Star Wars: The Clone Wars In Theaters and on Television in 2008

[Swizzle]

The animation they show ranges from "freaking awesome" to "professionals did this?" Hope it's a little more consistent and polished once it's out.

[RobertoOrtiz]

Press release:
Turner Broadcasting Lands Lucasfilm Ltd.’s
STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS Television Series

Groundbreaking Animated Series Premieres This Fall on Cartoon Network and TNT




After months of speculation throughout the television industry, Turner Broadcasting has landed the broadcast rights to the highly-sought-after CG-animated series, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, from creator George Lucas. A new era of Star Wars entertainment begins this fall when the television series premieres on Cartoon Network, followed by airings on TNT. The series will premiere following the North American theatrical release Friday, August 15, from Warner Bros. Pictures. Details regarding international television broadcasts will be announced shortly.

Produced by Lucasfilm Animation, Star Wars: The Clone Wars takes audiences on incredible new Star Wars adventures, combining the legendary storytelling of Lucasfilm with an eye-popping, signature animation style.

“I felt there were a lot more Star Wars stories left to tell,” said George Lucas, executive producer of Star Wars: The Clone Wars. “I was eager to start telling some of them through animation and, at the same time, push the art of animation forward.”

“Nothing like this has ever been produced for television,” said Stuart Snyder, President/COO Turner Animation,Young Adults & Kids Media. “For 30 years, Star Wars has shown that it appeals to a huge breadth of fans. Star Wars: The Clone Wars on Cartoon Network will be appointment television for everyone in the family. We’re thrilled to be working with Lucasfilm again and very excited to be playing a role in bringing this remarkable adventure to viewers.”

Star Wars: The Clone Wars showcases an entirely new look and feel to the galaxy far, far away, combining the expansive scope of the Star Wars saga with state-of-the-art computer-generated animation. Each week, viewers will see a thrilling, 30-minute “mini-movie” created by the talented artists at Lucasfilm Animation.

On the front lines of an intergalactic struggle between good and evil, fans young and old will join such favorite characters as Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Padmé Amidala, along with brand-new heroes like Anakin’s padawan learner, Ahsoka. Sinister villains - led by Palpatine, Count Dooku and General Grievous - are poised to rule the galaxy. Stakes are high, and the fate of the Star Wars universe rests in the hands of the daring Jedi Knights. Their exploits lead to the action-packed battles and astonishing new revelations that fill Star Wars: The Clone Wars. With a new story each week, Star Wars: The Clone Wars continues the tradition of thrilling stories, astonishing visuals and extraordinary music that have always been the hallmarks of the Star Wars saga.

Lucasfilm Animation, which is based in Marin County, Calif., with a studio in Singapore, has produced more than 30 all-new episodes of Star Wars: The Clone Wars. The first in a planned series of web-only documentaries that chronicle the development of Star Wars: The Clone Wars debuts online today, and can be found at StarWars.com (http://www.starwars.com/).

Link (http://www.animated-news.com/2008/clone-wars-extends-its-battle-to-cartoon-network/#more-8293)

[RobertoOrtiz]

Nad here is another article with pics...

http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2008-02-11-clone-wars-side_N.htm?csp=34

[lebada]

someone was saying that their budget was about 2 mil per episode which is said to be reasonably cheap..im guessing they have interns working on stuff as well. looks good overall though

[ds5000]

It looks great... I just wish they'd made them more colorful... like the 2d version... it seems to me too grey... that's just my 2 cents.

[Ilive]

I guess Lucas is trying to prove his own theory about making 40-50 movies with 200 Million dollars instead of just one.

Can you imagine if this theatrical release makes just 20 million at the box office it will have paid for itself? Basically what it appears is the theatrical version is really just 3 episodes compiled into one episode. Each episode was said to be 2 million a pop, so technically that is 6 million dollars. Being that it is Star Wars and hit all major theatres it may pull in way more than 20 million at the box office

We may being seeing a new era of technology and cheaper productions. George did say the future is in smaller productoins and home theatre viewing.

Whether you hate or love him he's by far not a stupid man and does have an eye for the future.

[SergioSantos]

he's by far not a stupid man and does have an eye for the future.

with "future" you mean "money"?

[Ilive]

Money most definately. Folks got to eat and there is nothing wrong with someone making money and filling fanboys need for more Star Wars.

I think he is a pioneer in everything he does. He made this series not knowing who will buy it or want it shown on their station as it fit no known demographic. It wasn't too kiddie and not adult enough, but he didn't care. He made it anyway.

And as far as the future he has in fact innovated or invested in some of the best technology out there.

Like I said, Love him or Hate him, we can't deny his impact on the CG World and Movies in general.

From Pixar to ILM.

p.s. saw your Beast character and it rocked tremendously. Very creative monster. Sorry to post it here. LOL

[switchblade327]

someone was saying that their budget was about 2 mil per episode which is said to be reasonably cheap..im guessing they have interns working on stuff as well. looks good overall though

Interesting. Father of the Pride was about $1 million per episode (in Hong Kong, I think) but I guess the scale of that wasn't quite so epic. I

And I agree with Swizzle the animation quality was inconsistent. I think most of it was competant but not particularly charming and the action especially could've been a lot flashier. I expect animated characters with lightsabers to be nothing short of jaw-droppingly badass.

[malducin]

Well the 2 million might be cheap, but that is probably leveraged because of the Singapore studio. While salaries and cost of living might be comparable to the US, I think Lucas got some incentives (tax breaks, etc.) to base the studio there. Maybe I'm misremembering the press releases?

