2/13/2008

in

Star Wars Goes Digital

Louise Robina Happe

*Star Wars* is back, but this time in CG.  
  
George Lucas, creator of the *Star Wars* franchise, has completed a new, stylized, computer-animated feature film, concentrating on the intergalactic adventures of the characters that we all know and love.  
  
Lucas said in a statement, "I felt there were a lot more "Star Wars" stories left to tell. I was eager to start telling some of them through animation and at the same time push the art of animation forward," reported the *Los Angeles Times*.  
  
Stemming from the popularity of the 2-D animated *Clone Wars* series running from 2003 to 2005, the new film, along with a brand new TV series, are set after the events of *Revenge of the Clones* and directly preceding the events of *Revenge of the Sith*.  
  
Originally set to be released as a TV series alone, a last minute marketing decision opted to merge the first few episodes of the series together and release it as *Star Wars: The Clone Wars* movie in a bid to raise publicity.  
  
The animated movie is set to open August 15, and sets up for the animated TV series due to premiere this fall on TNT and the Cartoon Network.