The Star Wars universe is actively replenished not only with films and series but also with animation projects. And some of them play such an important role that they affect the plot of The Mandalorian or Ahsoka. Kinopoisk tells you which animated series from a galaxy far, far away is worth paying attention to. If you enjoy feeling the adrenaline as the Star Wars heroes, then check the  test your luck with it. 

Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008–2020) seven seasons

    The flagship of the animation direction. The animated series was created back when Star Wars was run by George Lucas, not Disney. The showrunner was an unknown Dave Filoni, who in the future will be one of the most important authors of the franchise. The show proved so popular and important that it has remained part of the Disney canon.

     The action of the animated series takes place between the second and third episodes of the saga. The main character is Padawan Ahsoka Tano, a student of Anakin Skywalker himself. She takes part in clashes with the Separatists along with other Jedi and is friends with the clones. And in the background, a big story is going on. Palpatine weaves his conspiracy against the Jedi Order and the Republic.

      Why should you watch it? The Clone Wars shows what happened between episodes two and three. And those who only watched the movies missed out on a lot. The animated series will debut new characters who will play an important role in other Star Wars projects in the future. First of all, we are talking about Ahsoka Tano, who appeared in The Mandalorian and will receive a solo series. The Clone Wars also features Darth Maul, the Mandalorian Bo-Katan Kryze, and a dozen other familiar faces ranging from Yoda to Mon Mothma.

      Also, The Clone Wars is just a good animated series. From a purely childish spectacle in the early seasons, it gradually evolves into a dark political thriller. Showing in detail how the Jedi and Republican politicians missed the soon-to-be Sith sole ruler of the Empire.

Star Wars Rebels (2014–2018) four seasons

    The animated series that took over the baton of the Clone Wars. The action takes place in a different era. The revolutionaries were playing an underground game against the Empire. Force-wielding young rogue Ezra Bridger accidentally meets a rebel cell. It travels on the Ghost Ship. Together with new friends, he disrupts the plans of the Empire and gradually turns into a Jedi.

     Why should you watch it? Rebels didn’t achieve the cult status of The Clone Wars. It’s still much easier to draw and much less interestingly written. But it still remains the second most important animated series of the franchise. First, thanks to the fact that they introduce into the canon the great and terrible Imperial naval commander Thrawn. A pre-Disney era anti-hero created by writer Timothy Zahn. Secondly, “Rebels” is a kind of sequel to “The Clone Wars”. In the later seasons, the matured Ahsoka Tano plays an important role. Rebels is a must-see to get a feel for what’s to come in her solo live-action series. Especially since Ahsoka will feature Thrawn, Ezra Bridger, and other members of the Ghost’s crew.

Star Wars Resistance (2018–2020) two seasons

     The action of this animated series takes place during the era of the New Republic. It starts shortly before the events of the seventh episode. The young pilot Kazuda Xiono becomes an agent of the Resistance and takes up residence at the Colossus Station. It was chosen by the soldiers of the First Order, the successor organization of the Empire. Xiono pretends to be a normal mechanic in order to keep track of all suspicious activity at the station.

      Frankly speaking, you shouldn’t watch it. Resistance is one cut below Rebels and two cuts below Clone Wars. The events take place on the periphery of the main actions of the saga, and almost every episode seems to be a filler. In general, Disney buried an unsuccessful project.  Kazuda and his friends did not receive due attention either in books, comics, films, and TV shows. But if you still want to watch all the canonical animated series of the franchise, then you will have to familiarize yourself with the Resistance.

Star Wars: Bad Batch (2021 – present) Two seasons (the third and final will be released in 2024)

      Events unfold shortly after the finale of the third episode. The Republic fell, its place was taken by the totalitarian Empire, and the clones, former allies of the Jedi, became their executioners. But not all clones participated in the implementation of the criminal Order 66. This fate was spared by the experimental combat unit 99, nicknamed “The Bad Batch”. The fact is that its participants are defective clones, so the reprogramming did not work with them. So the Bad Batch has become an enemy of the Empire. It is pursued by stormtroopers and generals who have decided to get rid of the rebellious commandos. And the clones themselves are trying to find their place in the galaxy, where they are no longer welcome.

      Should you watch it? Definitely, yes! After the lurid “Resistance”, the new animated series has caused a lot of excitement. The events between episodes 3 and 4 are a pretty interesting era. The Bad Batch should answer the question of where the clones went and why the Empire chose stormtroopers over them. Alas, it turned out with varying degrees of success. The tone is right here. It is gloomy, but the animation still looks much poorer than in the later seasons of The Clone Wars. And yes, this series lacks depth. We watch the adventures of the detachment, but some interesting political motives appear only in the second season.