The Cartoon Network has produced a number of amazing Star Wars TV shows in the past but the Padawan Menace is their first Lego Star Wars show-somehow I don’t think it will be their last.
Broadcast first on July 22 2011 the special follows Jedi Master Yoda as he leads a group of Padawans (young Jedi in training) on an adventure that eventually involves the Sith and results in the children being supervised by R2-D2 and C3PO (I’m not sure which is more dangerous!).
The show is child-friendly and looks like a heap of fun. Make sure to record it on your hard drive of choice as I am sure this is one show kids will want to watch over and over again.
Here’s some more information about the Padawan Menace.
Padawan Menace Story
A routine Jedi Academy field trip is turned into a rip-roaring comic adventure in LEGOStar Wars: The Padawan Menace. Tour guide Master Yoda leads a group of rambunctious Jedi younglings through Senate chambers when he senses a disturbance in the Force.
Summoned to help save the Republic, he discovers that one of the younglings secretly boarded his ship…and has a taste for adventure! Meanwhile, C-3PO and R2-D2 are put in charge of the boisterous group and find themselves in over their heads.
As the evil Sith prepare to wreak havoc, it’s up to Yoda and the droids to ensure that their young charges aren’t torn to bricks!
Padawan Menace Trailer
Padawan Menace Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (July 7, 2011) – After the runaway success of their wildly popular building sets, video game collaborations and animated shorts, The LEGO Group and Lucasfilm will join forces once again for an all-new adventure – their first-ever original television special. Premiering on Cartoon Network on Friday, July 22 at 7:00 p.m. (ET, PT) in high-definition computer animation, the 30-minute original standalone special – LEGO Star Wars: The Padawan Menace – will feature the charm, action and irreverent humor that have become the signature style of LEGO Star Warsanimation collaborations.
Featuring situations, characters and locations from throughout the entire Star WarsSaga, the original adventure is written by Emmy® Award winner Michael Price (The Simpsons) and produced by Academy Award-winning Animal Logic, the production company behind Happy Feet.
“We’re certain that fans of LEGO play and the Star Wars universe will be as excited by this new original animated LEGO Star Wars episode as we are,” said Jill Wilfert, vice president of licensing and entertainment for The LEGO Group. “Developing original animated content leveraging the LEGO and Star Wars brands is incredibly rewarding for us because it not only engages and entertains fans in original stories and adventures that further their imaginative play, it authentically delivers on the inherent values and fun that LEGO play brings to the partnership.”
To date, Star Wars is the first and most successful LEGO licensed product collection in the company’s history, generating more than 200 LEGO models and approximately 275 LEGO minifigures inspired by the Saga, which has also spurred a blockbuster collection of videogames, selling 25 million units to date worldwide. In addition to its popularity among younger fans, a significant portion of the LEGO Star Wars consumer fan base is made up of nostalgic adults and franchise collectors.
LEGO Star Wars: The Padawan Menace is scheduled to air multiple times on Cartoon Network during the weekend including: Friday, July 22 at 7 p.m. (ET/PT), Saturday, July 23 at 10:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. (ET/PT) and Sunday, July 24 at 4:30 p.m. (ET/PT).
A routine Jedi Academy field trip is turned into a rip-roaring comic adventure in LEGO® Star WarsTM: The Padawan MenaceTM. Tour guide Master Yoda leads a group of rambunctious Jedi younglings through Senate chambers when he senses a disturbance in the Force. Summoned to help save the Republic, he discovers that one of the younglings secretly boarded his ship…and has a taste for adventure! Meanwhile, C-3PO and R2-D2 are put in charge of the boisterous group and find themselves in over their heads. As the evil Sith prepare to wreak havoc, it’s up to Yoda and the droids to ensure that their young charges aren’t torn to bricks!
Padawan Menace Gallery
I have to say this cartoon was awesome, but particularly for adults! It has irreverant references to all sorts of movies that adults know. Darth Vader lego guy keeps on working his way into scenes in the story and Lego George Lucas constantly has to step in to get Darth out of the shot. At one point, C3PO wields a couple of blasters and says, “Say hello to my little friends!” as he takes on, I think, battle droids. As an adult, I really appreciate the humor that’s plainly evident as well as hidden away in every frame of the cartoon. I don’t mind that the kids watch it over and over again because I catch something new every time.
I’ve really tired of watching the Star Wars: The Clone Wars cartoons (zzzzz…) and hope that they continue on with more Lego Star Wars stories! The kids love it, and it’s much more fun for me to watch, too.
Hi Christine
I agree, I had a great time and my kids just love the humor that seems to be in just about every Lego Star Wars game or show.
That is what makes it more watchable for me, than the Clone Wars cartoon-the sense of humor.
While I appreciate the artwork in the Clone Wars, the stories often lose my interest after a while, especially those focussed on the clone troopers.
I’m more of a Jedi-force-oriented girl myself.
It would be amazing to have a season of Lego Star Wars animation!
And I am hoping we get a Lego George Lucas minifig soon :0)
Cheers
Inger