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Star Wars The Clone Wars: ‘The Gathering’

Official press release below:

“Build your own lightsaber, you shall. But first, harvest your crystal, each one of you must.”


Ahsoka escorts a group of younglings to Ilum, where they will learn from Yoda and undergo a crucial rite-of-passage: the construction of their lightsabers. They grapple with both physical and inner challenges as they face the dangerous task ahead of them in “The Gathering,” airing this Saturday, November 3rd at 9:30am ET/PT on Cartoon Network.

Episode Trivia:
· The opening prologue trailer to the episode features a rare flashback to before the Clone Wars, when Plo Koon discovered the baby Ahsoka Tano on an undisclosed planet, and brought her into the Jedi Order.

· The notion of lightsabers being powered by mystical crystals find their roots in the “Kyber crystal” concept in the early draft scripts of Star Wars, a mystical gem said to amplify the power of the Force.

· The symbols denoting the balance of the light side and dark side first seen in the realm of Mortis are visible in the temple entrance on Ilum. The markings that lined the halls of the Father’s Monastery on Mortis are also found within the Ilum temple.

· This episode introduces a Jedi youngling symbol worn as a patch on the students’ cold weather gear.

· The crystals are colorless until the young Jedi holds it, upon which it becomes attuned to the Force-user. This appears to be what governs the colors of Jedi lightsabers.

The Clone Wars: The Complete Season Four Arrives on Blu-ray and DVD Tuesday, October 23rd

Official press release below:

The Epic Battle Between Good and Evil Continues as Star WarsTM: The Clone WarsTM: The Complete Season Four Arrives on Blu-rayTM and DVD.

Available October 23, 2012
From Lucasfilm Ltd. and Warner Home Video, Three-Disc Blu-ray Set Includes All 22 Action-Packed Episodes, Five New Cast and Crew Video Commentaries, and The Jedi Temple Archives, containing test animations, concept art and Extensive Deleted/Extended Scenes

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (June 28, 2012) – Executive Producer George Lucas and Lucasfilm Animation present Star Wars: The Clone Wars The Complete Season Four, coming to high-definition Blu-ray Disc and DVD on October 23rd. Featuring stunning high-definition animation as well as a host of behind-the-scenes bonus materials, the complete collection explores the untold stories of “a galaxy far, far away” and reveals the magic behind the making of the cutting-edge series.

In its critically acclaimed fourth season, the battle to save the galaxy reaches new heights of peril and new depths of darkness. The valiant Jedi Knights and clone troopers defend exotic planets from enemy forces. They wage war underwater, battle across a night-shrouded world and take on the merciless Death Watch. Our heroes are tested like never before as Anakin is haunted by the realities of his past, Ahsoka fights to free her people, and an undercover Obi-Wan braves a deadly bounty hunter tournament. Season Four culminates with the shocking return of a villain from the past: the ruthless Darth Maul, who will stop at nothing to achieve vengeance.

The epic action and timeless characters of Star Wars surge on in Star Wars: The Clone Wars The Complete Season Four. Bonus materials include a collectible poster and five new video commentaries, which include director, cast and crew interviews. Exclusive to the Blu-ray disc, The Jedi Temple Archives provides in-depth access to an extensive database of creative materials – including early test animations, concept art, 3D turnarounds and more than twenty deleted/extended scenes.

“Season Four allowed us to expand the series on many levels and achieve things that once were impossible,” says Supervising Director Dave Filoni. “It all culminated in the return of one of the most exciting characters from the Star Wars Saga – Darth Maul. To bring a classic character back to life, and know that his future is not yet defined, is really exciting.”

Created and executive produced by George Lucas, the first-ever TV production from Lucasfilm Animation explores the tumultuous time between Episodes II and III, expanding the scope of Star Wars beyond anything seen in the feature films. Featuring the voices of Matt Lanter (90210), Ashley Eckstein (Her Universe apparel line), Dee Bradley Baker (American Dad), James Arnold Taylor (Johnny Test), Catherine Taber (The Old Republic) and Tom Kane (Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes). The fourth season also features a formidable line-up of guest stars – including Jon Favreau (Iron Man), Simon Pegg (Star Trek), Sam Witwer (Being Human), Clancy Brown (The Shawshank Redemption), Katee Sackhoff (Battlestar Galactica) and Jaime King (Sin City).

