Star Wars: Droids

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Star Wars: Droids
File:Star Wars Droids.jpg
Created by George Lucas
Ben Burtt
Raymond Jafelice
Clive A. Smith
Ken Stephenson
Starring Anthony Daniels (voice)
Country of origin United States
Canada
No. of seasons 1
No. of episodes 13
Production
Executive producer(s) Miki Herman
George Lucas
Peter Sauder
Running time approx. 22 minutes (per episode)
Production company(s) Nelvana
Lucasfilm
Release
Original network ABC
Original release September 7, 1985 (1985-09-07) –
June 7, 1986 (1986-06-07)
Chronology
Followed by Star Wars: Clone Wars
Related shows Star Wars: Ewoks
External links
[{{#property:P856}} Website]

Star Wars: Droids: The Adventures of R2-D2 and C-3PO, released on DVD in 2004 as Star Wars Animated Adventures: Droids, is an animated television series that features the exploits of R2-D2 and C-3PO, the droids who have appeared in all seven live-action Star Wars films. The series takes place between the events depicted in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith and Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope.

Over the course of the series, the droids team up with four different sets of masters. The series is divided up into three cycles: at the beginning of each, the droids usually run into their new masters in an accidental way, and at the end of each cycle, they usually are forced to leave their masters for one reason or another. The Great Heep, a television special following the series, served as a prequel to the third Mungo Baobab cycle.

The series' opening theme, "Trouble Again," was performed by Stewart Copeland of the Police and written by Copeland and Derek Holt.

Setting

Droids was set in the nineteen-year time period between the rise of the Empire in Revenge of the Sith, and the events of A New Hope. Many times during the show, agents of the Empire were shown to enforce this idea.

The famous droid duo faced off against gangsters, criminals, pirates, Boba Fett, IG-88, the Galactic Empire and other threats throughout the series. During their adventures, the droids always found themselves with new masters and new difficult situations as a result.

The Emperor was mentioned multiple times within the series, but never appeared.

Cast and production

The series featured Anthony Daniels as the voice of C-3PO, who also portrayed the character in the films, along with the voice talents of Graeme Campbell, Rob Cowan, Don Francks, Peter MacNeill, John Stocker and Winston Rekert. Several episodes feature guest stars like Dan Hennessey, Chris Wiggins, George Buza, Andrew Sabiston, Eric Peterson, Rob Cowan, Jamie Dick, Cree Summer, Donny Burns, Alan Fawcett, Don McManus, Long John Baldry and Gordon Masten. Several episodes of the series were written by (Star Wars sound designer) Ben Burtt. The series was produced by Nelvana on behalf of Lucasfilm and broadcast on ABC. The cartoon series lasted one season and was made up of thirteen regular episodes in 1985. There was also a two-part television special entitled The Great Heep in 1986. Following the original run of the complete series, the entire show was rebroadcast as part of The Ewoks and Droids Adventure Hour the same year, along with its series counterpart, Star Wars: Ewoks. The shows, Droids and Ewoks, were also played on the Sci Fi Channel in 1996 as a part of their early morning Sci-Fi cartoon run, although somewhat edited for time.

In the UK, BBC Television bought rights to screen the series in its entirety between 1986 and 1991 as part of the Children's BBC programming strand. The entire series was shown twice within this time (in 1986 and 1988 to coincide with the full release of the Star Wars trilogy as well as Droids on VHS). The Great Heep only made one showing in 1989 on BBC's Going Live!, which was a Saturday morning children's show - it was split into two parts over two weeks. Different episodes from different cycles were also screened across the five-year licence, with the Trigon cycle being shown in full in early 1991 on another Saturday morning children's show called The 8:15 from Manchester.

In several places, the prequel trilogy references elements from the Droids animated series. This is possibly due to Ben Burtt's large involvement in both story elements for the animated series, and his involvement in the prequels.

Cast listing (voice work)

Comic book series

In 1986, Marvel Comics' Star Comics imprint published a comic book based on the cartoon series under the name Star Wars: Droids. The bi-monthly series ran for eight issues. Significant issues include No. 4, which crossed over with the Ewoks comics series, and Nos. 6–8, whose story was titled "Star Wars: According to the Droids", retelling the original film complete with new scenes told from the perspective of the droids. First three issues of the series were drawn by comic legend John Romita, Sr.

In 1994, Dark Horse Comics published a new series of Star Wars: Droids, continuing the story started in Dark Horse Comics Nos. 17–19. Set before the events of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, the mini-series ran for six issues. A Special No. 1 was released in January 1995, followed by a second mini-series that ran for eight issues. A one-shot titled Star Wars: Droids – The Protocol Offensive was published in September 1997.

