Top10 Star Wars Animations Part 2

 (A version of this article originally appeared on kernelnow.com / mynewslike.com)

On the eve of The Clone Wars‘s return on Disney+, it's time to take a look at some of the Star Wars galaxy’s best animated stories before Dave Filoni and co. introduce us to another. This article will be ranking numbers 5 through 1, so just before we begin here’s a look back at the top ten so far (or, if you'd prefer an extended refresher, click here for part one):

10. The Story of the Faithful Wookie (Star Wars Holiday Special) (1978)
9. LEGO Star Wars: The Padawan Menace (2011)
8. Lair of Grievous (Star Wars: The Clone Wars) (2008)
7. “The Ballad of Kanan Jarrus” (Star Wars Rebels) (2014-18)
6. “The Mortis Trilogy” (Star Wars: The Clone Wars) (2011)

And now, without further delay, delve right in to see the top half of the list before the debut of The Clone Wars season seven!

5. Twilight of the Apprentice (Star Wars Rebels) (2016)

This massive duel was but a mere backdrop to this episode’s galactic consequences
(source: Lucasfilm Animation)

The aim of any good season finale should be to wrap up the events that led to it, and to introduce the future of a show in both a satisfactory and intriguing manner. Twilight of the Apprentice pulls no punches in doing just that.

One need only look at the multiple characters to whom the episode’s title could be referring to see exactly how well-structured a finale this is. Over the course of the final two episodes of Star Wars Rebels season two, Kanan Jarrus finally ascends to the (unofficial) rank of Jedi Master, Ahsoka Tano and Darth Maul break free of their respective orders’ shackles, and Ezra Bridger finally begins to take The Force into his own hands – quite literally.

On the planet Malachor (a subtle reference to fan-favourite video games Knights of the Old Republic), the crew of the Ghost uncover the site of an ancient Jedi-Sith battle (which provides a slight hint at the origins of Kylo Ren’s lightsaber). In forty-five too-quick minutes, the Inquisitors that have dogged our heroes all season long are dealt with, and we come across Darth Maul, who we will come to know as the safest bet that Star Wars animation has to offer. His plotting proves to rival that of his old master, Darth Sidious, as he tries to bend Ezra’s will to the Dark Side of the Force. As he overpowers warriors on both sides of The Force – including making an instant samurai of Kanan – Maul comes agonisingly close to achieving his own wicked designs.

Then, there is Ahsoka. There is much to say (in this article and elsewhere) of her importance to Lucasfilm's galactic lore. But remember her origins: as Padawan to Anakin Skywalker. As her master’s twisted successor Darth Vader descends to the battlefield, the tension becomes unbearable as the former comrades approach their inevitable showdown.

This is a relentless, breath-taking adventure that speaks to the malevolent depths that both Rebels and Clone Wars explored in their time on the small screen. It testament to the quality of this episode that Rebels never quite came close to topping it – despite the fact the episode came at the show’s halfway point. Twilight of the Apprentice, yes; but more importantly, the pinnacle of the entire series.

4. The Clone Wars (2003) Volume 2 (2005)

Spoiler alert: Grievous even escaped this.
(source: Cartoon Network)

It may seem a bit of a cheat to list an entire season of a show in a ranking such as this, but trust me – that’s just how strong a series the original Clone Wars was. 

Being that fifteen years and two theatrical trilogies have passed since this series aired (not to mention the longer show of the same name), it’s easy to forget the two hours of TV that Genndy Tartakovsky and Cartoon Network put out before Revenge of the Sith. There’s also a case to be made that the first volume is the stronger, with its standalone Jedi showcases on planets like Mon Calamari and Dantooine. But this is a confident master class in animated storytelling from the man behind Dexter’s Laboratory and Samurai Jack, one that builds on the characters and storylines previously introduced by both Tartakovsky and George Lucas.

Yoda gets some action, as do background Jedi Council members such as Shaak Ti. It’s also the most impressive and memorable outing for General Grievous, who was first introduced in this very show. But undeniably the most mouth-watering assets that this volume brings to the table are in the context it adds to the Prequel Trilogy. They range from minor details, such as the origins of Grievous’s cough, to the major – how does seeing Anakin Skywalker complete his Jedi training sound to you?

After just over an hour of action (in its combined runtime, at least), Anakin and his former master Obi-Wan Kenobi learn of the kidnapping of Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, an act that is only referenced in the opening crawl of Revenge of the Sith in the films. We see exactly how Grievous carried out this “stunning move”, alongside the further plotting of his insidious Sith overlord, before the two Jedi Knights set off in their starfighters straight into the opening scene of Episode III.

Questions raged as to why the world needed a second animated imagining of The Clone Wars when the 2008 series came around. Though that series more than proved its doubters wrong, the glorious TV movie that is the 2003 version of the conflict shows exactly why there was such controversy in the first place.  

3. “The Tragedy of Ahsoka Tano” (The Clone Wars) (2013)

A stunning way to end both the show, and Ahsoka’s Jedi journey,
(source: Lucasfilm Animation

Ahsoka Tano: undisputably The Clone Wars‘s greatest success story and in all likelihood, its most important character.

Introduced to a less-than-favourable reaction in the series’ 2008 theatrical prologue, Ahsoka grew from headstrong Padawan in the early seasons to became a wildly-popular character from whom many still demand more. What’s more, voice actress Ashley Eckstein – a loyal and vocal ally for her character and fans alike – will surely be forever linked to the Togrutan Tano.