Special Features:

Star Wars: The Clone Wars The Complete Season Four is presented in widescreen with English, Spanish and French 5.1 DTS audio and English, French and Spanish subtitles. Bonus features include:

NEW THIS SEASON: Five Video Commentaries Featuring Supervising Director, Cast and Crew

The Battle of Mon Cala
Dive into the depths of animation production as Supervising Director Dave Filoni and key members of his crew discuss the challenges of creating this complex series of episodes, full of underwater warriors and deep sea action.

Darkened World of Umbara
Supervising Director Dave Filoni and key members of his crew shine a light on the shadowy battlefields of Umbara, discussing the technical hurdles in creating this epic arc, as well as the storytelling challenges of placing Captain Rex and his loyal soldiers in this most difficult of situations.

Obi-Wan Undercover
The truths behind the deception are revealed as Supervising Director Dave Filoni and key members of his crew chat about the creation of this storyline full of betrayal, reversals, and shady underworld figures.

Slaves of Zygerria
Supervising Director Dave Filoni and key members of his crew discuss the development of a story that began life as a comic book before being transformed into an action-packed animated drama.

Darth Maul Returns
Darth Maul is resurrected to become a new menace in The Clone Wars, and Supervising Director Dave Filoni and key members of his cast and crew discuss how this shocking turn of events came to be, and what it took to bring the Sith warrior back to the screen.

Blu-ray Exclusive – The Jedi Temple Archives
An extensive database exploring special effects footage, early concept art, 3D character and object turnarounds, early animation and more than 20 deleted/extended scenes. The Archives is a rare look at the assets in various stages of creation for The Clone Wars, with a wealth of surprises and never-before seen moments sprinkled throughout

Synopsis
Critically-acclaimed and unlike any other animated show on television, Star Wars: The Clone Wars brings viewers right up to the front-lines of the massive galactic conflict, revealing the stories that forged the Star Wars galaxy.

Lucasfilm, Star Wars™: The Clone Wars™, Lucasfilm Animation and related character names, vehicle names and properties are trademarks and/or copyrights, in the United States and other countries, of Lucasfilm Ltd. and/or its affiliates. TM & © 2012 Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved. All other trademarks and trade names are properties of their respective owners.

Pre-order on Instant Video, Blu-ray or DVD from Amazon.

Death Watch Returns in Star Wars The Clone Wars

Official press release below:

In the next all-new episode of The Clone Wars, Ahsoka Tano is reunited with Lux Bonteri, the handsome young Separatist who opened her eyes to the fact that the war isn’t always black-and-white. When Lux suddenly barges into a peace conference between Separatists and Republic delegates, he involves Ahsoka in a dangerous search to find justice for his mother’s death.
This episode, directed by Dave Filoni, sees the return of Death Watch. Since their attempt to take over Mandalore in Season Two, they’ve gotten tougher, grittier, and far more dangerous. Jon Favreau (Iron Man, Cowboys & Aliens) returns as warlord Pre Vizsla, and is joined by Katee Sackhoff (Battlestar Galactica) as the armored warrior, Bo-Katan.

Don’t miss this new episode of Star Wars: The Clone Wars airing at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT Friday, January 13th on Cartoon Network.

Strange alliances in Star Wars The Clone Wars: Citadel Escape

Official press release below:

 

Tarkin and Anakin Forge a Bond While Escaping the Citadel in the Final Chapter of a Thrilling Three-Part Clone Wars Storyline – this Friday on Cartoon Network!

Tarkin discusses exit strategy with Anakin and Obi-Wan in “Citadel Rescue,” an all-new episode of STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS premiering at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT Friday, March 11 on Cartoon Network. TM & © 2011 Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved.

After their ship is destroyed, Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi must find a new means of escape from the Citadel. They lead the freed prisoners – including the Republic’s Captain Tarkin – across the planet’s perilous landscape as Plo Koon commands a Jedi armada through Separatist defenses in a daring rescue attempt. It’s the thrilling conclusion to a three-part Clone Wars storyline in “Citadel Rescue” – airing at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT Friday, March 11 on Cartoon Network.

For Stephen Stanton, assuming the iconic role of Tarkin – made famous by Peter Cushing in Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope – was not a responsibility to be taken lightly. Using the first Star Wars film as a starting point and a foundation, Stanton immersed himself in the legendary actor’s filmography and early TV work, while at the same time dissecting the character for clues to Tarkin’s personal trajectory.

