Sunday May 27 2007

source: starwars.com /video/

Yo the sunday surprise is now online

I'm not gonna lie I've got wood.

Don't know if I fully like Obi's looks. But I like the direction they are taking with the animation.

I don't know. It's evidently a continuation of Tartakovsky's shorts and the stories will probably try to be consistent with all the EU crap.

All the scenes in the trailer show situations we've already seen in the movies; the war stuff looks like they just played some more with the animatics for Revenge of the Sith. Characters' faces are made of wood. And when I saw, how they've done Grievous, I thought of Star Wars LEGO.

The action seems fun enough though.

Looks like they've turned Grievous into a dork to be more continuous with the films.

By the way I hate all this flash shit on the OS now. QT was fine.

Battle of the Heroes.

Anakin jumping from Stap to Stap, B-Wings, AT-TE's climbing up walls.

That was fucking cathartic - new Star Wars stuff! Looks a lot better than I expected, to be honest. Can't wait 'till the premiere.

hell yes new star wars stuff is right.


[align=center]UPDATE[/align]

[align=center][flash width=420 height=339]http://www.dailymotion.com/swf/3ElefgrAgFtwGf3hK[/flash][/align]

download: Clone Wars Trailer Mirror II (25mb)

download: Clone Wars Trailer.mov by odj_310388 & Altair (36.65 MB)
download: Clone Wars Trailer.mov by darthy (8.58 mb)

I so want this in full 1080i HD glory *dream*

Way better than I expected, the style is alright, only the voices are a little annoying so far. But hell, I can't wait for more coverage on that!

I was able to capture it but soundtrack got corrupted.

http://tiedostot.pilvikaupunki.net/tcw_trailer.flv

Hopefully you'll come up with better results.

I can't stop watching it

After seeing everything in motion now that looks pretty damn good. I definitely can't wait to see this.

FUCK YEAH!!!

I was able to capture A/V, but the movie got artifacts. I will see what I can make out of our two versions.

EDIT:
Well.... if I knew now how to shorten your 2:22 to the standard 1:50 I might actually make this work.

Are those Frank Oz and Matt Wood's voices?? I can't take or leave the style, but I liked the clear Lucas fingerprints at work (ie, Anakin hopping from STAP to STAP).

What sorta sucks - like some other guy said - is that there's very little that isn't already consumated in Ep III. Any pre-ROTS duel between Anakin and Dooku, besides being irreconciliable with the movies, is basically going to be kinda pointless. This could be a good opportunity to resolve that Qui-Gon subplot though.

I just dunno how they gonna make 100 1 hours episodes that still go with all the continuity and canon...

Anyhow, here's my A/V capture, the video stream's messy, though: tcw_teaser.wmv @ rapidshare. Maybe Duke or DP can work something out.

Looks much better than I was expecting. I really liked the ship dogfights. I think that was Matt Wood's voice as Grievous or at least someone doing a really great impression. Any and all continuity with the films is definitely welcome. I just wonder how much longer we're going to have to wait for this? At least it's something new to look forward to since it doesn't seem like there's going to be a box set or complete PT soundtracks this year.

Alright, looks like someone was fast enough: a small avi clone wars trailer version. Also, someone from a German SW board uploaded some snaps.

This is my whole problem, if this is supposed to be an adult cartoon, we're all too smart to think that there is going to be any real peril or conflict in this series because of the whole "oh yeah, 4 more movies after this" the story is just going to be so linear and boring and only minor characters will be killed, most likely ones you've never seen before or care about.

What about making a series in between A New Hope and Empire? What about the copious quantities of space between 'Jedi' and the "end of time"

I mean, it LOOKS good, and I'm sure it'll be just as entertaining as the other clone-wars cartoon but as for fucking up the timeline, creating unessacary complications with the whole prequel stories I mean, it's just wrong.

As a standalone "this is not part of the SW-lore" series, then absolutely but I'd be more interested in characters outside of the established "cannon" than I am with the massively over-produced and over-killed PT than I am with the HORRIBLY under-utilised (as of recently) OT.

I get the whole "skywalkers story" deal, but I think this cartoon is nothing about storytelling and more about the almighty StarWars cash cow dollar.

... and make no mistake, they're milking that beast.

I'm not excited.

They're star-trekifiying StarWars, and I'm not buying into it anymore.

Like Jabba's son!

