional conflict, see Clone Wars (Star Wars). For the video game, see Star Wars: The Clone Wars.
Star Wars: Clone Wars
Created byGenndy Tartakovsky
Henry Gilroy
George Lucas (characters)
StarringMat Lucas (voice)
James Arnold Taylor (voice)
Tom Kane (voice)
TC Carson (voice)
Corey Burton (voice)
Richard McGonagle (voice)
John Di Maggio (voice)
Anthony Daniels (voice)
Country of origin United States
No. of episodes2-D Run: 25
3-D Run: not yet scheduled
Production
Executive producersClaudia Katz
George Lucas
Rick McCallum
Brian A. Miller
Catherine Winder
Running timeVolume I - approx. 3 min. per episode
Volume II - approx. 12 min. per episode
Whole series - approx. 127 min.
Original release
NetworkCartoon Network
ReleaseNovember 7, 2003 –
March 25, 2005

Star Wars: Clone Wars is an American animated television series set in the Star Wars galaxy. The series chronicles the Clone Wars between the Galactic Republic under Chancellor Palpatine, and the Confederacy of Independent Systems (CIS) under Count Dooku.

Chronologically, the series takes place during the three-year time period between the films Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones and Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. The original television series was produced by Cartoon Network Studios, aired 25 chapters from 2003 to 2005. A 3D CGI version set in the same time period is expected to be produced by Lucasfilm Animation and debut in 2007.

Original series

The original series consists of 20 three-minute installments for Seasons 1 and 2 (later known as Volume 1), and five 12-to-15 minute installments for Season 3 (later called Volume 2). The 25 episodes are mostly comprised of energetic set-piece battles. Since much emphasis is placed on action, the story and plot is less developed than in the films. Despite this, it can be argued that the third season focused more on Anakin Skywalker's story.

The series follows the Jedi on their exploits fighting Dooku's separatist confederation. Many characters from the films are also featured prominently in the series, such as Anakin, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Yoda, Mace Windu, Chancellor Palpatine, Count Dooku, General Grievous, C-3PO, R2-D2 and Padmé Amidala. Other episodes feature minor players from the films, such as Kit Fisto, Ki-Adi-Mundi, Shaak Ti and Aayla Secura.

Template:Spoiler

Seasons

Season One (Episodes 1-10)

The first season spent more time on various events of the war, occurring closer to the time of Attack of the Clones, while still focusing on Obi-Wan and Anakin's struggles.

Season Two (Episodes 11-20)

The second season continued the first's style of showing multiple battles, but focused more on an overall story arc.

Season Three (Episodes 21-25)

Season three delved deeply into, and focused mostly on, Anakin's story and the relationship between him and Obi-Wan Kenobi, while also showing their struggles during the war. It builds up many of the events leading to Revenge of the Sith, taking place closer to the timeframe of the film, and is an immediate lead-in to Episode III, the opening scene of which takes place only moments after the end of Episode 25, showing Grievous cough several times as a result of Mace Windu's attack. Note that this season tells essentially the same story as the novel Labyrinth of Evil. Although the series and the novel focus on the same story, and are considered equally canonical by Lucasfilm, there are slight differences between the two.

Cast (voice talent)

The Republic

The Confederacy of Independent Systems

Crew

  • George Lucas .... Characters, story, and executive producer
  • Genndy Tartakovsky .... Director, character design, story, and producer
  • Paul Rudish .... Co-art director and story
  • Scott Wills ....Co-art director
  • Bryan Andrews .... story
  • Mark Andrews .... story
  • Darrick Bachman .... story
  • Claudia Katz .... executive producer
  • Rick McCallum .... executive producer
  • Brian A. Miller .... executive producer
  • Jennifer Pelphrey .... supervising producer
  • Geraldine Symon .... producer
  • Shareena Carlson .... producer

Release

File:CloneWarsPoster.jpg
A promotional poster for the series

(November 7, 2003 - March 25, 2005)

The pilot series, produced primarily with traditional animation, originally ran on Cartoon Network. In addition to being shown on television, the episodes were released online simultaneously at the Star Wars and Cartoon Network websites. The series was heavily advertised by Cartoon Network, and was originally shown immediately before their popular Friday night lineup.

