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2003 Clone Wars vs 2008 The Clone Wars

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Alright, so which Clone Wars cartoon do you like? There's the micro-series by Genndy Tartakovsky that ran from 2003 to 2005, and then there's the cartoon series by Dave Filoni and George Lucas that originally ran from 2008 to 2013.

Let's talk about the CW. Despite 3-minute run time for each episode, or "Chapter" as they were called, I think they portrayed a lot of character, atmosphere, and excitement while giving the Star Wars feel to the cartoon. Also, this story flows much better as it shows the progression of Anakin Skywalker down the Clone Wars. Plus, the animation and action was freaking amazing as were the villains.

TCW, on the other hand, does have some good things about it. It almost gives the feel of the Original Trilogy with the adventures taking place in the Clone Wars. Like the micro-series, Anakin and Obi-Wan's friendship is believable and even Ahsoka, Anakin's Padawan, has some good moments (especially whenever she's with her friend Lux). Also, it gives a chance to show other Jedi and while I was bewildered at Maul's sudden appearance, I enjoyed his character and motivation in the show. 

However, there are also some things that don't live up to my expectations, aside from retcons prior to Disney's creation of "Star Wars: Legends." For instance, some of the villains are lackluster when compared to the micro-series. General Grievous is practically the Cobra Commander, because I always see him running away and/or getting his butt handed to him. Also, I felt the stories in TCW were all over the place and didn't tell that much of a consistent story (at least not until the later seasons). In the micro-series CW, I always thought the villains were a threat as they were ruthless and calculating. Not so much in TCW. 

But that's just me. What do you guys think? Please let me know. Thanks!

Screw lightsabers, I’ll stick with regular swords. At least they won’t blow up in my face like this franchise has.

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The micro-series is too rushed, I don't like the over-the-top action, and it relies too much on the viewer having read the comics and whatnot to understand what became of Ventress, how Anakin got his scar, etc.

The newer series has a better pace, better characterization, and better storylines. Unfortunately, there's also a lot of prequel-style universe-shrinkage which bogs it down a little too much, and I just don't like how the animators have made Rodian eyes look all sparkly blue-and-green.

Both series have lame villains (except for Cad Bane, who's awesome).

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The micro series proved to me that what fans always want is a villain who kills everyone and doesn't talk.

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I enjoyed both series, but I feel like it's apples and oranges comparing the two.

Clone Wars was awesome and focused on short bursts of action, setpieces, and neat motifs, basically quick glimpses into the Clone Wars; while The Clone Wars was also awesome, but focused more on "feature-length", character-driven story arcs and progression.

If I had to pick, I'd go with The Clone Wars, simply because it was more engaging and had more depth.

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Tartakovsky’s Clone Wars easily. Less annoying characters, makes more sense when viewed along side the films, better music, more creative direction, and far superior animation. The Clone Wars is good too, but doesn’t compare to the 2003 series. Also, Clone Wars made my least favourite prequel character (General Grievous) into an intimidating, powerful villain.

Not enough people read the EU.

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I think that the 2008 series has more good episodes than the 2003 series, however the 2003 series makes more sense and fits better to the overall chronology. The whole sequence of kidnapping Palpatine and Anakin’s spiritual journey is much better than anything in the 2008 series or the prequel movies

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Both co-exist in the same canon (even if Lucas decanonized the first series for some reasons I still don’t understand), as I don’t remember huge continuity issues within a “total” CW narrative (the end of the Ahsoka story arc even explains Anakin deep mistrust of the Jedi Council when ROTS begins, so it’s quite important material if you want to keep the PT era in your head canon):

AOTC
CW- chapters 1 to 21
TCW- movie and tvseries in chronological order
CW- chapters 22 to 25
ROTS

The 2003-2005 series is better, more focused with needed elements to strengthen Anakin’s fall (and, as a bonus, you can assume when Luke and Leia are conceived). I consider this 2 hours show the “lost” movie of the PT (well, Prequel Tetralogy in my head canon); without it there is clearly something missing. It should have been a live movie and the PT should have been 4 or 5 movies to tell its complex story. So the “CW 2D movie” stands as a patch to fix a few narrative issues. The CGI version is too long and tends to be a “war porn” show, which is not very interesting. But there is something good in it from time to time (so far I’ve really enjoyed smudger9 movie versions of the show, especially the first two episodes).

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Yeah that story with Mace Windu flying around punching massive city-sized droids to pieces was way better than anything in the CGI series.

Oh wait, no, it was dumb as hell.

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Forced sarcasm is the death of humor… and badass Windu destroying battle droids is fun, not dumb. And it’s only 3 minutes action sequence (which begins and ends with a great idea by the way, so “dumb as hell” does not quite define this sequence) in a 135 minutes show which contains the best scenes “Star Wars” has offered since TESB (things like Anakin v Ventress). So ok, just remember the (epic) Windu thing you don’t like and don’t enjoy the show as a whole, your loss.

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It’s fun and dumb. Versus Yoda standing on a charging horse, which is just dumb.

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CW03 is a little over the top but I can let it slide because it’s so stylized.

TCW is good too but not as good in my opinion. I’d say a good chunk of it (more than half of the episodes) are completely useless filler and or really dumb. Of course the first series is so short that it never had this problem. But I do think if you want to watch TCW and really enjoy it all the way through you need to pick and choose.

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Let’s say it is, but at least it’s still less dumb than his portrayal in the cgi version or “Yoda the Hedgehog” of AOTC.

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TV’s Frink said:

It’s fun and dumb. Versus Yoda standing on a charging horse, which is just dumb.

Don’t forget the speeder bike jousting.

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Never watch Samurai Jack dude, it would be too much pain to endure for you.

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MalàStrana said:

Let’s say it is, but at least it’s still less dumb than his portrayal in the cgi version or “Yoda the Hedgehog” of AOTC.

Finding a Yoda moment worse than that would be difficult. On this matter, we have found extremely rare agreement.

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My only point here is that calling either show unequivocally better is a goofy thing to do. Each one has really cool moments and really dumb moments.

You can scroll up and look at my post from 2014 if you want deeper thoughts.

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I’ll give the '03 series a point for briefly showing a single Jedi with a red lightsaber. Aside from that, I prefer the '08 series.

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Tyrphanax said:

My only point here is that calling either show unequivocally better is a goofy thing to do.

Very true. It’s not like we’re talking about anime or something.

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MalàStrana said:

Never watch Samurai Jack dude, it would be too much pain to endure for you.

He would be missing out, considering that show is one of the best cartoons.

Not enough people read the EU.

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I tried to get into it and failed.

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CW03, meh. Not a fan of that animation style. I guess the action is fun, but it’s too far in the unrealism spectrum for me. But hey if Lucasfilm wanted to make a 2D animated show with the art style of that amazing TIE fighter short, sure. I’m all for that.

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emanswfan said:

CW03, meh. Not a fan of that animation style. I guess the action is fun, but it’s too far in the unrealism spectrum for me. But hey if Lucasfilm wanted to make a 2D animated show with the art style of that amazing TIE fighter short, sure. I’m all for that.

No Star Wars in anime style thanks.

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Tyrphanax said:

emanswfan said:

CW03, meh. Not a fan of that animation style. I guess the action is fun, but it’s too far in the unrealism spectrum for me. But hey if Lucasfilm wanted to make a 2D animated show with the art style of that amazing TIE fighter short, sure. I’m all for that.

No Star Wars in anime style thanks.

If that short exists, then SW in anime style also already exists. 😛