Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008 TV series)

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Star Wars: The Clone Wars
Series logo
Format	Serial
Created by	George Lucas
Starring	James Arnold Taylor Matt Lanter Ashley Eckstein Catherine Taber Anthony Daniels Corey Burton Tom Kenny T.C. Carson
Country of origin	United States
No. of episodes	11 (List of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)	George Lucas Catherine Winder
Running time	22 min. (per episode)
Broadcast
Original channel	Cartoon Network[1]
Original run	October 3, 2008[2] – present
Chronology
Preceded by	Star Wars: Clone Wars
Followed by	Star Wars live-action TV series
External links
Official website
Production website
IMDb profile
TV.com summary

Star Wars: The Clone Wars is an American 3D CGI animated television series created by Lucasfilm Animation, Lucasfilm Animation Singapore and CGCG Inc.^[3] The series debuted on the US-version of Cartoon Network on October 3, 2008.^[2] It is set in the fictional Star Wars galaxy, during the same time period as the previous 2003 Star Wars: Clone Wars series. Each episode will have a running time of 22 minutes, to fill a half-hour timeslot. Star Wars creator George Lucas says "there will be at least 100 episodes produced."^[4] Dave Filoni, who has worked on Avatar: The Last Airbender, is the supervising director of the series.^[5] Genndy Tartakovsky, director of the first Clone Wars series, is not involved with the production,^[6] but character designer Kilian Plunkett referred to the character designs from the 2D series when designing the characters for the 3D series.^[7] There also exists an Online-Comic,^[8] depicting story-snippets between the single episodes.

The first trailer for the series was released on the official Star Wars website on May 8, 2007.^[9] The series was launched with a feature film, which was released in theaters on August 15, 2008. It is the second series (after Total Drama Island and before 6TEEN) to be originally broadcast on the main Cartoon Network (i.e., outside of Toonami or Adult Swim) with a TV-PG rating.

[edit] Production

At April 2005's Star Wars Celebration III, Lucas stated that "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."^[6] In July 2005, pre-production had begun on the series, according to Steve Sansweet, head of Lucasfilm fan relations.^[10] 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." Sansweet described the look of the new series as "a melding of Asian anime with unique 3-D animation styling." Primary production will take place at the Lucasfilm Animation facility in Singapore.^[11]

According to another statement by Sansweet, "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 CGI animation."

Lucasfilm Ltd. and Lucasfilm Animation used Autodesk software to animate both the film and the series. The Maya 3D modeling program was used to create the highly detailed worlds, characters and creatures.^[12] Animators also reviewed designs from the original 2003 Clone Wars series when creating the animation style for the film and the new series.^[13]

Anthony Daniels, who portrayed C-3PO in all six films as well as the Star Wars Holiday Special, Star Wars: Droids and Star Wars: Clone Wars, confirmed in June 2006 that he had been contracted for the series.^[14]

In a video interview with Rob Coleman from Imagina 2007 divulged that there were 15 episodes in production, one episode was complete, he was going to direct 5 of the first 22 episodes, reaction from licensees was very positive, and that final assembly of shows is done at Skywalker Ranch. this information:^[15]

At Lucas' March 3, 2007 appearance at the 2007 William S. Paley Television Festival,^[16] Lucas revealed the series is episodic, and as such will not focus on Anakin Skywalker's story; with episodes dedicated to clone troopers and Kit Fisto. Lucas revealed further information in a fan interview,^[4] a new Padawan Togruta character named Ahsoka Tano, over 100 episodes and a possible appearance by Boba Fett. Lucas was interviewed in the September 24, 2007 issue of TV Guide and confirmed 39 episodes of the series have been completed.^[17]

On April 8, 2007, Ain't It Cool News reported that musician Eric Rigler had recorded some music for the series.^[18] Rigler disclosed that each planet would have its own theme music and it was based on Bulgarian music and played on Irish pipes.

