TVSquad

Clone Wars, Secret Saturdays, a teenager with a super watch, and yet another Batman cartoon. These are just some of the items that were announced at the Cartoon Network upfronts this past week. A presentation, mind you, that was attended by one George Lucas.

Lucas was there to promote the CN's pickup of the animated Star Wars: The Clone Wars, which many are expecting big things of. This series, which we told you about way back in May of last year, will continue the adventures of Obi-Wan, Anakin, and many others during the Clone Wars. According to Stuart Snyder, President and COO of Turner Animation, Clone Wars will be a game changer for the network and will be event viewing for kids as well as entire families. "Star Wars: The Clone Wars will be appointment television for everyone in the family", said Snyder

Citing information from "animation insiders," Animation Magazine is reporting that Disney may have its sights set on securing broadcast rights to Clone Wars, the CGI-animated cartoon series based on George Lucas' Star Wars universe (the series would take place between episodes Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith). The series' debut has been set at fall 2008 for some time now, but no official announcement has been made as to which network or cable station would air the series. Rumor has it that both FOX and HBO would also like to broadcast the series.

We've been hearing about the new Clone Wars cartoon for some time now, and finally a little taste of the new series is available on the Star Wars site.

We've been told previously that this new series would focus on the clone wars that took place between episodes two and three (Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith) and those of us who are both Star Wars fanboys and animation nerds were excited to see what this new animated series would look like.

Last month Richard got us all up to speed on the live-action Star Wars series, which is currently set to debut in 2008. Apparently the people behind the new series have been working like crazy, so we'll see if the wait is worth it, though I can't think "Star Wars" and "television" without thinking of those horrible made-for-TV Ewok movies.

Anyway, while we have to wait a couple years for this series, we may be seeing the new animated series as soon as next year. Lucasfilm's animation studio in Singapore is currently working on the CGI series, which will focus on the Clone War era that falls between episodes two (Attack of the Clones) and three (Revenge of the Sith). The Clone Wars, while a vital part of the movies, was delved into much deeper in the books and comics based on the series. Despite this, insiders claim there will be some surprises for even the most diehard fans of Star Wars and its expanded universe.