Stunning! It's got the same visual beauty and kinetics that we would expect from the prequels. I like the Vietnamesque detail of the clad female alien painting on the hull of the clone ship in the first few shots.

starwarsblog.wordpress.com /the-clone-wars-panel-discussions/

Pablo's write up on the Clone Wars panel:

[hr]
The Clone Wars Panel Discussions
May 27th, 2007

The first two panel discussions with The Clone Wars producer Catherine Winder and supervising director Dave Filoni have finished, and here’s a brief listing of what fans just witnessed:

First, an introduction to Winder and Filoni, with a great video short showing director Filoni wearing his scratch-built Plo Koon costume to the premiere of Episode III (before getting hired on at Lucasfilm).

Interview details:

• When Filoni initially got the call from Winder to direct The Clone Wars, he thought it was a joke staged by his friends. Winder assured him it was not, and proved it by letting him call her back on her Lucasfilm line.

• Filoni got the job moments after his initial interview with Lucas. As a fan, he was just glad to meet Lucas and visit Skywalker Ranch just before the opening of Episode III.

• Lucas is very involved with production – he is mostly focused on the story. He and Winder both work on the scripts with the writers.

• The episodes will be 22 minutes long, so as a result, there is opportunity for a lot of character development. The tone of the series is based on that of Episode IV – in addition to action, there are also light moments and comedy.

• In the new series, there will not be a “Justice League of Jedi” as Filoni puts it – the Jedi can’t do anything more than Luke, Mace, Qui-Gon, and Obi-Wan from the films. They can be vulnerable but are intelligent – they need to think themselves out of situations. It will show how war was a challenge for the Jedi to fight, and how the moral principles they clung to began to disintegrate.

• According to Winder, it’s not being directed as an animated series, but more like live action in terms of its story and cinematography.

Filoni then walks the audience through a series of slides which showcase some of the sculpture designs for characters such as the clone trooper, Anakin, Obi-Wan, Count Dooku, and General Grievous. They will share some of the stylization from the 2-D animated series but also some of the reality from the filmed saga. Filoni describes the style as “leaner and more elegant.”

A video is shown which introduces much of the team at Lucasfilm Animation housed at Skywalker Ranch.

Q&A questions revealed:

• Lucasfilm Animation had nothing to do with some 3-D animated stills recently “leaked” on the internet. They were fan-produced.

• While continuity is being taken very seriously by the creators of the series, Lucas retains the right to make slight adjustments for the sake of the story. Filoni is extremely well-versed in Star Wars mythology and Expanded Universe, so rest assured it is in very good hands.

• General Grievous will have a cough. When asked whether any of Grievous’ past will be revealed, the only response is, “You’ll be happy.” Filoni also says that when it comes to big legacy characters like Grievous, Lucas is consulted directly.

• The series will debut in Fall 2008.

• A lot of background characters – from the films and otherwise — will get to do a lot more.

• The series is being produced in high-definition.

[hr]

To be fair, the wording "I've become twice as powerful since the last time we met, Dooku." could mean, they haven't fought since Geonosis, or they have fought since then and it's always been inconclusive.

What about an HD version of the trailer, instead of some small average flash one?

I can't be the ONLY one who thinks they've half-assed this, and the whole Celebration of 30 years of StarWars can I?

There are now two quicktime trailers links in this thread. Now all we need is some animated gifs. Here is my version of the trailer using Duke's flv link. The audio is off but the picture is of good quality.

download: Clone Wars Trailer.mov by darthy (8.58 mb)
(note: audio not synched, excellent picture quality, smaller size)

Well THAT'S reassuring. I mean, with masterpieces like the Crystal Star and the Blackfleet Crisis trilogy, this is just a load off my mind, let me tell ya!

I'm glad it's going to be in HD but FALL of 2008? Man... I guess I don't care if it takes that long as long as they make a quality product.

clonewarsdogfight.gif

Taking requests, any scenes in particular wanted?

darthpsychotic's requests:

Gunships

Anakin & Clones in the gunship

Anakin in the gunship

Grievous 1

Grievous 2

I loved the Tartakovsky series, so I have no problem with this being a continuation of that story. The style looks great; action looks great. Though some of the character animation looks a tad cartoony and weak.

Darthy's trailer with synched audio, 23mb, Mediafire

Looks great in motion. I too have some reservations about the time period they chose to chronicle with this. I'm going to give it a chance, though. We all know how WWII turned out and that didn't stop a lot of drama's about it from being succesful in thier own ways. But yes, the opportunity to totally convalute the film cannon is there. But then again, maybe they can fill in some of the story drag in EPIII a bit too. Perhaps we can see a bit more clearly why Anakin feels the way he does and his turn won't seem as relatively easy once his pre-ROTS motivations are explained.

