Star Wars The Clone Wars: Season One.

"Your attention please:  This is just a cartoon.  It is not Star Wars Episode 2.5.  It was intended for kids.  Do not begin foaming at the mouth, pulling hair, or leaving scathing messages in my comments box.  It is only a cartoon.  Thank you for your attention."

Lucas Films came up with an ambitious project; one of the favorite areas for speculation in the Star Wars Universe has been in the span of time between Episode Two and Episode Three.  And Lucas has started filling this grey area in with many tales and vignettes of the Clone Wars.

A great deal of this material has been aimed at kids.  Odd, when the root material is so dark and intriguing, but there you are.
Now there is a full scale CGI cartoon on Cartoon Network, and it's first season is now available on DVD.

Each of the twenty two episodes is 22 minutes long.  They start with little preamble; logo, a quote which are supposed to be proverbs of the Jedi (some read like a fortune cookie) germane to the theme of the episode, then a little "newscast" that catches you up with what has gone before.  The stories are standalone dramas, even if as many as three stories are caught up in the same story arc.
And while the art and animation are a little more stylized than I would like, they are well drawn, with rich detail, full backgrounds, and excellent artwork.  If a scene only has droids or armoured troopers in it, you can almost forget it is CGI.

And the stories are usually good enough to drag you in, and assist you in suspending your disbelief.

Season 1, Episode 1: Ambush

"Great leaders inspire greatness in others."

 The coral moon of Rugosa is to be the site of negotiations to persuade King Katuunko to allow the building of a Republic supply base on Toydaria. However, Asajj Ventress has a counter proposal, and it is up to Yoda to prove which side can be of more value.


 Season 1, Episode 2: Rising Malevolence

"Belief is not a matter of choice but of conviction."

There is a new weapon in the war, and Master Plo Kun is it's latest victim.  Can he and the troopers with him survive until help can arrive; and will help come at all?


 Season 1, Episode 3: Shadow of Malevolence

"Easy is the path to wisdom to those not blinded by ego."

General Grievous has a new toy to play with, and he is targeting the Republic Hospitals first to make an impression.  But the Jedi have some new toys as well; Shadow Squadron and their Y wing bombers. 

 Season 1, Episode 4: Destroy Malevolence

"A Plan is only as good as those who see it through."


The Republic forces are closing in on The Malevolence and it's Ion Cannon; that is why Grievous has a new type of shield; Senator Amidala and C3PO!


 Season 1, Episode 5: Rookies

"The Best Confidence Builder is Experience."

A look into the minds and hearts of the clone troopers, these stationed on the Rishi Moon are the shining green line that protects the Clones' home world of Kamino.



 Season 1, Episode 6: Downfall of a Droid

"Trust in your friends and they'll have reason to trust in you."

R2D2 is lost in the wake of battle, and Anakin has to get him back; his memory is chockfull of military secrets!  But the Trandoshan scavenger Gha Nachkt in his salvage freighter, Vulture's Claw plans to sell the droid to the highest bidder. 


 Season 1, Episode 7: Duel of the Droids

"You hold onto your friends by keeping your heart a little softer than your head."

Anakin is putting the mission in jeopardy to rescue R2D2.  They have to destroy the General's listening post, but Goldie is no substitute for R2.  In fact, he seems to be doing more harm than good.



 Season 1, Episode 8: Bombad Jedi

"Heroes are made by the times."

Onaconda Farr of Rodia is desperate to help the starving people of Rodia; so much so that he is willing to sell Padme to the Separatists for food!  And it is up to Jar Jar to save the day.  Yes.  Jar Jar Binks.




 Season 1, Episode 9: Cloak of Darkness

"Ignore your instincts at your peril."

Poor Viceroy Nute Gunray, he is being transported to Coruscant to face trial.  Asajj Ventress is on the case; the question becomes is she there to rescue him, or to silence him?  Where is he safer, with the Sith or the Jedi?


 Season 1, Episode 10: The Lair of General Grievous

"Most powerful is he who controls his own power."

Kit Fisto is reunited with his former Padawan Nahdar Vebb on the remote planet of Vassek.  The Jedi are little more than pawns of Dooku to test the resourcefulness of General Grievous, as Dooku betrays the cyborg's lair to the Jedi.


 Season 1, Episode 11: Dooku Captured

"The Winding Path to Peace is always a worthy one, regardless of how many turns it takes."

Obi Wan and Anakin are hot on the trail of Count Dooku.  But it is the Weequay pirate Hondo Ohnaka who is the real problem, and everything, and everyone, is for sale.


