2D ‘Star Wars: Clone Wars’ Series Isn’t Canon, but It Is Great

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When Disney acquired Lucasfilm in 2012, a lot of previously established details in the Star Wars universe were changed or removed from official continuity – a process known as retconning. While many stories were affected, the Star Wars: Clone Wars animated series is particularly notable. Originally airing from 2003 to 2005 with 25 episodes, it greatly expanded on a crucial period in the Star Wars story, and remains enjoyable even though it’s no longer considered part of the main timeline.

When Disney took over Star Wars, it wasn’t just the show that changed – they basically hit the reset button on a lot of stories! They decided a bunch of books, comics, and other stuff weren’t official anymore. Since then, they’ve been adding new stories, sometimes similar to the old ones, but often quite different. Luckily, everything they removed is still around under the name Star Wars Legends, so if you’re like me and loved the old expanded universe, you can still enjoy it!

The Decanonized 2D ‘Star Wars: Clone Wars’ Animated Series Is Still Worth Watching


Cartoon Network

Expanding a movie series with a TV show isn’t a new idea, but it’s become much more common recently. Back in the early 2000s, it was quite innovative, because TV and movies were generally created by completely separate teams. That’s why when Lucasfilm partnered with Cartoon Network to create Star Wars: Clone Wars, it really caught people’s attention. The animated series first aired shortly after Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones in 2002, and finished just weeks before Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith concluded the prequel trilogy in 2005.

You can definitely enjoy the Star Wars prequel movies without watching The Clone Wars series, but seeing both together gives you a much deeper understanding of the war happening between the films. Even though The Clone Wars isn’t officially part of the current Star Wars storyline, watching the prequels with the series included provides the same experience it did when it originally aired. The Clone Wars finale actually leads directly into Revenge of the Sith, creating a smooth transition. If you’re familiar with the newer Star Wars canon, it’s best to set aside Disney’s recent changes while watching The Clone Wars.

The animated series Star Wars: Clone Wars expanded the universe with memorable characters like General Grievous, who later appeared in Revenge of the Sith with Matthew Wood providing his voice. Many fans still consider the series’ depiction of Grievous to be the most frightening and intense version of the character. The show also offered a more accurate and powerful portrayal of existing characters like Mace Windu, showcasing his strength and abilities – including new Force powers – in ways that might not have fit as well in the live-action films.

‘Star Wars: Clone Wars’ Received a Direct Replacement That Disney Kept as Canon


Disney+

After Revenge of the Sith, there was a pause in new Star Wars content, but the franchise returned in 2008 with Star Wars: The Clone Wars. This film wasn’t just a movie; it was also the first episode of a new CGI-animated series, which ran for six seasons until 2013. Unlike the earlier 2D Clone Wars series, this one was created by George Lucas himself. However, the 2008 show largely revisited the same events as the 2003 series, sometimes even contradicting things that had already happened.

For a while, both versions of Clone Wars were officially part of the Star Wars story, even though their timelines didn’t quite align. When Disney acquired Lucasfilm, the 2D animated series was removed from official canon. This makes sense, considering the newer Clone Wars series had many more episodes and was considered a better fit with the style of the films. However, the original Clone Wars created by Genndy Tartakovsky was crucial; it paved the way for the more extensive series that fans enjoy today.

Disney has fully supported the Clone Wars animated series, even bringing it back for a seventh season to launch its Disney+ streaming service. That final season connected the show’s story to the events of Revenge of the Sith, and popular characters like Ahsoka Tano and the Bad Batch have appeared in other Star Wars projects since then. The same animation style is now used for the Tales anthology series and will be used for an upcoming show about Darth Maul. George Lucas’ Clone Wars series has had a huge impact on Star Wars, even after he sold the franchise to Disney, and it’s important to also recognize the original 2D animated series that came before.

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2025-12-09 21:33