Merchandising

In 1985, Kenner produced a toy line based on the series, including action figures, ship models, and other items. The toy line was short lived due to decreasing popularity with Star Wars. In 1987 during a purchase and then released in 1988, Glasslite of Brazil issued remaining Kenner stock and produced a very limited run of remaining Return of the Jedi and Droids toys from a sell off. Certain vehicles, mini-rigs and action figures were issued by the company in new packaging. The character Vlix (Tig Fromm's henchman) was an action figure exclusive from unused molds by Kenner. Like the reminder of the Glasslite line, very few were made, even less were sold and most were recycled due to the failing economy when money was tight across the country.

For more on the toy line, see The Star Wars Collector's Archive.

A book was issued in the UK of the Episode "A Race To The Finish" as well as another book that had limited print runs.

Plans to release a Storybook and cassette for the publishing company Rainbow for the Trigon cycle were abandoned after they lost the rights to re-issue their Star Wars run which included Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, Planet of the Hoojibs, Droid World and Return of the Jedi: The Battle of Endor due to poor reflective sales of Buena Vista's "Further Adventure" series which included Mission To Ord Mantell, An Ewok Adventure and Ewoks: The Battle For Endor overseas.

A computer game was released in 1988 for the ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC and Commodore 64 by Mastertronic. The game went largely unnoticed and was pulled from production due to licensing rights of the end title theme tune being used.

Episodes

# Title Directed by Written by Original airdate
1 "The White Witch" Ken Stephenson & Raymond Jafelice Peter Sauder September 7, 1985 (1985-09-07)
After being jettisoned over the deserts of Ingo by an unscrupulous former master, C-3PO and R2-D2 are taken in by speeder bike racers Jord Dusat and Thall Joben. When they accidentally discover the location of the Trigon One, a secret weapon created by the criminal Fromm gang, Jord is kidnapped by Tig Fromm in order to silence him. Joined by Rebel spy Kea Moll, the droids assist Thall in rescuing Jord from Fromm's secret base, destroying much of Fromm's droid army in the process.
2 "Escape Into Terror" Ken Stephenson & Raymond Jafelice Peter Sauder September 14, 1985 (1985-09-14)
C-3PO, R2-D2, Thall and Kea sneak into the Fromm gang's secret base and steal the Trigon One weapon.
3 "The Trigon Unleashed" Ken Stephenson & Raymond Jafelice Peter Sauder & Richard Beban September 21, 1985 (1985-09-21)
Tig Fromm kidnaps Jord and Kea's mother and refuses to release them unless Thall reveals the location of the Trigon One. Thall does so and the prisoners are released. However, when Tig pilots the space weapon back to his father Sise Fromm's base he discovers Thall has sabotaged the controls and programmed the Trigon One to collide with the Fromms' base.
4 "A Race to the Finish" Ken Stephenson & Raymond Jafelice Peter Sauder & Steven Wright September 28, 1985 (1985-09-28)
The team travel to the planet Boonta to take part in a speeder racing event, but are followed by the Fromms who enlist Boba Fett to exact their revenge on the speeder racers. After failing to stop Thall winning the race, losing his droid, speeder and almost his life in the process, Fett turns on the Fromms and decides to claim a bounty placed on them by Jabba the Hutt. Thall, Jord and Kea are offered jobs by Zebulon Dak to work at his speeder corporation, but they refuse when they realize the droids would have to be re-programmed. R2-D2 and C-3PO choose to leave their masters so they can take the job.
5 "The Lost Prince" Ken Stephenson & Raymond Jafelice Peter Sauder October 5, 1985 (1985-10-05)
C-3PO, R2-D2 and their new master, Jann Tosh, befriend a mysterious alien disguised as a droid. Captured by crimelord Kleb Zellock, they are forced to mine Nergon-14, a valuable unstable mineral used in proton torpedoes, which Zellock plans to sell to the Empire. In the mines they meet Sollag, who identifies their friend as Mon Julpa, Prince of the Tammuz-an. Together they defeat the crimelord and escape the mines before they are destroyed in a Nergon-14 explosion.
6 "The New King" Ken Stephenson & Raymond Jafelice Peter Sauder October 12, 1985 (1985-10-12)
The Droids, Jann, Mon Julpa and Sollag, along with freighter pilot Jessica Meade, travel to Tammuz-an to thwart Zatec-Cha, an evil vizier with ambitions to seize the throne of Tammuz-an. Special Guest Star: IG-88.
7 "The Pirates of Tarnoonga" Ken Stephenson & Raymond Jafelice Peter Sauder October 19, 1985 (1985-10-19)
While delivering much needed fuel to Tammuz-an, the ship is hijacked by the notorious (yet diminutive) pirate, Kybo Ren-Cha. Jann, Jessica and the Droids are captured and taken to the water planet Tarnoonga. C-3PO, R2-D2 and Jann must re-capture the fuel shipment and rescue Jessica from the lascivious advances of Capt. Kybo Ren - but first they have to survive the Miridon!
8 "The Revenge of Kybo Ren" Ken Stephenson & Raymond Jafelice Peter Sauder October 26, 1985 (1985-10-26)
Kybo Ren escapes and kidnaps Gerin, the daughter of Lord Toda, Mon Julpa's political rival. The Droids, Jann and Jessica follow Kybo Ren to the planet Bogden to rescue her before Mon Julpa is handed over in exchange. However the tables are turned when Mon Julpa reveals Lord Toda and a squad of Tammuz-an soldiers smuggled aboard the pirate's own ship. Kybo Ren is sent back to prison and an alliance is forged between Mon Julpa and Lord Toda. Jessica, however, decides its time to return to her freighter business on Tyne's Horkny, saying a sad good-bye to her friends.
9 "Coby and the Starhunters" Ken Stephenson & Raymond Jafelice Joe Johnson & Peter Sauder November 2, 1985 (1985-11-02)
C-3P0 and R2-D2 are assigned to chapperone Lord Toda's young son, Coby, only to be captured by smugglers. They are eventually rescued by Jann only for the Droids to learn that he has been accepted into the Imperial Space Academy, leaving them once again masterless and on their own.
10 "Tail of the Roon Comets" Ken Stephenson & Raymond Jafelice Teleplay by: Michael Reaves
Story by: Ben Burtt		 November 9, 1985 (1985-11-09)
Mungo Baobab, with R2-D2 and C-3PO in tow, begins searching for the powerful Roon Stones, but runs into an imperial entanglement.
11 "The Roon Games" Ken Stephenson & Raymond Jafelice Teleplay by: Gordon Kent & Peter Sauder
Story by: Ben Burtt		 November 16, 1985 (1985-11-16)
Having escaped, Mungo Baobab, C-3PO and R2-D2 once again make their way for the planet Roon but it turns out they haven't seen the last of Koong.
12 "Across the Roon Sea" Ken Stephenson & Raymond Jafelice Teleplay by: Sharman DiVono
Story by: Ben Burtt		 November 23, 1985 (1985-11-23)
Mungo Baobab has just about given up hope on finding Roon stones and together with the droids are about to return to Manda (Baobab's home planet).
13 "The Frozen Citadel" Ken Stephenson & Raymond Jafelice Teleplay by: Paul Dini
Story by: Ben Burtt		 November 30, 1985 (1985-11-30)
Mungo Baobab and the Droids continue their search for the Roon stones but General Koong makes trouble for our heroes.
SP "Television special: The Great Heep" Clive A. Smith Ben Burtt June 7, 1986 (1986-06-07)
C-3PO and R2-D2 travel to Biitu and confront an evil Abominor named "The Great Heep" that built onto itself from the remains of other droids. "The Great Heep" is a prequel to the episode "Tail of the Roon Comets". Runtime is 48 minutes.

