Tales of the Jedi

2022 - 10 - 26

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Image courtesy of "CNN"

'Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi' shows animation remains a creative ... (CNN)

Animation has been the driving creative force behind the "Star Wars" universe for some time, a state of affairs cast into sharper focus by how live-action ...

Animation has also become a vehicle for greater experimentation, as witnessed in the [ “Star Wars: Visions” ](https://www.cnn.com/2021/09/21/entertainment/star-war-visions-review/index.html)anime shorts that premiered last year. The anthology format creates the opportunity to drop in at different inflection points scattered across the “Star Wars” timeline. That relationship continues with “Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi,” an animated anthology that provides an opportunity to flesh out the stories of peripheral but familiar lightsaber-wielding figures. It’s a fair criticism broadly, but somewhat removed from the question at hand here. That includes additional insights into Dooku and his abandonment of the Jedi order to embrace the dark side and Darth Sidious (Ian McDiarmid). The six episodes crisply run anywhere from 10 to 17 minutes, with each deftly adding nuggets to our understanding of “Star Wars” lore, weaving in key details and events that helped forge these characters.

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Image courtesy of "Hollywood Reporter"

'Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi' Review: Disney+'s Latest Toon Offshoot ... (Hollywood Reporter)

Created by Dave Filoni, the six animated shorts detail pivotal moments in the paths of two classic characters, Ahsoka Tano and Count Dooku, played by Ashley ...

(Star Wars didn’t get to be the juggernaut franchise it is by not cross-promoting its titles.) As with any Star Wars adventure, the stories offer ample opportunity to explore different planets with their own flora, fauna and architectural habits; I was especially taken by the pretty bulbs spewing dandelion-like puffs on Ahsoka’s home planet of Shili. It’s a cliché at this point to compare the events of Star Wars‘ prequel era to our current political climate. But the obvious parallels do lend Tales of the Jedi a sheen of relevance as characters complain that the Jedi “mostly keep law and order for the rich and powerful,” or that their politicians are selling off natural resources for personal enrichment. [Star Wars](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/t/star-wars/): Tales of the Jedi is for the fans. For those who’ve ever wondered how Yaddle (Bryce Dallas Howard) might fare in a fight, Tales of the Jedi is more than happy to show you. That said, Star Wars fans of any level can find something to appreciate. The bigger picture of Dooku’s turn toward villainy will seem to be missing significant chunks for viewers who struggle to remember what Qui-Gon Jinn or Palpatine got up to in the prequels. Three of the episodes check in with Ahsoka (Ashley Eckstein) at different ages, from infancy to post-Order 66 exile, while the other three follow Count Dooku (Corey Burton) on his journey from upstanding Jedi Master to evil Sith Lord. It’s not that any of the individual installments are especially difficult to follow on a plot level. It’s left in an in-between state, simultaneously too light on narrative content and too laden with lore to stand by itself. If you don’t, though — and here I will confess that I did not, having never gotten into The Clone Wars or Star Wars Rebels — the vignette feels like a detailed answer to a question never even imagined, much less asked.

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