Star Wars is going for the modern. While Star Wars Celebration is in full swing in Japan, it was during a nostalgia-tinged panel that we learned that Lucasfilm is preparing a new foray into animation with Maul: Shadow Lord. Scheduled for 2026, this new animated series already promises to shake up the franchise's aesthetic codes.
The first images and the trailer have already generated a certain amount of enthusiasm. This time, Star Wars Animation opts for a radically different approach, aligning itself with the most avant-garde trends in the industry, all in pencil, 3D and paint. The animation gives the series a unique, almost artisanal visual texture, reminiscent of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, or more recently Ninja Turtles: Teenage Years. By opting for this pictorial hybridization, Lucasfilm demonstrates its desire to modernize its image and offer a new experience, far from the smooth and hyper-realistic standards of classic 3D which the franchise had accustomed us to with The Clone Wars or The Bad Batch.
A modernized aesthetic
With Maul: Shadow Lord, Lucasfilm intends not only to renew its catalog, but also to confirm its place in a rapidly changing animated landscape. By adopting this new aesthetic, Star Wars Animation is in tune with the most innovative studios. The return of the Jedi in the hearts of the public could well come from animation rather than the big screen.
Side story, it's all in the title: Maul: Shadow Lord will mark the return of Maul, the former Sith, in a new story set after the Clone Wars, as he attempts to rebuild his criminal syndicate on a planet still untouched by the Empire.
Our opinion on the first images
It must be admitted that this is a difficult announcement to anticipate, as Lucasfilm cultivated the mystery surrounding the future of its animated division. However, the presence of Sam Witwer had somewhat given the game away. It was therefore on the Celebration Stage that Dave Filoni formalized this project eagerly awaited by fans of the antagonist.
From the first seconds, it is very clear that the license is at the dawn of a new era. First of all the aesthetic, which contrasts radically with previous projects. More lively, more vibrant and devilishly effective, Maul's animation is enough to give us the furious desire to discover more about this gray area of Darth Maul's history. Exit the impersonal 3D, which put off More than just a fan of the universe, Star Wars Animation is determined to reach a new audience. Those who were blown away by the revolutionary animation of Spider-Man into the Spider-Verse.
The public responded to Filoni's call, the delirious crowd confirms that the fans will be there. It remains to be seen whether Disney+ will succeed in attracting those who are not already won over to its cause. We bet so.
See you in 2026
The release of Maul: Shadow Lord is scheduled for 2026 on Disney+. This project, which is already shaping up to be an event, could well pave the way for a new generation of animated series, capable of seducing both nostalgic fans and newcomers to George Lucas's galaxy far, far away.
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