"You fought in the Clone Wars?" Luke Skywalker - Star Wars - A New Hope.
This line became perhaps one of the more exciting ones the classic trilogy when George Lucas first announced that he was going to make the prequels. However, fans maybe a little disappointed with the Clones Wars not starting until the very tail end of Attack of the Clones and almost finishing during Revenge of the Sith. This where the Clone Wars animated series comes in.
When Lucas decided that Episode 3 was going to take place 3 years after Episode 2 and it would be three years realistically between the movie openings (2002 - 2005) it wasn't long before Clone Wars spin-offs were being planned to fill in the time.
The Clone Wars Animated series is made up of 3 minute shorts that were originally shown on Cartoon network. Each one consists of various battles of the Clone Wars. It highlights 'background' characters from the movies such as Jedis Kit Fisto, Shaak Ti, Luminara Unduli and Barriss Offee and also shows how the clones divide into regiments (ARC troopers etc.) Also the banking clan briefly mentioned as separatist in Episode 2 provides the location Obi Wan fights on in several of the episodes which is a nice expansion from the movies. Also from the movies main characters Yoda, Mace Windu, Anakin, Obi Wan and Padme etc. are developed, particularly Anakin who duels with completely new villain Asajj Ventress, against Obi Wan's orders. Also, in the last episode General Grievous, the highly underdeveloped villain of episode 3 makes his debut.
The animation as a whole is quite good however the style may not be to some people's taste. The characters although recognisable are drawn in much stylised caricature way. The music is also new using very few cues from John Williams score. Also on the down side the voice talents are inconsistent from movies with, I believe, only Anthony Daniels reprising his role as C3PO. Most of the voices aren't bad, just Anakin's who's voice doesn't seem as deep as Hayden Christensen's (who plays him in the movies).
The DVD has the first 20 episodes making a full hour of animation and also has a few extras including 2 sets of commentaries a making of featurette and design galleries. These are quite interesting showing the development of the art styles and storyboarding the action sequences.
Overall the Clone Wars series is a great Star Wars spin off, hopefully wiping your memory of the awful Holiday Special or Droid and Ewok animated series'. It's a great way of linking Episode 2 and 3, for all those fans who were disappointed with a missing war or an underdeveloped Grievous.
Volume 2 is already being made and the first few episodes (which take you right up to minutes before episode 3) are available from the official site.
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Make no mistake,Clone Warsis honest-to-goodness authenticStar Wars. The animated series ... more
takes place betweenEpisode II, Attack of the ClonesandEpisode III, Revenge of the Sith. If the feature films covers the beginning and end of the war,Clone Warsdepi...
Postage & Packaging: free Super Saver Delivery Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Advantages: Excellent animation, official bridge between films, introduction of new characters Disadvantages: There are nore episodes - should have included them all on the DVD
Advantages: Excellent animation, official bridge between films, introduction of new characters Disadvantages: There are nore episodes - should have included them all on the DVD
![Star Wars - The Clone Wars Vol.1 [DVD]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78508366.jpg "Star Wars - The Clone Wars Vol.1 [DVD]")
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