Animation

After completing the Star Wars prequel trilogy, George Lucas decided to create Star Wars: The Clone Wars as an animated television series. The innovative weekly program would be fully computer-animated and tell stories in as many places and with as many characters as Lucas could imagine, pushing the boundaries of the Star Wars galaxy. A newly-formed company division, Lucasfilm Animation, was tasked with bringing his bold plans to the screen.

Development of The Clone Wars began in 2005, helmed by supervising director Dave Filoni in collaboration with executive producer George Lucas. The division commenced a long-term partnership with CGCG Inc. in Taiwan, in addition to launching a digital studio in Singapore.

In 2008, The Clone Wars debuted as a feature-length film and introduced audiences to now fan-favorite characters including Clone Captain Rex and Anakin Skywalker’s Padawan, Ahsoka Tano. A highly successful TV series followed, with seven seasons and over 100 episodes, winning multiple Emmy Awards.

The Clone Wars represented a milestone achievement for Lucasfilm, being the first CG 3D animated Star Wars series as well as the first Star Wars TV series developed and produced by Lucasfilm and guided directly by George Lucas. Running a total of seven seasons, it is also the longest running Star Wars series to date.

Lucasfilm Animation’s second series, Star Wars Rebels, made its debut on DisneyXD in 2014, as the first new piece of Star Wars storytelling created in partnership with The Walt Disney Company. Characters such as Sabine Wren, Ezra Bridger, Hera Syndulla, and others were first introduced in Star Wars Rebels, later to re-emerge in the live action series, Ahsoka.

Star Wars Resistance, Lucasfilm Animation’s third animated series, debuted on the Disney Channel in 2018. The story follows Kazuda Xiono, a young pilot recruited by Resistance hero Poe Dameron for a top-secret mission to spy on the growing threat of the First Order. That same year, Lucasfilm Animation announced it would return to the fan-favorite Clone Wars series and produce its final season, which arrived in 2020.

Inspired by a storyline originated in The Clone Wars, Star Wars: The Bad Batch premiered as Lucasfilm’s fourth animated series and was the first original animated series created for Disney+ in 2021. The series follows the elite and experimental clones of the Bad Batch as they find their way through a rapidly changing galaxy in the immediate aftermath of the Clone Wars.

In 2023, Lucasfilm Animation introduced Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi — six parables created by Dave Filoni and built around Jedi from the prequel era and the lives of two distinctly different Jedi — Ahsoka Tano and Count Dooku. The stories presented for each revealed how the fateful choices they made as Jedi would define their very divergent destinies.

Lucasfilm’s Franchise Animation team develops and partners with outside animation studios to create multiple Star Wars adventures and expand our storytelling view. Recent examples include: Star Wars: Visions, LEGO Star Wars, and Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures.

The Emmy-winning Visions has brought a diverse array of perspectives to the Star Wars galaxy. The series includes multiple Star Wars stories presented through the storytelling lens of animation studios from around the world, including Japan, South Africa, Spain, Ireland, Chile, the UK, South Korea, France, and India.

LEGO Star Wars has continued to delight fans with shorts and specials based on seasonal celebrations, such as LEGO Star Wars Terrifying Tales, LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special, and LEGO Star Wars Summer Vacation.

The Children & Family Emmy Award-winning Young Jedi Adventures, the first Star Wars series created for preschool-age fans, follows Jedi younglings Kai, Lys, and Nubs as they study the ways of the Force, explore the galaxy, help citizens and creatures in need, and learn valuable skills needed to become Jedi.

The future is bright and ever expanding, showcasing the power and resonance of the Star Wars galaxy in limitless animated expressions.