The Clone Wars: Episode 3 - Shadow of Malevolence

STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS puts a new shine on a very recognizable part of Star Wars lore as the Y-wing bombers make their debut in “Shadow of Malevolence,” an all-new episode of the hit animated series premiering at 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10, on Cartoon Network.

The second of a three-episode arc finds Anakin Skywalker, his Padawan Ahsoka Tano and Jedi Master Plo Koon utilizing long-range Y-wing bombers to lead a bold strike on General Grievous’ warship, the Malevolence, and its destructive ion cannon.

The Y-wing bombers were first seen among the Rebel Alliance’s primary starfighters in 1977’s Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope. “Shadow of Malevolence” director Brian Kalin O’Connell, writer Steve Melching and supervising director Dave Filoni were inspired by the concept of showing the Y-wings “fresh off the showroom floor.”

“We like to find ways to draw connections between The Clone Wars and the original trilogy,” Melching says. “In the original Star Wars, the X-wings and the Y-wings have truly been through the wars, and they’ve had the crap beaten out of them. We thought it would be fun to imagine that they were originally manufactured during the Clone Wars – so for us, they came off the assembly line and into battle.”

O’Connell says the artists behind The Clone Wars were excited about “introducing” the Y-wings – and putting the series’ lead characters into a full-fledged space battle for the first time.

“Guys like (design/concept artists) Russell Chong and Killian Plunkett, along with Dave (Filoni) come from a classic Star Wars background, so they understand that Ralph McQuarrie feel of the 1970s, and they do it right,” O’Connell says. “We don’t want to change the lore, we want to add to it. By introducing the Y-wings, we get to add a new dimension, a little history.” Some people, he realizes, might think that it’s “just a vehicle.” Nevertheless, O’Connell says, “We know it’s a huge deal for the fans. We don’t let it distract from the story, but we still get to add the geek shot – and when we do, we try to do it justice.”

Anakin Skywalker leads a small band of Y-wing bombers through a dangerous nebula in “Shadow of Malevolence,” an all-new episode of STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS, airing at 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10, on Cartoon Network.

Writer Steve Melching adores the thrill of a space battle and the majesty of a lightsaber duel, but he knows that behind the best Star Wars tales are stories that resonate with great moments and amazing characters.

The Emmy Award-nominated writer of such animated favorites as The Batman and X-Men has penned eight episodes of STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS, was credited as one of the writers of the animated film of the same name, and has written more than 4,000 lines of dialogue for the “Star Wars: The Clone Wars Lightsaber Duels” game for the Wii, which will be released by LucasArts on Nov. 11.

Melching’s passion for story-telling is evident in “Shadow of Malevolence,” an all-new episode of the hit animated series premiering at 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10 on Cartoon Network.

“THE CLONE WARS is really an opportunity to tell those great old war stories, and ‘Shadow of Malevolence’ is very much like a World War II tale of going behind enemy lines on pretty much a suicide mission,” Melching says. “It’s the small band of heroes racing against time, and while you may think they’ll accomplish the mission, you still wonder if they’ll all make it out alive.

“These are the great stories to tell – stories of bonding and heroism and sacrifice, and this was a particularly great opportunity to have Anakin and Ahsoka working together and coming together as a team, getting to know each other’s strengths and weaknesses in the throws of battle.”

Melching’s Hollywood lineage dates back to his grandfather’s assistance in building the enormous King Kong hand that would eventually grasp Fay Wray in the 1933 film classic. Seeing 1977’s Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope as a 9-year-old in a small Honolulu theater only reinforced his path. A self-proclaimed Air Force brat with a laundry list of “hometowns,” Melching made his way to USC School of Cinematic Arts because, as he says, “that’s where George (Lucas) went.” Though he’s an established top writer for animation, Melching gained the attention of the Star Wars universe with his work on Troops, the popular Internet parody that melds Star Wars with TV’s Cops.

“I grew up loving all Star Wars, so I was always using my imagination to come up with these various characters and universes,” Melching says. “To do it professionally, it’s good to come from a place of deep knowledge of the material, but you do have to separate yourself enough to tell a clear story that isn’t mired down in insider minutiae. The story must appeal to a broader audience, not just the hardcore fans.”

STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS airs at 9 p.m. Fridays on Cartoon Network. Dave Filoni is supervising director, George Lucas is the series’ creator and serves as executive producer, and Catherine Winder is producer.

The giant neebray circle through the Balmorra Run, a dangerous short-cut through which Anakin Skywalker and his squadron must pass to cut-off General Grievous and his warship in “Shadow of Malevolence,” an all-new episode of STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS, airing at 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10, on Cartoon Network.