The Star Wars Saga: The Clone Wars
The 2008 Star Wars: The Clone Wars Cartoon Network is an animated chapter of the Star Wars saga that has acquired a dedicated fanbase, and for good reason. The show is made with passion, and many elements are better done in the series than in the prequel trilogy themselves.
The animated series has six seasons, with a seventh coming soon. It takes place in-between episodes 2-3, set around the Clone Wars, a rarely-seen event of the series that nonetheless has a huge impact, in the context of the Star Wars universe itself. What happens in the Clone Wars defines the political lore of the series.
One benefit of being a show versus a movie means that there is an ensemble cast rather than a couple fixed protagonists. Some episodes can focus on Anakin and Ahsoka, others on Obi-Wan, others on other Jedi, others on troops, and others on politics. Because of this shifting perspective, the show can feel like an anthology. This keeps the show fresh, and it's interesting to see the different impacts this large war has for people. We see different aspects of the war. We see the front lines, warmongers and peace-brokers in the Senate, further extents of Palpatine's machinations, personal lives, etc. Over a vast series of settings, with different planets. It's a far more immersive approach than the movies, where the war was more of a footnote. This also aids in world-building, it expands the world we've seen in the movies, the audience now being privy to more niches and pockets. Additionally, the show introduces fan-favourite character Ahsoka, who grows and develops significantly over the series. We also meet Captain Rex, another fan-favourite.
The show started off having a reputation for being childish, but it soon overgrew that. There are plenty of adult moments and themes in the series (though of course, violence and adult moments do not equate to maturity. It fortunately happens that The Clone Wars has both adult moments and maturity, moments like a trooper getting cut in half or force-induced torture are not gratuitous.)
The series also has the honor of introducing the character of Saw Gerrera, whose character was later integrated into live-action canon via Star Wars: Rogue One. This is one example of how the cartoon universe became popular enough to be incorporated into live-action Star Wars media, which many consider to be the true Star Wars media.
It is not the first animated Clone Wars series. That honor goes to 2003's Clone Wars. It was developed and drawn by legendary animator, Genndy Tartakovsky. (The same person behind the classic Powerpuff Girls, Dexter's Laboratory, Hotel Transylvania, and the upcoming Primal series on Adult Swim.)
Only vaguely related, but here's an interesting quote from Tartakovsky;
"Everything that I've ever done is not really based on reality, it's the caricature of reality, which is what's really exciting."
It was 2D-animated, opposed to being 3D-animated like the 2008 show, and had a very distinct cartoony style. It depends on the individual if the style is too much of a departure, but the animation is extremely well-done and fluid nonetheless. Instead of being episodes, the series was made out of shorts. It has the same function as the 2008 show, expanding the Star Wars universe in a manner that couldn't be done in the films. It was created as a tie-in to the movies, notably introducing cyborg villain General Grievous for Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith. It was later declared non-canon, meaning it is not considered a part of the current official Disney Star Wars universe.
After Star Wars: The Clone Wars was cancelled, Disney began work on another Star Wars show: 'Star Wars: Rebels'. Taking place in-between episodes 3-4, it explored a different timeframe than the Clone Wars, with the former 'good guys' now being a tyrannical government and a strapping band of misfits leading a small rebellion. The new characters introduced are the main cast, but the audience also gets to see them interact with other Star Wars characters
The fandom loathed the series at first, but it seemed that the show got better over time and people warmed up to it. It also continued the story of the incredibly popular Darth Maul and re-introduced fan-favourite Admiral Thrawn (a character from Star Wars spin-off media (books, comics, etc.) who was removed from official continuity when Disney, after acquiring the Star Wars IP, rendered everything that was not in the movies or the second Clone Wars animated series non-canon). The character Thrawn is loved for being a more intellectual antagonist, providing a different obstacle to their characters than the more spiritual force-based enemies. Thrawn is a military commander, not human like his peers (provoking thought on the Empire's xenophobia), one that venerates creativity and ruthlessness. A fascinating character, and a fitting foil. Despite these incorporations, Star Wars Rebels is unfortunately a lesser series; the main cast are not as interesting or compelling as the characters from the Clone Wars. They feel like accessories to characters rather than characters themselves.
Speaking of spin-off media, the novel Darth Plagueis deals with the origins of Palpatine and his master and it's quite a fascinating read. It expands on the Star Wars universe further, just like the Clone Wars, adding more to the lore and universe. The mystery of Darth Plagueis's life is somewhat answered, but not in a way that takes away from the mystery.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars, after being cancelled for several years, was brought back and Season 7 will be airing on Disney+ this year February.
Also, the LEGO video game was lit! There were the main levels, but you could also do other stuff! You could play as the Republic or as the Separatists, and there was a hub for each side. There were space missions, spaceship combat, and play the game mode where you build bases and/or command troops to fight.
The animated series has six seasons, with a seventh coming soon. It takes place in-between episodes 2-3, set around the Clone Wars, a rarely-seen event of the series that nonetheless has a huge impact, in the context of the Star Wars universe itself. What happens in the Clone Wars defines the political lore of the series.