 Season 1, Episode 12: The Gungan General

"Fail with honor rather than succeed by fraud."

Obi-Wan and Anakin are now hostages along with Dooku at Hondo Ohnaka's stronghold on Florrum.  There is a million credits in spice, treachery in the ranks, and finally, someone who actually knows how to make use of Jar Jar Binks' brand of chaos.

 Season 1, Episode 13: Jedi Crash

"Greed and fear of loss are the roots that lead to the tree of evil."

Skywalker, Aallya Secura and Asoka, along with a squadron of clones, crash land on a Maridun where they encounter a lemur like people, unwilling to get involved in the war.  However, they are willing to help the injured Anakin.

 Season 1, Episode 14: Defenders of Peace

"When surrounded by War, one must eventually choose a side."

The peaceful Lurem people discover that Lok Durd of Neimodian doesn't care about their neutrality; he just wants a target to test a new weapon that kill all live but leaves droids unharmed.

 Season 1, Episode 15: Trespass

"Arrogance Diminishes Wisdom."

Orto Plutonia is claimed by Pantora. Unfortunately the indigenous Talz resent being pushed around on their own planet. More unfortunately Pantoran dignitary Chi Cho claims the planet to be under his people's jurisdiction and orders the unwanted aliens wiped out.  Riyo Chuchi, young Senator for the moon of Pantora must find a solution. 



 Season 1, Episode 16: The Hidden Enemy

"Truth enlightens the mind, but won't always bring happiness to your heart."

Things go so consistently bad on Christophsis that the clones have to consider there is a traitor amongst them. 


 Season 1, Episode 17: Blue Shadow Virus

"Fear is a disease; hope is its only cure."

In a scenario that could be played out today Dr. Nuvo Vindi is recreating the dreaded Blue Shadow Virus on Naboo.  When he captures Senator Amidala and Representative Binks, it is up to the Jedi to rescue them before the plague is unleashed.



 Season 1, Episode 18: Mystery of a Thousand Moons

"A single chance is a galaxy of hope."

The Blue Shadow Virus is released in Vindi's underground lab with Padmé, Ahsoka, Jar Jar and several Clone troopers trapped inside with it. Anakin and Obi-Wan race to the moons of Iego for the cure, but will have to lay the 'Ghost of Drol' to rest in order to leave. 

 Season 1, Episode 19: Storm Over Ryloth

"It is a rough road that leads to the heights of greatness."

Ryloth is captured and the Outer Rim is set to fall.  Anakin, Obi-Wan and Asoka must break the blockade of Mar Tuuk the Nemoidian.  And Anakin is putting it all on Asoka's narrow shoulders.

 Season 1, Episode 20: Innocents of Ryloth

"The costs of war can never be truly accounted for."

Obi-Wan, Commander Cody and his 212th Attack Battalion set out to free the occupied Twi'lek village of Nabat on Ryloth to take that planet back.  Two troopers, Waxer and Boil find a Twi'lek child Numa, whose home ground knowledge holds the key to saving her people from their job as meat shields.


 Season 1, Episode 21: Liberty on Ryloth

"Compromise is a virtue to be cultivated, not a weakness to be despised."

Cham Syndulla is the leader of the Twi'lek resistance.  Mace Windu must enlist his help, but first he must build a bridge of trust between the rebel Cham and Senator Tae Boon.  It is not always true that the enemy of my enemy is my friend.


  Season 1, Episode 22: Hostage Crisis

"A Secret Shared is a trust formed."

Anakin and Padme are courting, and Anakin, like an idiot, gives Padme his lightsabre.  Of course, that is when the bounty hunter Cad Bane strikes, and takes many Senators hostage, including Padme Amidala.  It is a diabolical plan to free a prisoner, and Palpatine has little choice but to capitulate.

A great evil is loosed on the galaxy...the Crime Lord Ziro!

No, he isn't that good at being bad; imagine for a moment Jabba the Hutt channeling the spirit of Truman Capote.  Oh yeah, someone needs to die. 

~~~~
So, 22 short dramas from the Clone Wars, and we are barely scratching the surface.  The cast changes as well; it is almost always Anakin and Asoka, but they are not always the focus, and any and all characters can take a back seat so a minor character can get some development.

For a show written for children, they do not particularly dumb it down.  I find that charming; I always resented adults assuming I was stupid just because I was young.  Today's kids are a lot wiser about the ways of the world, and this show exposes them to that; from political intrigue and the high price of crime to the pain and suffering of war.

All in all, it makes an excellent addition to the Star Wars Universe, and one I am looking forward to for many more seasons.

Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children up Ages 8