“Peter Cushing’s original Tarkin was the epitome of someone who had succumbed to the dark side. [He] is that quiet, elegant, grandfatherly kind of villain that you want to believe in with all your heart. And when you do, he turns on you with a smile and says ‘You’re far too trusting’ – and then destroys everything that you hold dear,” says Stanton. “But since I don’t believe anyone is born evil, I approached the younger version of his character from the standpoint of a career military man who fervently believes that what he is doing is the right thing. That gave me a certain amount of latitude to ask questions of the character – like, what was he like before he embraced the dark side? On one hand, I am using Peter Cushing’s voice and performance as a template, so I want to keep the essence of what he did. But on the other hand, I’m creating the voice of a young Tarkin – who no one has heard before. I think these new episodes challenge our ideas of who Tarkin was in A New Hope more than it reflects his character and what we know about him at the end of his days.”

Accused of “holding Vader’s leash” by the captive Princess Leia in Episode IV, Tarkin has the distinction of being the one Imperial officer with some authority over the menacing Sith Lord. He commands Vader with haughty impunity, publicly dressing down the master of the Force. According to Stanton, that relationship had to start somewhere.

“The relationship between Anakin and Tarkin – and ultimately Vader and Tarkin – is what is being explored now in The Clone Wars,” he says. “Who exactly is this Grand Moff and why is he able to exert control over Lord Vader? It was never fully explained in the films, but we’re getting some hints of how it all might have started. For myself as a viewer, I think Tarkin recognizes a kindred spirit in Anakin. It’s the choices they make and why they make them that will determine their destination. How their story evolves should be quite interesting.”

Tarkin’s not the only familiar face making his Clone Wars debut; airing on April 1 at 8:00pm ET/PT, the one-hour season three finale features a special appearance by everyone’s favorite furball, Chewbacca the Wookiee!

Obi Wan and Anakin try to escape the citadel in Star Wars The Clone Wars ‘Counterattack’

Obi-Wan tries to escape from the Citadel in 'Counterattack'

 

Official release:

Having freed the prisoners, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker search for a way out of the impenetrable Citadel prison. The brutal warden has more traps, perils and pitfalls in store for them, however, and the heroes must overcome their own differences in order to escape. After surviving their own daring break-in, it’s time for a “Counterattack” – the second chapter of a thrilling three-part storyline, airing at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT Friday, March 4 on Cartoon Network.

While Taylor is best known for providing the voice of The Clone Wars’ Obi-Wan Kenobi, he does far more for the series than just the staid and dulcet tones of that temperate Jedi Master. In the Citadel trilogy alone, he voices three very distinct characters – on both sides of the action-packed prison escape. In addition to Obi-Wan’s voice of reason, Taylor breathes life into Jedi Master Plo Koon and even the sadistic Citadel warden, Osi Sobeck.

“Most of the time, we work as a cast and we say our lines in sequence. Some actors need to kind of stay in the mode of the character, but [on The Clone Wars], we’re all very comfortable with just switching back and forth,” he says. “So when we did these sessions, it was a lot of fun. There was a point where I was doing all three [characters] in a scene, jumping from voice to voice. I love doing that stuff. I’m a ham. The fun thing about Osi – we’ll see, but I’m sure people have realized who I am actually doing. It’s not an impersonation, but it’s inspired by someone in particular – and as we went through the episode, it grew and changed. We’re not making fun; we’re paying homage to his acting beats and his style, but we’re not trying to fool anybody. Hopefully people will enjoy that and have fun with that, because that’s what we were doing.”

With so much fun going on behind the scenes, Taylor is understandably enthusiastic about being part of an ongoing project he enjoys so much. And while the sessions themselves are always so entertaining, he’s also quick to express his appreciation for the finished product, taken on its own merits.

“I watch the show because I’m a fan,” he says. “I love visually how it looks. I watch it from a study perspective, and I watch it because of the vital Star Wars elements that are in these episodes. I like these fun, swashbuckling, action episodes. That’s what was so fun about these; the [recording] sessions are like that, too. OK, we’re moving, you’re shouting, you’re fighting. The action ones, I can sink my teeth into immediately. I mean, come on, it doesn’t get any more Star Wars than that.”

