"Ahsoka and Jedi Master Luminara escort captured Viceroy Nute Gunray to trial, unaware that Count Dooku has dispatched his deadly apprentice assassin Asajj Ventress to free the prisoner and eliminate the Jedi."
UPDATE: From Lucasfilm:
"Female Jedi take the spotlight Dec. 5 on STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS"
"Acclaimed animation-and-comics writer Paul Dini (the “Justice League,” “Superman,” “Batman” animated series) amps up the action for Jedi heroines Luminara Unduli and Ahsoka Tano in “Cloak of Darkness,” an all-new episode of the hit animated series STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS, premiering at 9 p.m. ET/PT Friday, Dec. 5, on Cartoon Network.
In “Cloak of Darkness,” Ahsoka and Jedi Master Luminara escort captured Viceroy Nute Gunray to trial – but they’re unaware that Count Dooku has dispatched his deadly assassin Asajj Ventress to free the prisoner and eliminate the Jedi.
Supervising director Dave Filoni, who also directed “Cloak of Darkness,” and story editor Henry Gilroy have made concerted efforts to grow the series’ expansive universe of characters throughout the first season. When the focus turned to the strong female fighters of the Star Wars galaxy – both heroes and villains – they felt writer Paul Dini was a perfect choice to create the scenario.
Dini’s work in animation and comic books have built him a strong following among enthusiasts, and he is noted for creating stunning, memorable female characters. Dini, who has taken time away from the animation realm to be a story editor on ABC’s “Lost,” said he didn’t hesitate to take the assignment from Lucasfilm Animation.
“It was interesting to take Ahsoka, who plays by her own rules, and put her under the tutelage of a more established Jedi,” Dini says. “She can’t get around Luminara the way she plays with Anakin and Obi-Wan. It’s not just their generational difference, it’s a difference in methods – Luminara is very much by the book, and expects any padawan to follow the rules. Ahsoka grabs a lightsaber and runs into battle, whereas Luminara wants to take a moment and assess the situation through her mastery of the Force. Throw in the wildcard of Ventress and you’ve got a very interesting mix.”
Filoni says the Star Wars galaxy is filled with compelling female characters, but many of them have not had major roles – so far. “This series gives us an opportunity to use them in a much larger capacity,” he says. “In this episode, the focus is on how Luminara, an old-school Jedi master, would work with a young padawan like Ahsoka. Putting Luminara and Ahsoka together offers a real contrast in learning for both characters.”
In both comics and action-driven animation, Dini says, a preponderance of male characters provides a challenge to develop their underappreciated female counterparts with equal complexity and motivations.
“A lot of times, female characters – particularly the villains – come off as very one-dimensional,” Dini says. “They get the short shrift in that they’re only given the snappy comeback, or they’re relegated to a very stereotypical role. I want to know what’s driving them – that’s what’s really interesting. If you can find that human moment, then attach a human element of motivation, the character becomes more relatable and, even if she’s a villain, more sympathetic.”
But Dini says viewers won’t find much sympathy for Ventress – and not because she lacks crystal clear motives.
“Ventress has a savage desire to prove herself,” he explains. “She really wants to be the next Sith Lord, and she’ll do anything to achieve her goal. She’s as ruthless, cunning and merciless as any character in the series, and that intense, loose rage makes her a wild card. When she unleashes it, she becomes a berserker. When she fights, she’s like a snake, almost reptilian in some ways. If she kept her rage in check, she might win. But she gives in to that rage, and that is her undoing, her weakness.”
Picture caption: "Jedi Knight Luminara Unduli confronts vicious assassin Asajj Ventress in “Cloak of Darkness,” an all-new episode of STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS premiering at 9 p.m. ET/PT Friday, Dec. 5, on Cartoon Network."
UPDATE #2: More from Lucasfilm:
"Ashley Eckstein brings Ahsoka Tano to life in STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS"
"Standing saber-to-saber with some powerful female enemies and allies, young Padawan Ahsoka Tano features prominently in “Cloak of Darkness,” an all-new episode of the hit animated series STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS, premiering at 9 p.m. ET/PT Friday, Dec. 5, on Cartoon Network.
In “Cloak of Darkness,” Ahsoka and Jedi Master Luminara escort captured Viceroy Nute Gunray to trial, unaware that Count Dooku has dispatched his lithe and deadly assassin Asajj Ventress to free the prisoner and eliminate the Jedi.
A veteran of hit live-action films and TV shows such as Sydney White, Blue Collar TV, That’s So Raven and Drake & Josh, Eckstein is a relative newcomer to voiceover work, but she has enthusiastically embraced the craft – as well as her role within the Star Wars galaxy.
“It’s such a fun line of work because you really get to tap into your imagination,” Eckstein says. “The action is in your mind and it has to come through your voice, so you have to envision everything. I have to think, ‘How would I sound if I were fighting Ventress right now? How would I sound if I were picked up by a giant bird, flown across the room, and dropped on the floor?’ It’s like imagination boot camp when you go into a session with (supervising director) Dave Filoni and the rest of the cast.”
While the role-play offers the opportunity to stretch her imagination, Eckstein admits that acting from a recording studio has its difficulties, as well, particularly in a project as epic in scale as STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS.
“The physical sounds are hardest because, well, you don’t think about these things in everyday life,” Eckstein says. “We talk all the time, so the dialogue is easy compared to figuring out what sound you’d make if you got hit by a lightsaber or fell out of a spaceship. I definitely have to get physical in the booth, and I probably look like the biggest nerd in there, using a pencil as a lightsaber. I really try to get into it, and it just helps to sound like you’re in the heat of battle.”
Ultimately, though, it is the character’s coming-of-age experience that helps to ground Eckstein’s performance. Despite her planet-spanning adventures, Ahsoka remains relatable thanks to her universal foibles and fumbles.
“Ahsoka’s emotions are very raw, and kids and teens can look at what she’s going through and really understand it,” Eckstein says. “Even though they’re not fighting in life-or-death battles, they may be dealing with bullies or trying to make the sports team or trying to impress a teacher. All of those situations easily mirror her emotions. That’s one of my favorite things about Ahsoka – while her experiences may be different, the personalities and the emotions are the same for everyone.”'
Picture caption #1: "Padawan Ahsoka Tano and Jedi Master Luminara Unduli discuss methods of dealing with their uncooperative prisoner in “Cloak of Darkness,” an all-new episode of STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS premiering at 9 p.m. ET/PT Friday, Dec. 5, on Cartoon Network."
Picture caption #2: "Ashley Eckstein is the voice of Ahsoka Tano in STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS from Lucasfilm" Animation.
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