DVD release

File:Star Wars Droids animated series DVD cover.jpeg
The cover of the 2004 DVD release of Droids.
  • An edited compilation DVD with the title Star Wars Animated Adventures: Droids was released on November 23, 2004. The DVD contained eight episodes of the series, edited together as two full length movies. Besides cutting the theme song of the series, many other small modifications were made for the home video releases, most notably changes to the soundtrack.[1]
    • Episodes 5–8, (Cycle 2) were edited together to make The Pirates and the Prince (which was previously released on VHS in 1996).[2] Along with other changes to the soundtrack, Sy Snootles and the Max Rebo Band are seen singing a different song than they sang in the original series.
    • Episodes 10–13, (Cycle 3) were edited together to make Treasure of the Hidden Planet. A new prologue is narrated by Alex Lindsay (digital effects artist for The Phantom Menace),[3] as the voice of Mungo Baobab. Along with other changes to the soundtrack, the song that R2-D2 plays on the jukebox is now the song that the Max Rebo Band plays in The Pirates and the Prince.
  • The entire original series has yet to be released on any home video format in its entirety. Some of the original episodes were released in the 1980s and 1990s on VHS, mostly notable were the UK PAL releases on 4 cassettes (Droids 1-3 and The Great Heep) that had very minor edits with credit and opening sequences being eliminated for these compilation tapes.

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  • Star Wars: Droids 1985, George Lucas, Ben Burtt
  • Star Wars Insider #27
  • A Guide to the Star Wars Universe,
  • The Star Wars Encyclopedia by Stephen J. Sansweet, ISBN 0-345-40227-8 Del Rey; first edition (June 30, 1998)

External links

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