Clip from ‘Counterattack’

Star Wars The Clone Wars -The Savage Oppress Trilogy

Star Wars The Clone Wars -The Savage Oppress Trilogy
review

Star Wars The Clone Wars is soon to enter its fourth year. With a questionable beginning as a feature film, the CGi-animated series has gone from strength to strength each week. The key feature that I have most enjoyed in the animated universe has been the rich characterizations given to the various clone troopers. Devised as a linking thread between the prequel and original trilogies, they start as being very sympathetic individuals before becoming a mass of white armor unable to shoot straight. The episodes centered on the Jedi, I have to admit, have been less interesting to me. Imagine my surprise when three Jedi-centric episodes strung together caught my attention!

After a series of stories that opened the 3rd series (Clone Cadets and ARC Troopers), the third series has been serviceable but nothing has really jumped out at me. That is until news started to spread about a new character named Savage Oppress and his role in a new three-part adventure. It’s not just the character of Oppress that so caught my attention, however. The plotting was tight, the animation superb and the action far more impressive than we have seen before.

Beginning with a brutal assault on the Republic forces, Asajj Ventress finds herself abandoned by her master Count Dooku. Fearing her power may threaten his rule, the Emperor had instructed Dooku to eliminate her to prove his loyalty. This of course goes back to the statement that only two Sith may serve the Dark Side; a master and an apprentice.

She seeks comfort and guidance in her homeland and the Nightsisters of Dathomir who assist in plotting her revenge. Part of this revenge involves the use of a Dathomir male, who are so fearful of the female witches that they dwell on the opposite side of the planet. It is thought that one of their number can be offered up as a replacement apprentice to Dooku in Ventress’ absence. To make it evident that he needs a body guard, a ‘Jedi assassination attempt’ is staged using witchcraft to cloud Dooku’s mind.

Desperate and paranoid, Dooku is only too pleased to accept the offer of Savage Oppress, a being so brutish that he makes Darth Maul look like a kitten by comparison. Leading several assaults against the Republic, Oppress proves his loyalty to Dooku while Ventress watches from the sidelines, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike.

When the time arrives, the battle is fierce and unrelenting. The Clone Wars series has excelled itself not only in storytelling but also in animation style and storyboarding. Thanks to the advent of technology, the lightsaber duels in the prequels were far more ambitious than the modest samurai sword fights seen in the original films, but they lacked the emotional impact that the the earlier fights had. The Clone Wars cartoon achieves a synthesis of the two, producing mind-blowing action sequences that are rich with emotional violence.

Oppress may be the most impressive combatant on screen, smashing his weapon in devastating blows that send enemies flying like ten-pins, but it is Ventress that is the real danger. Driven mad with bloodlust by Dooky’s betrayal, her rage knows no limits. I also quite like the human-ness of Dooku’s reluctant assent to abandon her in order to prove his loyalty to the Emperor. It’s a moment of sadness in him, but it’s a weakness as well that he can leave someone so devoted to him to the wolves. Dooku’s betrayal is a lovely testament to the nature of evil. This is exactly the kind of characterization that I think Lucas was shooting for in Darth Vader in the prequels, but it never really worked for me.

Part of the problem with the Clone Wars cartoon is that it takes place between Episodes II and III, greatly restricting what the animators can do. No matter how many more episodes we get, we know that the final episode will end in the battle seen in Episode III. Lucas states that he’d like to release about 100 episodes, meaning that we have quite a way to go until we reach that point. But that means that any character we see in Episode III is impervious to harm in the cartoon. That is certainly a storytelling handicap, but the animators have overcome it with the introduction of new characters like Cad Bane and deeper storylines that more fully develop the Star Wars universe.

When I was a kid playing with my Star Wars action figures, I envisioned vast universes of stories with unlimited potential. But I could not have imagined that a cartoon like the Clone Wars would come along seemingly fueled by a similar imaginative energy.

One of the most impressive stories thus far, the Savage Oppress Trilogy (Nightsisters/Monster/Witches of the Mist) is an unflinching look at the Dark Side and its savage nature.

The Jedi launch a rescue operation in Star Wars: The Clone Wars ‘The Citadel’

Official Release:

It’s an Action-Packed Introduction to an All-New Three-Part Clone Wars Arc – this Friday on Cartoon Network!

Led by Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker, an elite rescue team attempts to free a captive Jedi general from an impenetrable Separatist prison. Deep within enemy territory, The Citadel is surrounded by droids and run by a sadistic warden determined to prevent anyone from breaking out – or in. Our heroes stage an action-packed forced entry to “The Citadel,” the first chapter in an explosive three-part storyline – airing at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT Friday, February 18 on Cartoon Network.