One benefit of being a show versus a movie means that there is an ensemble cast rather than a couple fixed protagonists. Some episodes can focus on Anakin and Ahsoka, others on Obi-Wan, others on other Jedi, others on troops, and others on politics. Because of this shifting perspective, the show can feel like an anthology. This keeps the show fresh, and it's interesting to see the different impacts this large war has for people. We see different aspects of the war. We see the front lines, warmongers and peace-brokers in the Senate, further extents of Palpatine's machinations, personal lives, etc. Over a vast series of settings, with different planets. It's a far more immersive approach than the movies, where the war was more of a footnote. This also aids in world-building, it expands the world we've seen in the movies, the audience now being privy to more niches and pockets. Additionally, the show introduces fan-favourite character Ahsoka, who grows and develops significantly over the series. We also meet Captain Rex, another fan-favourite.
The show started off having a reputation for being childish, but it soon overgrew that. There are plenty of adult moments and themes in the series (though of course, violence and adult moments do not equate to maturity. It fortunately happens that The Clone Wars has both adult moments and maturity, moments like a trooper getting cut in half or force-induced torture are not gratuitous.)
The series also has the honor of introducing the character of Saw Gerrera, whose character was later integrated into live-action canon via Star Wars: Rogue One. This is one example of how the cartoon universe became popular enough to be incorporated into live-action Star Wars media, which many consider to be the true Star Wars media.
It is not the first animated Clone Wars series. That honor goes to 2003's Clone Wars. It was developed and drawn by legendary animator, Genndy Tartakovsky. (The same person behind the classic Powerpuff Girls, Dexter's Laboratory, Hotel Transylvania, and the upcoming Primal series on Adult Swim.)
Only vaguely related, but here's an interesting quote from Tartakovsky;
"Everything that I've ever done is not really based on reality, it's the caricature of reality, which is what's really exciting."
It was 2D-animated, opposed to being 3D-animated like the 2008 show, and had a very distinct cartoony style. It depends on the individual if the style is too much of a departure, but the animation is extremely well-done and fluid nonetheless. Instead of being episodes, the series was made out of shorts. It has the same function as the 2008 show, expanding the Star Wars universe in a manner that couldn't be done in the films. It was created as a tie-in to the movies, notably introducing cyborg villain General Grievous for Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith. It was later declared non-canon, meaning it is not considered a part of the current official Disney Star Wars universe.
After Star Wars: The Clone Wars was cancelled, Disney began work on another Star Wars show: 'Star Wars: Rebels'. Taking place in-between episodes 3-4, it explored a different timeframe than the Clone Wars, with the former 'good guys' now being a tyrannical government and a strapping band of misfits leading a small rebellion. The new characters introduced are the main cast, but the audience also gets to see them interact with other Star Wars characters
The fandom loathed the series at first, but it seemed that the show got better over time and people warmed up to it. It also continued the story of the incredibly popular Darth Maul and re-introduced fan-favourite Admiral Thrawn (a character from Star Wars spin-off media (books, comics, etc.) who was removed from official continuity when Disney, after acquiring the Star Wars IP, rendered everything that was not in the movies or the second Clone Wars animated series non-canon). The character Thrawn is loved for being a more intellectual antagonist, providing a different obstacle to their characters than the more spiritual force-based enemies. Thrawn is a military commander, not human like his peers (provoking thought on the Empire's xenophobia), one that venerates creativity and ruthlessness. A fascinating character, and a fitting foil. Despite these incorporations, Star Wars Rebels is unfortunately a lesser series; the main cast are not as interesting or compelling as the characters from the Clone Wars. They feel like accessories to characters rather than characters themselves.
Speaking of spin-off media, the novel Darth Plagueis deals with the origins of Palpatine and his master and it's quite a fascinating read. It expands on the Star Wars universe further, just like the Clone Wars, adding more to the lore and universe. The mystery of Darth Plagueis's life is somewhat answered, but not in a way that takes away from the mystery.
Lore, the fictional history of the universe, is extremely important for making the created world/universe feel real and authentic. Star Wars is something great, something that exists beyond! It's the imagination to see another world, like many other properties. (Speaking of Star Wars generally, I love how the alien sci-fi environment is contrasted with an often grimy and dirty environment. The science-fiction of the future is combined with the gritty realism of life, in contrast to Star Trek's more utopian sci-fi.) The magic of seeing this alien world, both alike ours in some respects, and so wholly detached in others to be completely escapist, cannot be understated.
With Star Wars as a franchise, it seems to suffer a particular problem. This problem is that there is the main trilogy that is at the center of everything; that the other subsequent components of the saga feel like a complementary addition rather than their own media. Everything is based and inspired by the original trilogy. It seems the prequel saga is subverting this though. Some kids grow up, not thinking of Star Wars as Han, Luke, or Leia, but as Captain Rex or Ahsoka or the many different alien worlds shown on the Clone Wars.
With Star Wars as a franchise, it seems to suffer a particular problem. This problem is that there is the main trilogy that is at the center of everything; that the other subsequent components of the saga feel like a complementary addition rather than their own media. Everything is based and inspired by the original trilogy. It seems the prequel saga is subverting this though. Some kids grow up, not thinking of Star Wars as Han, Luke, or Leia, but as Captain Rex or Ahsoka or the many different alien worlds shown on the Clone Wars.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars, after being cancelled for several years, was brought back and Season 7 will be airing on Disney+ this year February.
Also, the LEGO video game was lit! There were the main levels, but you could also do other stuff! You could play as the Republic or as the Separatists, and there was a hub for each side. There were space missions, spaceship combat, and play the game mode where you build bases and/or command troops to fight.
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