A new video celebrating the 20th anniversary ofStar Warsanimation has been released.Star Wars Celebrationis currently underway in Japan, and a panel dedicated to Lucasfilm Animation explored its 20-year history, while also previewing what’s still to come. In addition to Dave Filoni sharing formative memories of working with George Lucas, attendees (SR’s Molly Brizzell among them) watched afull episode ofTales of the Underworldand got a first look at thenewly announcedMaul: Shadow Lord.
Now, with the panel concluded,a video shown to the roomcelebrating the anniversary has been made public. It includes talking-head footage with Filoni and Lucas, as well as behind-the-scenes looks at the creation of some keyStar Warsanimated projects. At the very end, there’s a first-look at Darth Maul’s return in his upcoming series. Check it out below:
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Animation Is A Key Part Of Star Wars' Storytelling
Star Warsmay have begun as a live-action franchise, but animation allowsStar Warsthe opportunity to expand and dig deeper into its storytelling. TheStar Warsprequel trilogy, for instance, is much richer when you watchStar Wars: The Clone Wars. It fleshes out the politics, choices, and beliefs that led to the Republic’s, the Jedi Order’s, and Anakin Skywalker’s inevitable destruction.
The fallout of Order 66 and the early days of the Empire are much more harrowing when you watchStar Wars: The Bad Batch.Star Wars Rebelsoffers a fun, adventurous, yet also genuinely serious examination of what it meant to be a Jedi during the Dark Times, and how the Rebellion came to be. TheStar Wars: Talesanthologies provide exciting character studies. There’s nothing you can’t do in animation.
As a medium, animation offers more creative freedom as well. Some of the franchise’s most exciting lightsaber battles were created in animation, like Ahsoka Tano vs. Maul inThe Clone Warsseason 7. With theupcomingStar Wars: Tales of the Underworldand the newly announcedMaul: Shadow Lord,Star Warsanimation is, thankfully, not slowing down any time soon.
Animation Is As Much Lucas' Legacy As Live-Action
It almost feels like Lucasfilm is celebratingStar Warsanimation’s 20th anniversary, not just by creating more animatedStar Wars, but by specifically adaptingStar Warscreator George Lucas’ unused ideas. Recently, it was revealed that Lucas had worked to develop a live-action series titledStar Wars: Underworld, which would have focused on the lower levels of Coruscant and the criminal underworld that festers there. Now, we’re gettingStar Wars: Tales of the Underworld, which will focus on two former and current bounty hunters.
Then there’sMaul: Shadow Lord, which was revealed at Star Wars Celebration 2025 and will follow Maul as the head of his crime syndicate, Crimson Dawn, during the Imperial era. Maul will also take on an apprentice, one who resembles, at least,Darth Talon, a previously non-canonicalStar WarsLegends character. This mirrors one of Lucas’ original ideas for aStar Warssequel trilogy before he sold the franchise to Disney, which would have seen Maul become the lead villain while having an apprentice akin to Darth Vader.
The future ofStar Warsanimation is bright. It’s exciting that we’ve already had 20 years of animatedStar Warsstories to enjoy and more to look forward to.Maul: Shadow Lordis an intriguing prospect, and we’re looking forward to seeing what elseStar Warsanimation will come up with in the future.
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