you know both Cartoon Network exclusive series to better understand RotS at all? or are the 5 movies enough? Thanks for the fo.

The Clone Wars covers time right up to before Episode 3 begins, but it's not required viewing, IMHO.

The only thing you would miss in the toon is the capture of the Chancellor by Greivous and his chest problems caused by Mace which explains why GG is coughing in ROTS. Thats about it that would really be crucial info for ROTS.

the opening crawl basically covers it
I saw the cartoons but don't reall remember much from them and thought over all that they were just way over the top in action and short on plot

That too. I think they suffered because they were made to be so short. If it had been a half hour series, and they were able to focus on more plot, I think they would have been far better.

Not necessary at all.

Just know that Mace force crushed Grevious's chest and that's why he coughs. Other than that everythign is explained in the crawl.

I did really like the cartoons though. Definitely worth picking up and watching.

I agree that they definately are not necessary.

I missed that cartoon and was wondering about that one.

What ever happened to Dooku's chick apprentice (forgot her name) from the Clone Wars cartoons. After she fell off that pyramid when fighting Anakin, did she ever appear again or is that where she died?

<---- didn't see the "animated short features", but enjoyed Ep. III

I'm pretty sure they mention killing her when confronting Dooku, but that may only be in the novel and not in the film. I'll have to see it again to check.

she's more EU than anything else. She didn't die from the fall. she later ends up being the one that gives anakin the scar on his face.

Why didn't they ever show Anakin get the scar in the cartoons??

Also, the Clone War cartoons are not EU since they aired on TV and the transcripts are in fact in Ep III

You don't need to see the cartoons. I didn't, and liked the movie.

Nah, not really, but they're a lot of fun to watch.

If anything, pick up and read Labrynth of Evil. Its description of what happens between episode 2 and 3 is more true to the films than the cartoons (although I would still watch the cartoons. Some of the battles were bad ass). They do explain where his scar came from, and at the end of book they are leaving to go to the battle at the beginning of ROTS. Some of the events of the novel are even mentioned during the movie.

Were the "Clone Wars" animated series actual "canon" or were they just sanctioned fan-fiction like the books, comics, and the rest of the EU?

Pretty much canon. In the extras there's a interview with Lucas and he says he liked the first season a lot, and went back to cartoon network and told them he wanted them to do a second season that would lead right into ROTS.

So that's pretty canon IMO, given he went to them and told him what he wanted covered.

So how did he get the scar?

Lucas telling these guys what he wanted covered and it being canon are two entirely different matters. Only the movies are canon. After that, if you care to push it, the movies, scripts, radio shows, and DK books could be considered canon:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Wars_canon

In my opinion, the Clone Wars series is Extended Universe. Just because Lucas put his stamp of approval on it, just like he does every other EU thing, doesn't mean it's canon. Granted these guys made a very plausible lead-up to Episode III (and they also give us entertaining reasons why Grevious coughs, and why Anakin has a scar). But honestly, it doesn't take a genius to realize there's no way mutant beings with rocket launchers on their arms (a la Quake 2, Far Cry, and Sin) don't exist in George's version of the Star Wars universe.

-HM

Well, the Clone Wars cartoons appear on the Star Wars web site as part of the official Star Wars universe plot threads. I think they're as canonical as the movies, and in the future the television show. These deal with the established story of the films and fill in the gaps, with Lucas writing the story.

Sorry, but if you look someone up like Durge in the Databank, he's firmly in the Extended Universe, and EU is not canon.

It doesn't take a genius to realize that a bunch of mutants with rocket launchers for arms (a la Quake 2, Sin, and Far Cry) isn't something that George would have in the Star Wars universe. Sure he approved it, but it isn't canon.

And for that matter the TV show won't be canon either. Just more EU stuff, in a different medium. You might as well say that The Holiday Special is canon - after all, it does fit between the events of Star Wars and Empire, right?

-HM

Personally, I don't give two shits what is "officially" canon or not. I pick and choose what I want the "full" story to be.

Exactly. I guess I am an OT purist and prefer to watch the originals as I grew up with them. I make believe that this newest trilogy (along with the "Special Edition" versions of the OT) do not even exist when watching them.

But then again I do that with the two Matrix sequels, Godfather III and Halloween 2 thru 12 (or whatever # they are up to now).

You can choose to like what you want, but then it should be up to others to like what they want as well. Just because YOU say the Clone Wars series is canon doesn't make it so. It just is for you!

-HM