Or maybe not. Either way, looks pretty exciting. I'm a sucker for dogfights and ship to ship combat sequences anyway, hopefully the show is as jam-packed with that as the trailer.

And the STAP to STAP aerial leap-frog kick-assery alone merits me giving it all a chance.

I do have one question though.


I thought they were going to be an hour long, or was that the Live-action? 22 minutes with commercials seems kind of like a tease after all the waiting.

I think it has some great potential. I was iffy when I saw the poster art, but seeing it in motion and seeing some of the darker cinematography, I have hope.

I say bring it on. I'll fucking watch it.



To answer the above question: the clone wars series was supposed to be 30 minute episodes whereas the live action show was to be 100 one hour episodes.

The Clone Wars episodes will be 22 minutes long without commercials.

You guys didnt have to put mine up on some stupid mediafire site, my site can handle bandwidth. :p

http://www.odj310388.com/other/swclonewars2_1.mov

One final "bootleg" using odj's video stream and my audio stream. It should be the best compromise between audio and video quality:

The Clone Wars Teaser.avi by Altair (12.2 MB, XviD)

Kudos goes to odj for the source material, of course. Now, if either you or darthy are up to it, you can also convert it to .mov.

Hmm I seem to have a problem converting Xvid, any chance of a Divx version?

Edit: Never mind I'm uploading a .mov now.

Edit2: Here we go: http://www.odj310388.com/other/swclonewars2_2.mov

Its not exactly your version Altair, I used your .wmv file for audio and clipped it together with my video manualy, but you get the same results.

Sure: The Clone Wars Teaser.avi by Altair (8.9 MB, DivX)

I somehow get the feeling that the video quality isn't that good after all, especially on full-screen. Damn, I so hate SW.com - everything they release is in kriffing low-res, be it images or videos. And now they go for flash. EDIT: oh, looks like you didn't even need the DivX in the first place. Sorry for being so slow.

Hah no probs man, good to get a few versions up anyway incase someone goes "I cant view this one!!!11" :p Alot of 'official' sites are opting for flash now cause it means low file size and low bandwidth, sometimes they release higher res versions a couple of days after but I doubt thats gona happen with the sw site cause its all been converted to flash now.

Great job on that one. I must admit, I'm not too experienced in movie editing, and your new version is the best quality thing around, now. Especially the video stream looks so much better than in my avis.

And yes, good call about the different versions. :P But now we just about might get everyone confused which version to download, eh? ^^

Ha ha I guess, sure they'll figure it out eventually.

Just had to be made into a .gif: anakinhop.gif
And this: assaj.gif

Nice work!

I'm curious to know what program you used to capture rtmp stream?


Faster mirrors for odj_310388's great captures:

http://tiedostot.pilvikaupunki.net/clon ... ars2_1.mov
http://tiedostot.pilvikaupunki.net/clon ... ars2_2.mov

Got to give credit where its due, 2_2 has Altair's audio in it. Isn't my site fast enough? How fast download speed are you getting from it? I use CamStudio, records what's on the screen, used to be able to record what was coming from the speakers but for some reason my new comp doesn't like doing that so I have a problem with audio. :P

anakinvusdooku.gif

I was able to download them for 15-35kb/s and I have 8mbits ADSL connection.

Gotta try that CamStudio.

Weird my site is usually pretty good.

I used a cracked version of Replay Media Catcher which managed to capture the FLV without any major problems.

I'd just like to thank everyone for all the effort they have put into capping, .gif'ing, re-editing and what-not they have done to make watching this thingeasier and more enjoyable. I have just been an observer and really, I'm still pretty geeked up for this to hit the air.

Desert fight
Obi-Wan in Starfighter
Walker falling down a cliff

This all looks bloody brilliant!

Some of the animation reminds me a little of the shapes and shading in Ralph McQ's artworks from 30 years ago. I had always thought it would be cool to do animation like this to show the "pre-history" of Star Wars, and I am also a little puzzled as to why Lucas chose the period between films for this series, but what the hell, I'm psyched!

Exactly. Anakin does not say, "My powers have doubled since we last fought on Geonosis, Count..." It's not a descrepancy if they did fight again sometime in between AOTC and ROTS.

It's just our perception after having seen those two movies.

I as a fan am interested in any time period. I think there should be enough going on that I can enjoy these characters. This was the time of the most of the battles took place and there were the most jedi. Come on.

Mmm, true. and I suppose that "my powers have doubled" bit could've just been Anakin's ego talking.

Yes, a pre-history series would be cool.