Production

The series was produced by Genndy Tartakovsky and employs a similar animation style to Tartakovsky's Samurai Jack and Dexter's Laboratory.

Awards and acclaim

The series won an Emmy award for "Outstanding Animated Program" in 2004. In 2005, it again won an Emmy award in the same category. The series received strongly positive critical reviews, some reviewers believing the show to be better than the first two prequels of the film series.

Discrepancies between the novel and series

The third season of the series shares its storyline with the novel Labyrinth of Evil. However, there are several differences between the series and the novel:

  • In the series, a trio of Jedi Masters made up by the Togruta Shaak Ti, the Ithorian Roron Corobb and the Talz Foul Moudama attempt to rescue Palpatine; however, in the novel, several different Jedi, led by Shaak Ti and Stass Allie, attempt to rescue the Supreme Chancellor. In the novel, three more Jedi; a Talz, an Ithorian and a female Twi'lek, are killed when they follow General Grievous to his capital ship in an attempt to save Palpatine. It is unknown if the Talz and Ithorian were the same Jedi as in the cartoon.
  • In the series, Mace Windu fights alongside Yoda against droids; however, in the novel, Windu fights on a train against Grievous.
  • In the series, Anakin and Obi-Wan investigate a possible base for Grievous on frigid Nelvaan, and Anakin goes on a spiritual journey; however, in the novel, Anakin and Obi-Wan search for Darth Sidious.
  • In the series, Anakin is depicted as being knighted very early on (while his hair is still short) as a response to a shortage of Jedi Knights, and believing that Anakin was long overdue for knighthood. This very directly conflicts with the novel Jedi Trial by David Sherman and Dan Cragg, in which Anakin, only a few months prior to Episode III, is sent on a mission to earn his knighthood.

Trivia

  • Series producer Genndy Tartakovsky revealed in his Hyperspace commentary tracks on http://starwars.com and on the Volume I DVD that he purposely animated C-3PO with eyes that sort of move around to pay homage to the animators of and the animation style of Nelvana, the production company behind the animated segment from The Star Wars Holiday Special and the 1980s Star Wars cartoon series.
  • If you go to the options menu and key in 11, 3, 8 (an homage to George Lucas' 1971 movie 'THX 1138') on your remote control, credits will play of everyone who worked on the DVD.
  • Chapter 20 introduced General Grievous, and Chapter 25 explains why he wheezes when he talks. The Grievous in Clone Wars is depicted as larger, far more aggressive and acrobatic than his movie counterpart. While the Grievous of the film is described as a coward and repeatedly flees until cornered, the Grievous of Star Wars: Clone Wars appears anything but, repeatedly taking on numerous Jedi singlehandedly. Though the damage he suffered from Mace Windu may have largely effected his stamina and movement capability.
  • The show has the unique position of being the only show released on the Internet to win an Emmy Award, due to the fact that it was released on TV and the Internet at the same time. On the Internet, it was released the same day episodes aired on http://starwars.com's Hyperspace section, which is for subscribers only, and was released the next day to Cartoon Network's website and http://starwars.com for non-Hyperspace members.
  • It is hinted in Chapter 22 that the encounter of Anakin with Padmé, following the battles of that episode, was the time when Luke and Leia were conceived, and the DVD commentary by Paul Rudish also implies this.
  • Homages to other science fiction shows include an original Battlestar Galactica Cylon Centurion hidden in a crowd on Coruscant. Also noticeable in this same scene is a "Woolie" from Tartakovky's series Samurai Jack.
  • Durge's look was designed by the Skywalker Ranch art department, the same artists that developed the concepts that appear in the feature films.
  • In Chapter 22 Obi-Wan and Anakin lead an assault on a city being used as an outpost for the Seperatist army. Anakin leads Obi-Wan through a secret passage to the city that goes through a sewer and Obi-Wan quips, "What an incredible smell you've discovered", which is identical to a line said by Han Solo to Chewbacca in A New Hope during the scene in the garbage masher. This is only one of many references that are made to the original trilogy. Another is in episode 21, where C-3PO shows off his gold plating. An astonished Anakin remarks, "Impressive...most impressive...", a line he would later use as Vader in Empire Strikes Back. Another is in episode 11, while in pursuit of Asajj Ventress, Anakin upon locking her in target alludes to the Darth Vader "I have you now!" line.
  • Jedi Master Kit Fisto's belt buckle is in the shape of two fish conjoined together like the Tao, a symbol of Chinese philosophy.
  • The planet Nelvaan is yet another homage to the Canadian animation company Nelvana.
  • In one scene, a computer screen shows schematics of parts of General Grievous.
  • When Anakin and Obi-Wan are attacking the shield generator Obi-Wan says "There are alternatives to fighting." This same line was used by Obi-Wan in Episode 4-A New Hope.

