Watch and Read: Spotlight on Media Tie-ins
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Joy Fleishhacker -- School Library Journal, 8/6/2008 7:34:00 AM
The Intergalactic Epic Continues
Star Wars: The Clone Wars (PG-13), the first animated feature from Lucasfilm Animation, blasts into theaters on August 15, 2008. Produced by George Lucas and Catherine Winder, this installment in the sci-fi saga takes place between the live-action movies, Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002) and Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005). The Clone Wars are raging throughout the galaxy, and the heroic Jedi Knights, including Obi-Wan Kenobi and Master Yoda, are guiding the Galactic Republic’s genetically engineered clone soldiers against Separatist Alliance leader Count Dooku and an army of battle droids.
Anakin Skywalker and his Padawan apprentice Ahsoka Tano are sent on a mission to the remote planet of Tatooine to earn the allegiance of crime-lord Jabba the Hutt by tracking down his kidnapped son, a mission Dooku is determined to foil. Can the Jedi generals defeat the frightening forces of the dark side? The movie’s computer-generated animation combines photo-realism with the crisp-lined, stylized look of Japanese anime, balancing panoramic battle scenes with detailed character close-ups in an epic-scale addition to the Star Wars saga.
On the Small Screen
Star Wars: The Clone Wars, the animated television series, is scheduled to debut this fall on the Cartoon Network. Featuring the same time period, characters, and computer-generated animation as the movie, this tie-in production also continues and expands upon the similarly titled 2003 TV series. Stand-alone episodes will focus on conflicts between the Galactic Republic and the Rebel Alliance.
On the Web
At The Clone Wars official Web site, fans can view video clips and listen to commentary by the film’s creators. For those who need to brush up on the details and time line of this complicated cosmos, the site provides an overview of the entire Star Wars saga, explains the creation of the clone troopers and the roots of the Clone Wars, and introduces major characters and settings. For the big picture, kids can surf to the Star Wars site for information about all of the films, activities, and books and to “window shop” a galaxy of products.
Tie-in Books
Star Wars books always fly off the shelves, and don’t expect their popularity to wane anytime soon. Several companion titles to the motion picture are available from Grosset & Dunlap, which also plans to release tie-ins to the TV series in the fall. Presented in picture-book format, The Battle Begins combines a brief narrative with numerous film stills for a quick-reading, easy-to-share-aloud retelling. Similarly illustrated, The Galactic Photobook blends full-page character profiles with an inviting graphic-novel-style account of the events. Told from the viewpoint of clone Captain Rex, Battle at Teth takes an interesting approach, but the illustrations are sometimes murky (Gr 1–4).
In The New Padawan (Gr 2–4), short, fast-reading chapters crisply illustrated with movie stills focus on Anakin Skywalker’s first adventure with the apprentice he is reluctant to accept. The movie novelization (Gr 3–6) relates the story with a barrage of battle scenes, well-drawn characterizations, and entertaining touches of humor. The book has a movie-poster-style cover and contains 16 pages of film images.
DK is also publishing a line of eye-catching Clone Wars tie-ins. The Visual Guide (Gr 3 Up) highlights an array of topics in the Star Wars universe, touching upon characters, creatures, technology (including those dreaded droids), weaponry, locales, battles, and even political alliances and intrigues. Action-packed spreads explode with movie images, all explained through captions and brief text paragraphs.
Two DK readers blend straightforward language with colorful movie stills. In Watch out for Jabba the Hutt! (Level 1), short sentences and repetitive language introduce the movie’s characters. Anakin in Action! (Level 2) uses longer phrases, supplemented by boxed explanations of terms, to relate the adventures of this Jedi and his apprentice. If you’re looking to fill out a display or satisfy interest in the entire epic, other recent DK Readers with photos from the Star Wars live-action films include The Story of Darth Vader (Level 3) and Epic Battles (Level 4).
Graphic Novels
For comics fans, Dark Horse Books will be publishing a graphic novella series in digest format that ties into both The Clone Wars movie and TV series, beginning with Shipyards of Doom in September. Until then, readers can enjoy titles from the publisher’s “Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures” series, which was inspired by the first Star Wars: The Clone Wars animated TV show that ran on the Cartoon Network between 2003 and 2005. Each sturdy paperback volume includes four fast-paced tales about familiar characters in new situations, illustrated with vibrant, power-packed artwork (Gr 4–8).
Pub Info
VALOIS, Rob, adapt. Star Wars: The Clone Wars: The Battle Begins. Grosset & Dunlap. 2008. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-448-44991-3.
RAU, Zachary, adapt. Star Wars: The Clone Wars: The Galactic Photobook. Grosset & Dunlap. 2008. pap. (staple bound). $6.99. ISBN 978-0-448-44996-8.
MAYER, Kirsten, adapt. Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Battle at Teth. Grosset & Dunlap. 2008. pap. (staple bound). $3.99. ISBN 978-0-448-44993-7.
STEVENS, Eric, adapt. Star Wars: The Clone Wars: The New Padawan. Grosset & Dunlap. 2008. pap. $3.99. ISBN 978-0-448-44994-4.
WEST, Tracey, adapt. Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Grosset & Dunlap. 2008. pap. $6.99. ISBN 978-0-448-44992-0.
FRY, Jason. Star Wars: The Clone Wars: The Visual Guide. DK. 2008. Tr $19.99. ISBN 978-0-7566-4121-4.
BEECROFT, Simon. Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Watch out for Jabba the Hutt! DK. 2008. pap. $3.99. ISBN 978-0-7566-4083-5.
_____. Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Anakin in Action! DK. 2008. pap. $3.99. ISBN 978-0-7566-4031-6.
_____. Star Wars: Epic Battles. DK. 2008. PLB $14.99. ISBN 978-0-7566-3606-7; pap. $3.99. ISBN 978-0-7566-3603-6.|
SAUNDERS, Catherine. Star Wars: The Story of Darth Vader. DK. 2008. PLB $14.99. ISBN 978-0-7566-3605-0; pap. $3.99. ISBN 978-0-7566-3602-9.
GILROY, Henry. Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Shipyards of Doom. vol. 1. illus. by Matt Fillbach & Shawn Fillbach. Dark Horse, dist. by Diamond Book Distributors. Sept. 2008. pap. $7.95. ISBN 978-1-59582-207-9.
“Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures”
Volume 8. ISBN 978-1-59307-680-1.
Volume 9. ISBN 978-1-59307-832-4.
Volume 10. ISBN 978-1-59307-878-2.
ea vol: 2007. Dark Horse, dist. by Diamond Book Distributors. 2007. pap. $6.95.