Stuart Snyder, who oversees Cartoon Network and other Turner Broadcasting System cable networks, said he became interested in the new Clone Wars series immediately upon starting the job in May 2007. Snyder flew out to San Francisco, California to screen several episodes, and told George Lucas the only place he wanted to see the show was on Cartoon Network.^[19]

Along with weekly airings of Star Wars: The Clone Wars on the Cartoon Network, future rebroadcasts are set to air at some point on TNT.^[20]

[edit] Broadcast history

The Clone Wars premiered on October 3, 2008 at 9 p.m. on the Cartoon Network. It has been programmed by Stuart Snyder alongside The Secret Saturdays, Ben 10: Alien Force and Batman: The Brave and the Bold (debuted on November 14, 2008) to create an action-adventure block of shows on Friday night in an attempt to rejuvenate Cartoon Network and compete with such channels as Nickelodeon and the Disney Channel. Snyder expressed confidence that the shows would help boost ratings: “You catch me at a time where I have a smile on my face because of our internal results,” Snyder said. “I can say there’s a little bit of bragging on the third quarter for us.”^[19]

The show debuted in Canada on October 5, 2008 on CTV at 7 PM ET and on Space on October 10 also at 7 PM ET (check local listings).^[21] In the United Kingdom it will debut on Sky Movies Premiere (and Premiere HD) on October 25 and will start at 5.30 PM. In France the show aired on November 25, 2008 on W9. The series started airing on November 3rd at 8 PM on Televisa XHGC Channel 5 in Mexico. In Germany the show will debut on November 23, 2008, 5.25 PM on Pro 7.

The show is currently due to make its Asian Debut in Singapore, on Saturday, December 6, 2008 at 9 p.m. on the local free-to-air channel, Channel 5 by local Broadcaster Mediacorp.

The show made its Australian Debut on Saturday 22 November 2008 at 12pm on Channel 10.

The show made its debut on the Norwegian network NRK Super on Saturday November 27 2008 at 7 pm with an episode daily the first week. It now airs on a weekly basis Sunday at 7 PM with a rerun Mondays at 4.20 PM

[edit] Reception

On July 11, television critics were shown a completed episode of the series. The Hollywood Reporter's Live Feed blog called the footage "likely the most photo-realistic animated TV series ever produced."^[22] On August 31, 2008, a sneak peek of the new series was shown during the season finale of Ben 10: Alien Force on Cartoon Network.

"Star Wars: The Clone Wars" became the Cartoon Network's most-watched series premiere ever. The computer-animated series, from Lucasfilm Animation, averaged 4 million total viewers in its debut, according to Nielsen Media Research. Cartoon Network said the Star Wars spin off ranked as the number one channel among all major kids networks in the time slot among total viewers as well as in the key youth demographics of kids 2-11 (1.8 million), kids 6-11 (1.4 million) and adolescents 9-14 (1.2 million, the largest in the demographic for any premiere telecast of an original Cartoon series).^[23]

[edit] Episodes

Main article: List of Star Wars: The Clone Wars episodes

[edit] Series Synopsis

[edit] Season 1

The series begins with Yoda and his clones facing off against Asajj Ventress and her droid army to prove the Jedi are worthy of protecting and allying with a key planet, which ultimately agrees to side with the Republic.

Afterward, the Republic learns of General Grievous' new weapon, an ion cannon, which he uses to disable ships before destroying them and all survivors, leaving no witnesses. Grievous then sets upon a medical base, but is intercepted by Anakin Skywalker, Ahsoka Tano and a clone team, substantially disabling Grievous' ship, the Malevolence. However, as the massive ship starts to limp away, Padmé Amidala inadvertently becomes a pawn, halting the attack and requiring Anakin and Obi-Wan Kenobi to attempt a daring rescue. Though they rescue the Senator and destroy the Malevolence, Grievous escapes.