Much of Ahsoka’s lasting appeal is born of these three episodes, the last of The Clone Wars to air on a traditional television format. Their titles were Jedi-fied tributes to Sir Alfred Hitchcock films (The Jedi Who Knew Too Much, To Catch a Jedi and The Wrong Jedi) and feature tales of suspense and deep intrigue that the legendary director would have been proud of – if intergalactic chases involving wronged knights of an ancient space order were his thing.  

Aside from the chases through the Coruscant underworld and Ahsoka’s unlikely alliance with original Clone Wars villain Asajj Ventress, the real reason why this storyline lives long in the minds of fans lies in the questions that it asks. Apart from villainous postering and antagonist-fronted story arcs, Star Wars has never really asked deeper questions of its “good guys” than it does here, through Ahsoka. Undeniably innocent yet still mistreated and borderline abandoned by the Jedi Masters that she has always admired, Ahsoka takes her restored virtue with her and steps away from the Jedi Order – literally and figuratively. Answers as to what she would do next and to where her ruminations might take her dominated the intrigue around her – and likely will until the upcoming seventh season has aired.

If one ever needed to see why there was so much outcry around the cancellation of The Clone Wars, then look no further than where the majority of the episodes in these and other rankings take place: the series was in a real creative streak just before Disney took it off air.

2. The Lawless (The Clone Wars) (2013)

This shot proved to be the cinematic high point of the entire Clone Wars.
(source: Lucasfilm Animation)

Whenever Darth Maul would rear his horned head in the animated corner of the Star Wars galaxy, it meant only one thing: a spectacular episode was in store.

We’ve seen this above in Twilight of the Apprentice, and it was true of his every appearance. He makes what was long thought to be his final Clone Wars appearance here in The Lawless, an offering which is widely considered to be the greatest single episode in the show’s history. Alongside popular villains, the Mandalorian Death Watch and his dark brother Savage Opress, Maul seeks to lure out his mortal enemy Obi-Wan Kenobi for an attempt at revenge.

It’s curious that some of the show’s best episodes take place largely apart from the titular Clone Wars that have enveloped the galaxy. Here we get a Mandalorian Civil War as the callous Sith casually plays one side against another, all leading to that incredible shot above where Kenobi observes the destruction and conflict all around him. This episode also give Obi-Wan his best chance of the entire series to truly show off his nobility, honor and morality, refusing to yield to his nemesis’ mind games and machinations.

Between ancient warriors, arch rivals and brutal death scenes decidedly not for kids, it’s hard to think of a way this episode could get any better. And then it does: out steps Darth Sidious, direct from Coruscant, engaging the Sith Brothers in a tremendous, unbroken lightsaber duel that provides the demonstrates the truth of the entire conflict – no matter what your individual plans or actions may be, the future Emperor will have the final say.

1. “Yoda and The Force” (The Clone Wars: Lost Missions) (2014)

There was an epic feel to Yoda's journey here, despite the limitations of a television runtime
(source: Lucasfilm Animation)

“Begun, The Clone War has.”

Given that Yoda christened The Clone Wars on-screen in Attack of the Clones, it seems fitting that, until the upcoming season seven concludes, he be the one to have the last word on them.

Whilst the cinematic intentions of Disney towards Star Wars have led many to believe that a Yoda movie is inevitable, what you may realise is that The Clone Wars have already provided us with one. A rare four-episode arc, Yoda’s journey here is spurned by a revelation surrounding Jedi Master Sifo-Dyas, the mysterious name mentioned in Attack of the Clones as having commissioned the Republic’s Clone Army. However, the story quickly grows to encompass more than just a resolution to Obi-Wan’s detective work, and instead becomes a journey befitting the saga’s wisest and most powerful Jedi.

The Clone Wars never gets as spiritual as it does here. Sensing ripples in The Force that may hold the key to the darkness he feels throughout the galaxy, Yoda travels from mystical location to mystical location for answers. He faces down popular Expanded Universe villain Darth Bane (voiced by Mark Hamill, more Joker than Skywalker here to be sure), a twisted shadow version of himself and the temptation of a more peaceful alternate reality. These are all lessons that even the Grand Jedi Master can benefit from, and there are direct pathways running from his learnings here to his teaching of Luke in Empire Strikes Back (not to mention his later return as a Force Ghost).

It doesn’t hurt that the episodes and their locations are quite simply, stunning. Though The Lost Missions apparently only use stories and work that were nearly completed for the unduly cancelled season six of the show, these episodes feel like the showrunners’ farewell to their well-loved series. As Yoda returns to the Jedi Temple at the end of the fourth episode Sacrifice he does so armed with a new hope, before walking himself and the show off into the metaphorical sunset.

*****

With “apologies” to the theatrical premiere of The Clone Wars, all the entries that you’ve just read come from television. There are some shorts, some episodes, and sometimes even entire arcs – basically, whichever best serves the story being told. It was nearly impossible to distill some narratives down to just a single episode and yet, in some cases, just such a 22 minute window was all that was needed to showcase it. This is also an entirely subjective ranking; there are some out there who would do a list comprised entirely of Clone Wars or Rebels episodes, and we may well be mere weeks (or days) away from a new all-time #1.