Tales of the Jedi is now streaming on Disney+. Below is a spoiler-free review.
Animation has proven to be an excellent vehicle for Star Wars to explore its universe, and much like the years of its formerly much-maligned prequels, Tales of the Jedi is yet another tribute to its legacy. One strong entry. Is watching Star Wars a must? It’s not, but it’s a well done piece that does a wonderful job of animating two of her key characters, Ahsoka Tano and Count Dooku.
All of Tales of the Jedi’s bite-sized entries range from 15 to 20 minutes and are equally focused on Ahsoka and Dooku. Interestingly, if you’re watching them in the order listed on Disney+, it starts with Ahsoka as a baby, moves on to her three episodes on Dooku, and then returns to Ahsoka. The stories told do not have a simple plot line, but they are all anthology-style stand-alones, taking place at various pivotal moments in each character’s life. Especially when it comes to Dooku’s concerns about the Jedi Order, which we know Ahsoka will eventually leave, there’s a very subtle sense that that’s the point.
For the most part, Tales of the Jedi creator and Star Wars animation mastermind Dave Filoni doesn’t rely on spectacle. He’s not saying there’s no action. Focusing on training Ahsoka’s Padawan, “Practice Makes Perfect” weighs more than the rest, with an exciting climax in the final episode “Resolve.” But for the most part, this is Star Wars that leans into its moody, contemplative side, and especially in the episodes of Dooku, where the battles get more intense. We are building a discreet yet impactful action. The whole effort is written solidly without feeling a bit rushed despite the short runtime, and Filoni does a great job at this point soaking up the atmosphere without padding the runtime to unnecessary length. , knows how to build tension.
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Dooku’s episode, in particular, offers an interesting insight into how he became the Sith Lord we know today, but doesn’t lend itself well to unrealistic sympathy for the man. The first episode, “Life and Death,” provides some background on her home planet and the early shows of The Jedi Path, but other than that, spends time with the Togruta we know and love. Most of the time. at various points in her life. But hey, that’s never a bad thing.
To that end, Ashley Eckstein was hailed to reprise his Clone Wars role, and Corey Burton (who previously played Cad Bane in The Clone Wars) did some solid and threatening work as Dooku. But the real star is the animation. Especially the lush and colorful landscapes of both “Life and Death” and “Resolution” are almost distractingly beautiful. It’s all incredibly polished and feels like a little step up from the Clone Wars animation.
And while the story is a quick little tidbit, it doesn’t feel like it’s for beginners. , does not necessarily negate it. Fanservice in itself isn’t a bad thing, especially when this is done cleverly. Plus, if you haven’t seen The Clone Wars yet, you should probably get on board with it.