Star Wars Forces of Destiny (original) (raw)

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Animated web series

Star Wars Forces of Destiny
Genre Science fictionActionAdventureAnthology
Created by Dave Filoni Carrie Beck Jennifer Muro
Based on Star Warsby George Lucas
Developed by Dave Filoni[1]
Written by Jennifer MuroNicole Dubuc
Directed by Brad Rau
Voices of Ashley Eckstein Felicity Jones Vanessa Marshall Daisy Ridley Tiya Sircar Catherine Taber Shelby Young Helen Sadler Kelly Marie Tran Olivia Hack
Narrated by Lupita Nyong'o
Composer Ryan Shore[2]
Country of origin United States
Original language English
No. of seasons 2
No. of episodes 32
Production
Executive producers Carrie BeckDave Filoni
Producer Jacqueline Lopez
Running time 2–3 minutes[3]
Production companies LucasfilmLucasfilm AnimationGhostbot[4]
Original release
Network YouTube
Release July 3, 2017 (2017-07-03) –May 25, 2018 (2018-05-25)
Related
Star Wars: Clone Wars

Star Wars Forces of Destiny is a 2D animated web series by Lucasfilm Animation released through Lucasfilm's YouTube channel. Set across multiple eras of the Star Wars franchise, it is a collection of two- to three-minute shorts centering on female characters featured in previous Star Wars installments. The series premiered on July 3, 2017, beginning the daily release of a set of eight episodes; these episodes subsequently began broadcasting on Disney Channel on July 9. An additional eight episodes were released in late 2017, and the second season of sixteen episodes was released in 2018.

First announced and presented in April 2017 during Star Wars Celebration Orlando, Forces of Destiny is part of a franchise expansion initiative by Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media and includes a companion toy line by Hasbro and a series of youth-aimed books. The series is the first 2D animated series produced by Lucasfilm since the 2003 Star Wars: Clone Wars series and the first 2D project by Lucasfilm Animation.

The animated micro-series anthology focuses on female characters such as Princess Leia Organa, Sabine Wren, Jyn Erso, Rose Tico, Ahsoka Tano, Padmé Amidala, Hera Syndulla, and Rey.

Cast and characters

[edit]

Matt Lanter and Jim Cummings reprised the roles of Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker and space pirate Hondo Ohnaka from The Clone Wars and Rebels.[4] Tom Kane returned as Jedi Master Yoda from The Clone Wars, while Taylor Gray and Ritesh Rajan reprised the roles of Jedi Padawan Ezra Bridger and Mandalorian warrior Tristan Wren from Rebels.

Film actor John Boyega returned as defected First Order stormtrooper Finn,[5] with Mark Hamill returning as Luke Skywalker[6] and Anthony Daniels once again providing the voice of protocol droid C-3PO.

Other characters to appear include smugglers Han Solo and Chewbacca, the ewok Wicket W. Warrick, and droids R2-D2, BB-8 and Chopper.

Forces of Destiny was announced on April 12, 2017, and a special preview of the series presented at Star Wars Celebration Orlando on April 14.[1][4] The series is the first 2D animated series produced by Lucasfilm since the 2003 Clone Wars series[7] and the first 2D animation project created by Lucasfilm Animation; previous 2D animated series such as Ewoks, Droids, and early installments of Clone Wars were created before the formation of the studio.[4] The series is part of Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media's franchise expansion initiative.[8]

Forces of Destiny was created as a series of web shorts because it was felt to better appeal to children's watching patterns: "The way that kids are consuming content today, they're still watching linear television, but increasingly they're consuming content digitally, online. We've created a story format here that reflects that. It's a combination of digital and linear."[4] Each episode is written by Jennifer Muro and directed by Brad Rau.[1]

The series' original score, opening theme, and closing theme was composed by Ryan Shore.

A second season of fifteen additional episodes was announced in September 2017.[20] The episodes were released on March 19, 2018 online and aired on Disney Channel on March 25, 2018.[21]

Forces of Destiny premiered on July 3, 2017, through Disney's YouTube channel, beginning the daily release of a set of eight episodes.[4][24] It was initially announced that this release would culminate in the broadcast premiere of the eight episode set on Disney Channel on July 9 as a thirty-minute special, but on July 9, Disney announced via Twitter that only two episodes were going to be broadcast.[25][_non-primary source needed_] A second set of eight episodes was released in October 2017.[26][27] It was subsequently announced that episodes will air in two half-hour specials on Disney Channel on October 1 and 29.[28] The series is available on the Disney+ streaming service, which launched on November 12, 2019.[29]

A series of youth books adapted the episodes. Daring Adventures: Volume 1 adapted shorts about Sabine, Rey, and Padmé, and Daring Adventures: Volume 2 adapted shorts about Jyn, Ahsoka, and Leia.[3][4] IDW Publishing published Star Wars: Forces of Destiny, a weekly all-ages five-issue comic book miniseries that ran from January to May 2018.[30]

Alongside the initial series announcement, Lucasfilm also announced a related toy line from Hasbro and an apparel line.[3][4] The toy line features a new class of figures, adventures figures fill the space between action figures and dolls.[31] These 11-inch articulated figures of the six core female characters and smaller paired figures of other characters launched on August 1, 2017 alongside accessories such as lightsabers.[32] Other characters, including Luke Skywalker and Kylo Ren, are intended to be released.[31]