While defending an outpost on the Rishi moon besieged by Grievous' droid commando army, a unit of rookie clones, with the assistance of Commander Cody and Captain Rex, manage to destroy the base and alert the Republic of Grievous' presence. The Republic fleet rushed to Rishi and drive Grievous' fleet away. Two Clones also join Captian Rex and Commander Cody's Unit the 501st. These Soldiers are 5's and Ecko who fought at Rishi. Their Commrade Heavy was killed by manually detonating detonators and tibanna fuel to stop the all clear signal from broadcasting

Anakin attempts to lure Grievous into a trap, but instead loses R2-D2 in a dogfight. Because he never wiped R2's memory banks of crucial information that can be exploited by the Separatists, Anakin attempts to find him, motivated primarily by the close bond he shares with R2. He is paired with replacement astromech R3-S6, a seemingly incompetent droid who later turns out to be a saboteur and Separatist spy. Fortunately, Anakin retrieves R2 and destroys a Separatist listening post, while R2 destroys the treacherous R3.

Despite the clumsy antics of Padmé's representative Jar Jar Binks (or perhaps because of them), Separatist Nute Gunray is captured. However, he is soon rescued by Ventress and escapes. Kit Fisto and his former Padawan Nahdar Vebb track Gunray to Grievous' sanctuary where he and his men instead find themselves involved in a test set by Count Dooku for Grievous. Along the way, Grievous kills Nahdar in a duel. Kit Fisto survived all the traps and escaped Grievous' santuary, but not before confronting Grievous.

During an attempt to capture Dooku, the Republic learns that the count himself has been captured by pirates. When Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker arrive at the pirates's base to see if the pirates are truthful, the two Jedi are captured as well. Together with Count Dooku, they form a Jedi-Sith alliance to escape the gang. Unfortunately, their only hope is Jar Jar Binks, who has been dispatched to deliver the ransom.

[edit] Cast

[edit] Feature film

Main article: Star Wars: The Clone Wars (film)

After viewing some of the completed footage of the early episodes on a big screen, George Lucas decided to weave the first few planned episodes together to form a theatrical release.^[24][25] Christopher Lee and Samuel L. Jackson reprised their roles as Count Dooku and Mace Windu from the live action films in the feature film, but do not appear in the series.

[edit] Characters

• Obi-Wan Kenobi
• Anakin Skywalker
• Ahsoka Tano
• Padmé Amidala
• C-3PO
• R2-D2
• Yoda
• Count Dooku
• Mace Windu
• Asajj Ventress
• General Grievous
• Palpatine/Darth Sidious
• Jar Jar Binks
• Nute Gunray
• Wat Tambor
• Plo Koon
• Kit Fisto
• Shaak Ti
• Aayla Secura
• Ki-Adi-Mundi
• Luminara Unduli
• Oppo Rancisis
• Nahdar Vebb
• Jabba the Hutt (film only)
• Ziro the Hutt (film only)
• Rotta the Huttlet (film only)
• Grievous' Bodyguards
• Battle Droids
• Super Battle Droids
• Droidekas
• Clone Troopers
• Commander Cody
• Oddball
• Captain Rex
• Admiral Yularen
• Gha Nachkt
• King Katuuko
• Cad Bane
• PiKK Mukmuk

[edit] Crew

• George Lucas - characters and story, co-writer, executive producer
• Catherine Winder - producer
• Sarah Wall - associate producer
• Chris Kubsch - managing director Lucasfilm Animation Singapore
• Matt Gidney - digital supervisor Singapore
• Scott M. Murphy - writer
• Henry Gilroy - co-writer
• George Krstic - writer
• Steven Melching - writer
• Dave Filoni - supervising director
• Rob Coleman - animation director
• Steward Lee - animation director
• Dave Bullock - animation director
• George Samilski - animation director
• Justin Ridge - animation director
• Brian O'Connell - animation director
• Andrew Harris - CG supervisor
• Trish Brunner - post production supervisor
• Kevin Kiner - composer

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Official Star Wars: The Clone Wars website
• Preview Special
• Official annoucement
• CGCG Inc. cocollaboration with Lucasfilm
• The Clone Wars (Series) at the Big Cartoon DataBase
• Star Wars: The Clone Wars at the Internet Movie Database
• Star Wars: The Clone Wars at TV.com
• Official teaser trailer
• Official Star Wars Celebration IV blog with information on the series