Many major franchises have stayed away from the small screen, but Star Wars embraced it right from its early days. A year after the first movie, The Star Wars Holiday Special premiered on CBS, introducing the Chewbacca family and marking the first appearance of Boba Fett.
The ‘80s had even more action with three new animated shows and an Ewok movie airing. Surprisingly, the ‘90s were quiet, with no shows airing. Thankfully, the TV trend would return in the 2000s and has remained ever since.
Today, Star Wars shows continue to dominate the television landscape. Andor was up for a few awards at the recent Emmys, while others like Skeleton Crew and Ahsoka continue to dominate the streaming charts. The momentum has never slowed down in the animation space either. So far, there have been 10 animated Star Wars series, and here’s how they rank against each other.
‘Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures’ (2023)
Created for younger audiences, Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures tracks the progress of Kai Brightstar (Jamaal Avery Jr.), Lys Solay (Juliet Donenfeld), and Nubs (Dee Bradley Baker) as they undergo Jedi training during the High Republic era, years before the Skywalker saga. Under the tutelage of Master Yoda (Piotr Michael), they learn core Jedi principles and go on exciting adventures.
Fun, but Too Simple for the Average ‘Star Wars’ Fan
Winner of Outstanding Editing and Outstanding Sound Mixing at the Children’s and Family Emmy Awards, The Young Jedi Adventures won’t appeal to hardcore franchise debaters, but it is worth every bit of your attention, with the message lingering on long after each episode has ended. The missions, of course, are marked by doubt, despair, misery, anxiety, and an unbearable tension — but glory is never vanquished. Unfortunately, there is little to no connection with the outside canon. Moral lessons also tend to be repetitive.
‘Star Wars: Droids’ (1985)
Star Wars: Droids presents the misadventures of the iconic droids, C-3PO and R2-D2, before the events of A New Hope. Forced to change masters frequently, they keep finding themselves in new and challenging situations. Different franchise villains appear in each episode, underscoring the vast network that the two characters have involuntarily built.
It’s Robo-Time
One of the greatest ‘80s animated achievements, this demanding, sometimes disorienting show is a 13-episode meditation on the nature of friendship and fate, a saga that plunges us deep into the never-explored-before sections of the lore. It is not so much the voice performances that matter as the twisty moments, especially when the characters appear to have found a permanent home. The opening theme, “In Trouble Again”, by Stewart Copeland of the Police, is also quite something. Regrettably, the plots are paper-thin and the tone inconsistent.
‘Star Wars: Ewoks’ (1985 – 1986)
Set on the forest moon of Endor, with events taking place before the events of Return of the Jedi, Star Wars: Ewoks centers on Ewok Wicket W. Warrick (voiced by Jim Henshaw/Paul Chato) and his motley group of friends, as they defend their village from threats. With a mix of resilience and loyalty, we see them excel beyond their wildest dreams.
The Not-So-Bad Guys
Ewoks mixes sci-fi elements with fantasy and slapstick humor, resulting in a cocktail that whisks you away from the real world for some minutes. The traits of resourcefulness and courage are strongly emphasized, making this a perfect show for younger audiences. But you won’t love any of the villains. They are all weak. Among a dynamic voice cast, George Buza (better known for voicing Beast in X-Men: The Animated Series) really impresses as a chief who has to guide warriors during the toughest of times.
‘Star Wars: Resistance’ (2018 – 2020)
Star Wars: Resistance is about Kazuda “Kaz” Xiono (Christopher Sean), a young pilot tasked with spying on the incipient First Order. Stationed on the Colossus (an aircraft refueling station located on the ocean planet Castilon), Kaz tries to figure out who is working with the First Order. But as time goes by, he finds himself on the fence, unsure on which side to choose.
A Hero’s Dilemma
Nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children’s Program in each of its two seasons, Resistance is a cut above most kids-based storytelling; it bypasses educational overload and laughs in favor of a more sophisticated, authentic tone. Christopher Season is a vocal marvel as Escalante, and the rest of the cast doesn’t fall far behind. Beyond that, the cel-shading animation style sticks out among the usual CG-animated fare.
‘Star Wars: Clone Wars’ (2003 – 2005)
Placed between Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith in chronology, Star Wars: Clone Wars covers the surging conflict between the Republic and the Separatists. As Anakin Skywalker (Mat Lucas) and Obi-Wan Kenobi (James Arnold Taylor) lead the charge, several fresh threats emerge, including Asajj Ventress (Grey DeLisle) and General Grievous (Matthew Wood).