It also helps that Lucasfilm Animation is a 24 hour studio with its 2 locations.

[sconlogue]

The term "Ground Breaking Animation" has been used a number of times in these articles and press-releases. I am not sure we have seen anything ground breaking in these images or trailers. I guess the low production cost could be what they mean. Like getting more animation for your money but I don't see how that advances the "Art of Animation" to quote starwars.com. I guess we will just have to pay and see..... I mean wait and see.

[Dirtystimpy]

someone was saying that their budget was about 2 mil per episode which is said to be reasonably cheap..im guessing they have interns working on stuff as well. looks good overall though

You are guessing wrong. A lot of extremely talented people working on that show, with an insane amount of work to do in a small amount of time. Anyone who has ever worked in TV knows how hard it is.

[hellgatemedia]

Well no matter what, I'm pretty damned excited! Also, I'm going to guess that this is a sneak peek, not a trailer, and that the finish product will still look a bit more polished.
As a hardcore Star Wars geek, August can't come fast enough.

My only beef is, couldn't they have figured out a way to hire the original actors to do the voices, at least Hayden??

[madheavy]

Wow! I think the lighting looks great! When I saw the first trailer, I thought something was wrong, in this trailer it sets the mood nicely.

Animation looks good to me. Yeah, unfortunately, due to costs, it couldn't be done in America, but the people in Singapore seemed to be doing a great job, and as the episodes move along, they will only get better. (Example: watch the simpsons early seasons and watch one from this season...)

Only question I have is DVD or Blu-Ray?:applause:

[j3st3r]

I would not call Antropus an intern....:)

How's going on, Antropus?

[Emmanuel]

They produce this in asia, right ?

[Ivan D Young]

I wonder if this was one of the fators in the Warner switch to Blu-Ray? I think it would be a pretty good move if you did not have lucas film locked into a deal. There was a rumor some months ago that Disney was the lead group for TV series and now it is announced that it is Warners. Warners seems to be having a good time here right now.

[malducin]

Well the production (scripts, producers, etc.) is in California (at the Ranch). The animation is done (at least part of it) at the Big Rock facility in California (the northern Bay area) and the Singapore facility.

The Singapore facility already splits work with California, they did some of the VFX work for Transformers, for example.

[Antropus]

...and as the episodes move along, they will only get better. (Example: watch the simpsons early seasons and watch one from this season...)
Exactly my thoughts. That happens all the time.

We can't talk any bit about details due to NDA.
All I can say is that I've seen a lot of great stuff produced for the show and there are some very talented people working on it indeed.

Certain thing: until the show is up and running for a little while, everything posted here will be pure speculation and guessing game. There are also very incorrect information posted here in this thread.

So, don't believe in anything said by anyone from outside of Lucas (and if you know someone from the inside that told you details about what's going on, then this person is violating his NDA).

All we can do at this moment is wait and see.

j3st3r,
thanks man. Doing great. What about you?

-Kris

[SergioSantos]

watch the simpsons early seasons and watch one from this season...

well... in the simpsons maybe the quality of the animation was better in the last seasons, but I really prefer to watch one of the early episodes than any episode of the last 5 or 6 seasons.

I would say... example of great animation made in Asia with American production is "Avatar, the last airbender", awesome.

[hellgatemedia]

Antropus, I fully understand that the best is yet to come.
AND, I'm quite happy right now, because as a lifelong star Wars fan, I am finalizing the build out of a store that is going to have a ton of Star Wars merchandise in it, something I always wanted to do that wasn't CG, or film related. August is goign to be the best month of my life as both a business owner and a fan.

[Wiro]

I worked at the Singapore office as a lighting TD and I can say I'm proud of my team mates there. The quality is outstanding considering this is a TV show.
Go LAS!

Wiro

[punnw01]

So, don't believe in anything said by anyone from outside of Lucas (and if you know someone from the inside that told you details about what's going on, then this person is violating his NDA).


yes you're right most things said here is just speculation. the only thing they got right is the fact that Antropus is an intern.

[Antropus]

yes you're right most things said here is just speculation. the only thing they got right is the fact that Antropus is an intern.
Dang! I got caught... another coffee sir?

[thatoneguy]

I worked at the Singapore office as a lighting TD and I can say I'm proud of my team mates there. The quality is outstanding considering this is a TV show.
Go LAS!

Wiro

And I think that's what is revolutionizing animation. The speed at which it's being produced.

There is going to be an enormous push make these sorts of things for as cheap as humanely possible. If you could make an epsidoe of the current quality for $500,000 then you've opened a whole new realm of film making. The high production value independent 3D animated film.

- Gavin

[Ilive]

that's precisely the route I'm taking! :)

[hellgatemedia]

What i like is, although not an entirely new concept to start in film and finish on television, this really opens doors for CG. Unlike the other typical CG movies, this is obviously based
on a proven license, and will obviously make truckloads of cash.
I hope it sets a new trend, I think this would be a great option for comic companies that are struggling wtih licenses that they can't budget into live action features, but want to do more than just a simple direct to DVD feature, or run of the mill weekly series.

And honestly, I hope this does so well that we get more animated Star Wars projects out of this, and I'd really like to see some New Hope era projects, HINT HINT to the Lucasfilm people :)
This would be a great way to expand off of Return of the Jedi without having to worry about shooting a live action feature and all the issues that would go with it at this time.

Jackson and Christiansen are saying while doing the promo circuit for Jumper that they'd love to do the voice acting for Mace and Anakin, oh that would be nice....

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