S

The current CGI Star Wars: The Clone Wars series is great, but it's hard to beat the traditional animation style and storytelling of the original animated Clone Wars series.

Star Wars: Clone Wars aired on the Cartoon Network between 2003 and 2005. The episodes, directed by Genndy Tartakovsky (Samurai Jack, Dexter's Laboratory), take place in the 3 year period between Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith and feature amazing pacing and animation. We've got a collection of original production and concept art. Enjoy!

The first 20 episodes of Star Wars: Clone Wars lasted roughly 3 minutes a piece and served as bumpers for Cartoon Network shows. Episodes 21-25, where most of these pieces of original production art originate, are 12 minutes in length and based loosely on the Star Wars Expanded Universe novel Labyrinth of Evil. The final scene of episode 25 leads directly into the opening space battle of Revenge of the Sith.

Star Wars: Clone Wars was released on DVD, but is currently out of print, leading many fans to see the series as "abandoned" by George Lucas in lieu of the current CGI animated Star Wars: The Clone Wars series. The first 20 shorts and were released on a single DVD in 2005, with a limited pressing of the last five episodes coming later.

Images courtesy of private collections and Lucasfilm.


Obi-Wan in Clone Trooper-esque battle armor lunges toward Dirge in this scene from episode 8.



A screen capture for the corresponding piece of concept art with Obi-Wan in trooper gear preparing to fight Dirge.

A great clone trooper battle shot from the series.

Mace Windu prepares for battle. Windu's solo episode, chapter 13, is one of the most spectacular of the series.


Padme makes a journey through the snow in episode 15 and confides in Yoda.



Qui-Gon Jinn makes a rare appearance in a flashback scene from the Phantom Menace era.


Young Anakin in a flashback scene from the Phantom Menace era in episode 21 of the series.



A great close-up of General Grevious surveying the destruction he wrought in episode 21.

Due to the death of many Jedis during the Clone Wars, the Jedi High Council meets and promotes Anakin to the status of Jedi Knight in chapter 21. Council member Oppo Rancisis, shown here, is against this decision.

Even Piell, who makes an appearance in the CGI series, sits in the Jedi Council chamber.

Jedi Council member Adi Gallia during the debate over Anakin's Jedi status.

Anakin brings a meal of grubs to share with Obi-Wan in the rain before an attack in episode 22. Obi-Wan, as always, is un-amazed.

Commander Cody (Obi-Wan's personal Clone Trooper liaison) makes his first appearance in Star Wars lore in this scene from episode 22.

Padme meets Anakin in episode 22, just prior to the alluded conception of Luke and Leia, and is shocked by the scar Anakin received while fighting in the Clone Wars.

Obi-Wan and Anakin discuss the situation with the Nelvaans.

Obi-Wan sits in awe with the Nelvaan Mystic (rather reminiscent of a character from Dark Crystal, a classic movie Tartakovsky is working on a sequel to) as Anakin is sent to free the Nelvaan males.

General Grievous wields two lightsabers in this scene from chapter 23.

A great Clone Trooper close-up from the series.

One of only a few scenes of Anakin with the Nelvaan warrior tattoos from the entire series.

Anakin, in Nelvaan tribal tattoos, reaches out to disrupt the power source in episode 24. This act frees the Nelvaan males and allows Anakin to finish his last Jedi Trial.

A screen capture of the scene where Anakin disrupts the power source in episode 24.

In the series finale, Anakin, covered Nelvaan tribal tattoos, loses his cybernetic hand while completing his last Jedi Trial.

Anakin, cybernetic arm destroyed, is still capable of using the force.

Anakin uses the force to move objects and free the Nelvaan warriors.

The Nelvaan males return home to their wives after years of abuse.

The Dark Crystal-inspired Nelvaan females await their kidnapped husbands.

Anakin looks away after freeing the Nelvaan slaves.