Simply Spellbinding
Created by Genndy Tartakovsky (better known for Dexter’s Laboratory and Samurai Jack), this bittersweet, engrossing war-themed animated series never slows down. There are multiple momentous scenes, and strong performances lifted the show above the fray, making it one of the best 2000s animated offerings. A brilliant show all around, Clone Wars won multiple awards, including two Emmys. Keep an eye out for the dialogue-free sequences of Mace Windu fighting droids without a lightsaber.
‘Star Wars: Visions’ (2021 – Present)
Star Wars: Visions is an anthology series with episodes made by different studios across the globe. Created outside the boundaries of the larger franchise’s canon, the stories play out according to the wishes of the respective writers and directors.
Fun Served in Small Doses
Despite the freedom accorded to them, all the creators wisely focus on the things that fascinate Star Wars fans the most, including the jargon, the fights, and the layered storytelling. This makes the show resonant and moving. Visually, we have a buffet since each episode has a unique artistic style. It’s like stepping into the Louvre. Visions is also ideal for new fans, allowing them to get quick bites without having to understand the larger, comprehensive narrative.
‘Star Wars: The Bad Batch’ (2021 – 2024)
Star Wars: The Bad Batch is about Clone Force 99, a team of genetically superior clone troopers. Thanks to their genetic mutations, they mount a strong resistance against Order 66. After refusing to conform to Imperial rule, they become fugitives, becoming active witnesses to the galaxy’s vibrant tapestry. Over the course of the series, they are joined by Omega (Michelle Ang), Jango Fett’s young female clone.
Rejecting Impunity
From Saturn Awards to Golden Reel Awards, The Bad Batch has plenty of statuettes in its trophy cabinet. The show also received the ReFrame Stamp Persuasive (an award given to organizations that promote gender equality). Here, voice performances and a dense soundscape enhance this riveting, action-packed gem. The constant threat of surprise attacks helps to ratchet up the tension, while the dialogue leans towards a socio-political edge.
‘Star Wars: Tales’ (2022 – Present)
An anthology show, Tales has had three amazing tales so far. Season 1 (“Tales of the Jedi”) is about the adventures of Ahsoka and Count Dooku. Season 2 (“Tales of the Empire”) features several characters related to the Galactic Empire, and Season 3 (“Tales of the Underworld”) focuses on several bounty hunters operating across the galaxy.
An Unforgettable Three-in-One Package
With dozens of characters to play with, showrunner Dave Filoni (best known for Avatar: The Last Airbender) creates a layered and aural show that nourishes the mind and the ears. He goes big with each arc, and the ambition mostly pays off. Most importantly, there are numerous clever connections to the larger Star Wars lore. So clever are they that they only matter to hardcore fans. Newcomers can fail to get them, but still keep up with the overall plot.
‘Star Wars: The Clone Wars’ (2008 – 2020)
The conflict between the Republic and the Separatists gets deeper in Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Events occur in the years between Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith and are structured in episodic arcs, following Obi-Wan Kenobi (James Arnold Taylor), Anakin Skywalker (Matt Lanter), and Ahsoka Tano (Ashley Eckstein) as they lead the clone armies against various franchise villains.
Some of the Coolest Fights
With its fine blend of rollicking battle sequences, outlandish characters, offhand comicality, and lurid storytelling, this show garnered universal acclaim; no wonder it lasted for so long. The animation is stunning, and so is the musical theme, drawing inspiration from John Williams’s award-winning score. Make no mistake. This is not a show for kids, and the moral ambiguity proves it. Additionally, there are influences from samurai cinema and real-world history that only adults can appreciate.
‘Star Wars: Rebels’ (2014 – 2018)
Also created by Dave Filoni, Star Wars: Rebels’ events take place 14 years after Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, slowly cruising toward the proceedings of the original 1977 film. Here, the Galactic Empire pumps up its efforts in hunting down the last Jedi as a new rebellion against the Empire begins.
The Fight Continues
Drawing inspiration from the visual style of the original Star Wars trilogy and concept art by Ralph McQuarrie, Fioni crafted one of the most engaging animated shows of all time. Witty, thought-provoking, groundbreaking, and tense, Rebels set the bar quite high. Few future Star Wars productions will ever reach this pinnacle of entertainment, but we’re ready to be surprised. Boasting numerous award nominations, the show won a few, including Best Animated Series at the Saturn Awards.
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