SyFy Wire calls Forces of Destiny "a great concept in search of a far better execution. ... What could have been a female-centric version of Genndy Tartakovsky's Clone Wars shorts from 2003 is instead a series of disconnected stories tied to a singular visual aesthetic ... As fun as it is to watch these female characters get a bit more screentime, it's still not enough."[33]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Breznican, Anthony (April 13, 2017). "Star Wars highlights female heroes in Forces of Destiny — first look". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved April 19, 2017.
  2. ^ Baver, Kristin (July 6, 2017). "5 Highlights from Star Wars Forces of Destiny: "The Padawan Path" | StarWars.com". StarWars.com. Lucasfilm. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
  3. ^ a b c "Everything you need to know about new Star Wars Forces of Destiny series". ABC News. April 13, 2017. Retrieved June 27, 2017.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i Goldman, Eric (April 12, 2017). "New Star Wars Forces of Destiny Animated Shorts and Toy Line Launching This Year". IGN. Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  5. ^ Errico, Marcus (July 3, 2017). "New Star Wars Cartoon Shorts Debut Online, Bringing Female Heroes in Full Force". Yahoo!. Retrieved July 5, 2017.
  6. ^ Shepherd, Jack (March 20, 2018). "Mark Hamill returns as Luke Skywalker for new Star Wars short". The Independent. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
  7. ^ Taylor, Chris (July 3, 2017). "Watch Rey and BB-8's first thrilling adventure in Star Wars: Forces of Destiny". Mashable. Retrieved July 5, 2017.
  8. ^ Lisanti, Tony (May 1, 2017). "Disney's Vision for the Future". License! Global. Archived from the original on December 19, 2017. Retrieved June 27, 2017.
  9. ^ Zalben, Alexander (July 3, 2017). "Star Wars Forces of Destiny Brings Rey and BB-8 Together for the First Time". TV Guide. Retrieved July 5, 2017.
  10. ^ "Star Wars Forces of Destiny Episode 'Sands of Jakku'". Disney. July 3, 2017. Retrieved July 3, 2017 – via YouTube.
  11. ^ "Star Wars Forces of Destiny Episode 'BB-8 Bandits'". Disney. July 4, 2017. Retrieved July 4, 2017 – via YouTube.
  12. ^ "Star Wars Forces of Destiny Episode 'Ewok Escape'". Disney. July 5, 2017. Retrieved July 5, 2017 – via YouTube.
  13. ^ "Star Wars Forces of Destiny Episode 'The Padawan Path'". Disney. July 6, 2017. Retrieved July 6, 2017 – via YouTube.
  14. ^ "Star Wars Forces of Destiny Episode 'Beasts of Echo Base'". Disney. July 7, 2017. Retrieved July 8, 2017 – via YouTube.
  15. ^ "Star Wars Forces of Destiny Episode 'The Imposter Inside'". Disney. July 8, 2017. Retrieved July 8, 2017 – via YouTube.
  16. ^ "Star Wars Forces of Destiny Episode 'The Stranger'". Disney. July 9, 2017. Retrieved July 9, 2017 – via YouTube.
  17. ^ "Star Wars Forces of Destiny Episode 'Bounty of Trouble'". Disney. July 9, 2017. Retrieved July 10, 2017 – via YouTube.
  18. ^ a b "Star Wars Forces of Destiny Episode 'Newest Recruit'". Disney. October 1, 2017. Retrieved October 1, 2017 – via YouTube.
  19. ^ a b "Star Wars: Die Mächte des Schicksals Episodenguide" (in German). fernsehserien.de. Retrieved September 24, 2017.
  20. ^ Cavanaugh, Patrick (September 11, 2017). "Eight New 'Forces of Destiny' Episodes Coming in 2018". Comicbook.com. Retrieved September 24, 2017.
  21. ^ Lenker, Maureen. "See Porgs, Rose Tico, and Luke Skywalker get animated for 'Star Wars Forces of Destiny'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved March 19, 2018.
  22. ^ "Star Wars Forces of Destiny Episode 'Bounty Hunted'". Disney. March 19, 2018. Retrieved May 31, 2024 – via YouTube.
  23. ^ "Star Wars Forces of Destiny Episode 'Porgs!'". Disney. May 4, 2018. Retrieved May 31, 2024 – via YouTube.
  24. ^ Lussier, Germain (June 27, 2017). "Watch a New Trailer for Star Wars: Forces Of Destiny, Which Premieres July 3". io9. Retrieved June 27, 2017.
  25. ^ "See the premiere of the first two Star Wars Forces of Destiny shorts tonight during Despicable Me and #HotelTSeries". Twitter. July 9, 2017. Retrieved July 9, 2017.
  26. ^ Newitz, Annalee (July 28, 2017). "An action-packed new Star Wars animated series is on YouTube now". Ars Technica. Retrieved September 24, 2017.
  27. ^ McMillan, Graeme (August 21, 2017). "The Origins and Ideals of 'Star Wars: Forces of Destiny'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 24, 2017.
  28. ^ "Star Wars Forces of Destiny : Trailer No. 2 | Disney". Official Disney Youtube. Disney. September 28, 2017. Retrieved September 28, 2017 – via YouTube.
  29. ^ G., Matt (November 16, 2019). "Disney+ in NZ – Your Questions Answered". Star Wars New Zealand. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  30. ^ Alverson, Brigid (October 12, 2017). "NYCC 2017 Kids' Comics: Don't Throw Out That Spinner Rack!". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  31. ^ a b Loughray, Clarisse (April 13, 2017). "Star Wars: Forces of Destiny to unveil brand new, female-led storylines". The Independent. Archived from the original on May 24, 2022. Retrieved June 27, 2017.
  32. ^ Burton, Bonnie (April 13, 2017). "Star Wars heroines get their due in new Forces of Destiny". CNET. Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  33. ^ Pirrello, Phil (April 29, 2021). "Every Star Wars show and TV movie (from The Mandalorian to the Holiday Special) ranked". SyFy Wire. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  34. ^ "2019 ASCAP Screen Music Awards". ascap.com. ASCAP. Retrieved May 17, 2019.