“This arc is basically classic Star Wars; we focused on the things that I really remember loving about the Saga from when I was a kid,” says Dave Filoni, supervising director of The Clone Wars. “In the Mortis trilogy, George wanted us to explore some ground that’s never really been covered in Star Wars before. And now with the Citadel arc, we’re going back to some of those essential, classic conventions that have always made Star Wars so fun.”

Action-packed and filled with nods to the live-action saga, the Citadel trilogy finds its heroes behind enemy lines – using an unusual infiltration tactic that fans of the original trilogy will recognize as a twist on a classic Star Wars scene. With the heroes encasing themselves in carbonite to slip past The Citadel’s impenetrable security, the episode explores quintessentially familiar ground in decidedly unfamiliar ways.

“There are a lot of references packed into these episodes,” says Filoni. “Even the basic break-in idea parallels the Death Star rescue from Episode IV. It was really fun to do our version of that, but it’s definitely not the only thing that will feel familiar – though we’ve put our own spin on everything. This whole arc allowed us some fun opportunities to pay homage to the Star Wars that we all fell in love with when we, the older fans, were kids. Pretty much everyone on the crew is a fan, so it’s been fun to revisit some of those classic elements in The Clone Wars.”

Another familiar element come in the form of a classic Star Wars villain – introduced here on the side of the Republic! First appearing in Episode IV as the Imperial officer bold enough to “[hold] Vader’s leash,” Grand Moff Tarkin (now just a captain) will have his fateful first meeting with Anakin Skywalker in this week’s Clone Wars adventure.

“Tarkin was tricky,” says Filoni. “We had to capture his essence, while also aging him down appropriately. Peter Cushing is such a distinguished actor, and Tarkin is such an iconic role. He fills the room with his presence and, aside from the Emperor, he’s the only character who ever orders Vader around. So getting him right was very important to us, because his introduction to Anakin is an important one. And they’ve got a fun relationship that’s been very interesting to explore.”

Star Wars The Clone Wars: Monster (preview)

Official release:

Count Dooku visits the witches of Dathomir, seeking to replace Asajj Ventress with a new, deadlier apprentice. Little does he know that his new protégée – the formidable Savage Opress – has been selected by Ventress herself, and that the Nightsisters have used their witchcraft to transform the warrior into a monstrous killer without remorse, compassion or loyalty.

The second chapter of a three-part Clone Wars arc, “Monster” airs at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT Friday, January 14 on Cartoon Network.

“I’ve really fallen for Ventress, and here the audience gets to learn a lot about her history. She’s an extremely complicated character,” says Katie Lucas, writer of the three-part Nightsisters arc. “She’s a cold-hearted harpy, but she has good reason to be – and now she’s displaying a much more independent side of herself. Ventress is nobody’s pawn anymore. She finally owns herself. I grew up on Buffy and Tank Girl, so writing for strong females is second nature to me. I listened to a lot of early Hole and The Distillers albums to inspire me while writing these stories; I really wanted to tap into that visceral female rage, and Courtney Love’s snarl certainly tears that right out of you.”

While Ventress has certainly asserted herself and assumed a more powerful role than ever before, “Monster” also introduces an all-new villain into the power struggle. A warrior from the same fearsome race that spawned Episode I’s Darth Maul, Opress is bred and trained to serve – but he is destined to become more powerful than ever his masters had imagined.

“Savage is a lot like Frankenstein’s creation,” says Lucas. “He’s a monster, but you get brief glimpses of a real heart beneath the surface. He’s a complicated character – I don’t think he would have turned to the dark side without the manipulation of the witches. They use him.”

Daughter of the acclaimed Star Wars creator, Lucas acknowledges her personal connections to that “galaxy far, far away,” while still recognizing her writer’s responsibility to speak to the quintessentially Earth-bound human experience.

“If I hadn’t been raised in the Star Wars universe, I don’t think there would be any way I could write sci-fi. It doesn’t come naturally to me. I’ve had to adapt,” she says. “Part of being a screenwriter is knowing how to entertain, and the other part is staying true to your own vision. I’ve always been inspired by the truths of our world, universal and personal, here in our reality, and I try to bring as much of that as I can to The Clone Wars.”