DVD release

Volume I

  • Chapters 1-20 of the series were released March 22, 2005, as "Star Wars Clone Wars: Volume I". The episodes were edited together into one continuous feature. The set featured English subtitles, and commentary tracks on all the episodes, as well as art galleries, behind the scenes information, and the featurette "Bridging the Saga: From Clone Wars to Revenge of the Sith",the Revenge of the sith teaser tailer: with interviews with George Lucas, Genndy Tartakovsky, and the Clone Wars production crew. The disc also featured a glimpse of Star Wars: Clone Wars - Volume Two, an Episode III game trailer, and a playable level of the Xbox game Star Wars: Republic Commando.

Volume II

  • Chapters 21-25 of the micro-series were released on December 6, 2005. The release was an edited together compilation of the five chapters, similar to the Volume I release. The set featured English subtitles, and commentary tracks on all the episodes. Features included a Revenge of the Sith movie trailer, art galleries, trailers for the Star Wars games Battlefront II and Empire at War, an Xbox demo with two levels from Battlefront II, and the LEGO short film Revenge of the Brick. Also included was the featurette "Connecting the Dots", which highlighted the creative process that Genndy Tartakovsky and his team used to link Clone Wars to Revenge of the Sith.
  • The second volume of Clone Wars series was released significantly later than the DVD release of Revenge of the Sith. According to Van Ling, the producer of both DVDs, the Volume II disc was released at such a late date due to an extremely tight schedule in producing the DVDs. According to http://starwars.com, both DVDs were produced at exactly the same time, but the Clone Wars DVD couldn't be finished in time for the DVD release of Revenge of the Sith. Ling apologized to fans for this.

3-D CGI series

Template:Future television series A continuation of the series has been planned. Lucas said the series might return, but as a 3D animation series. At April 2005's Celebration III, Lucas stated that, "you know we are working on a 3-D continuation of the pilot series that was on the Cartoon Network, we probably won't start that project for another year." Genndy Tartakovsky will not be involved with the production.

At Comic-Con 2005, several announcements were made on the work on the series. As of July 15, 2005, preproduction had begun on the series, according to Steve Sansweet, head of Lucasfilm fan relations. Sansweet referred to the series as "the next generation of the Star Wars saga, a cutting edge 30-minute, 3-D computer-animation series based on the Clone Wars that take place between Episode II ... and Episode III." Anakin, Obi-Wan, Yoda, Count Dooku, Palpatine and General Grievous are expected to appear. Sansweet described the look of the new series as "a melding of Asian anime with unique 3-D animation styling." The series' primary production will take place at the Lucasfilm animation facility in Singapore.

According to another statement by Sansweet, "Over the next several years, Lucasfilm Animation will be hiring a total of about 300 digital artists and others in both California and Singapore locations to produce not only the series, but animated feature films in the years ahead." He said about the series, "to get the series underway, Lucasfilm Animation has hired key production and creative talent to lead the development of its first animation project." Sansweet has said that "a large component of the future of Star Wars and Lucasfilm is digital animation." Gail Currey, the Vice President and General Manager of Lucasfilm Animation, has stated that she felt the early treatments for the series were amazing, and that she couldn't wait to share it with Star Wars fans.

At a press conference for Revenge of the Sith, Frank Oz confirmed that he is involved with the series. Many of the actors from the original series are expected to return.

The series is expected to premiere in 2007.

Cast

Crew

See also

External links

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