Lucas, G. (Producer). (2009). Star Wars, the clone wars: The complete season one. United States: Lucas Film Ltd. & Warner Home Video.
Interest Level: 5-8
Genre: Science Fiction, Animation
Subjects: Darth Vader, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Interplanetary voyages, apprentices, war, robots, clones, Jedi,
Language: English, French, German, Spanish
Subtitles: English, French, German, Spanish
Rated: NR
Running Time: 484 minutes
“Fear is a disease; hope is its only cure.” – Blue Shadow Virus (ep.17)
Star Wars The Clone Wars: The Complete Season One package is a wonderful collector’s item. The disc case has the appearance of a high quality hard cover novel with 3 discs on inside of both covers and between is a 68-page booklet to tickle the fancy of any Star Wars geek young and old. The booklet is jam packed with original pre-production sketches in black & white and full color and corresponding artist notes. The discs include 22 episodes, 7 director’s cut episodes, 22 behind-the-scenes featurettes with director and cast interviews, and the Jedi Temple Archives which is a database of the initial animation process, concept art, and 3D turnarounds. If you’re getting a little bored of the Milky Way galaxy, then a “galaxy far, far away” with The Clone Wars is just what you need.
The Clone Wars is produced by George Lucas and Lucasfilms. This is a spin-off series set between Episodes II and III of the live feature films and fits perfectly after Yoda’s comment to Obi Wan near the end of Episode II, “the shroud of the Dark Side has fallen, begun the Clone War has.” The clones have not yet become enemies of the Jedi, and the series begins as war is already raging between the Republic and the Separatists, the clones and the droids. The first episode will have anyone watching enthralled and laughing with the slap-stick humor of the droids and in awe observing everyone’s favorite Jedi Master Yoda needing piggyback rides and using a cane yet able to be victorious over an entire battalion of droids with his ever impressive Jedi acrobatics. And the viewer gets to meet Ahsoka Tano, a young light saber yielding girl with a quirky personality, dedicated heart, and Anakin Skywalker’s padawan. Anakin Skywalker (nicknamed “Sky Guy” by Ahsoka) is almost always accompanied by Ahsoka and Obi Wan Kenobi, offering characters of both genders and various ages that will easily appeal to tweens and those younger or older.
The series offers plenty of options for discussion or personal reflection as each of the episodes begins with tidbits of Yoda wisdom. And though The Clone Wars and anything Star Wars is far from realistic, there are plenty of themes and lessons to learn from the show as the Jedi with the aid of the clone army try to return peace and order to the universe. Some themes that resonate strong are duty, morality, individuality, friendship, hatred, grief, segregation, secrets, and courage. The depth of the characters, animation design, foreshadowing, and intriguing and addictive storyline, will keep fans and those new to Star Wars wanting to own and re-watch each of the current four seasons already released on DVD and possibly books from DK such as; Star Wars The Clone Wars Character Encyclopedia, Star Wars The Clone Wars Visual Guide, Star Wars The Clone Wars Visual Guide Ultimate Battles, Star Wars The Clone Wars, Incredible Vehicles, and Star Wars The Clone Wars New Battlefronts The Visual Guide. If viewers are looking for an entirely new story featuring evil armies, royal twins, and a mysterious warrior destined to bring peace to the kingdom, they may enjoy the 26-episode anime series Guin Saga, or a world ravished by war between nations in which people can manipulate the elements in Nickelodeon’s series Avatar: The Last Airbender.
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