What a difference the word “the” can make.
IGN reports that on April 2, an animated series titled “Star Wars: Clone Wars” will make its debut on Disney+, but it’s not the same as “Star Wars: The Clone Wars,” an animated series that’s already available on Disney+.
That’s right, there are two different animated “Star Wars” series, both named “Clone Wars.” It can be a little confusing, so here’s a breakdown to outline what each series is and how they’re different from one another.
When did the ‘Clone Wars’ debut?
“Star Wars: Clone Wars” (the series sans “the”) debuted on Cartoon Network in 2003 and spans 25 episodes across three seasons, Engadget reports. According to the site, its episodes range anywhere from three to 12 minutes long.
“The Clone Wars” also debuted on Cartoon Network, five years later in 2008. The series ran for 133 episodes across seven seasons, according to IMDb. It’s episodes are typically 23 minutes long.
Episode length aside, the most notable difference between the two series is their contrasting animation styles.
How is the animation different in ‘Clone Wars’?
The earlier “Clone Wars” is a 2D-animated series created by Genndy Tartakovsky, the director behind popular cartoons like “Dexter’s Laboratory” and “Samurai Jack.” Tartakovsky has a distinct visual aesthetic present in all of his 2D work. Still images from his “Clone Wars” series are seen in this tweet:
“The Clone Wars,” on the other hand, takes place in the 3D animated world (as seen in the tweet below) and was helmed by Dave Filoni (who, according to IMDb, is currently serving as a writer on “The Mandalorian”).
How do the storylines differ in the two ‘Clone Wars’ series?
Both series tell stories that bridge the time gap between the Star Wars prequel films “Attack of the Clones” and “Revenge of the Sith,” but only one of the series is recognized as “Star Wars” canon, according to Collider.
The site reports that, although “Clone Wars” was critically acclaimed upon its release (it won three Primetime Emmys, according to IMDb), the show was classified as a noncanonical “Star Wars” property in 2012 when Disney acquired the rights to Lucasfilm.
“The Clone Wars,” which is considered a part of the “Star Wars” canon, is known for introducing fans to beloved new characters like the light saber-wielding heroine Ahsoka Tano and the Mandalorian warrior Bo-Katan Kryze (who appeared in Season 2 of “The Mandalorian”).
Which ‘Clone Wars’ series is better?
Both series seem to have a plenty to offer “Star Wars” fans who are looking for something to watch before “Star Wars: The Bad Batch” drops in May.
- Marissa Martinelli wrote for Slate in 2018 that “The Clone Wars” is necessary viewing for all “Star Wars” fans as it “adds some much-needed depth to the prequel trilogy” and features “some of the smartest, most vibrant storytelling in the entire ‘Star Wars’ universe.”
- For Collider, Rafael Motamayor recently wrote that the earlier “Clone Wars” series shows viewers “a different side of the Jedi order, one that portrayed the Jedi Knights as mythical warriors capable of great feats of superhuman strength, far beyond what we see in the live-action movies.” He added that “Clone Wars” not only features “the best action in the entire ‘Star Wars’ franchise” but also displays “the best version of some ‘Star Wars’ characters.”
You can decide which series you prefer as “Clone Wars” joins “The Clone Wars” on Disney+ on April 2.