New LEGO Star Wars animated television series coming to Disney XD this summer

LEGO has a nice track record of creating whimsical Star Wars themed television adventures for Cartoon Network (Yoda Chronicles) and the Disney Channel (Droid Tales) that our whole family is fond of.  So we were really excited to find out that the Disney XD cable network will be debuting a brand new LEGO Star Wars themed animated television series this summer.  Stay tuned for more info as the show gets closer to its premiere but for now here is the official announcement about "LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures" that A Geek Daddy received from Disney:

LEGO Star Wars: THE FREEMAKER ADVENTURES IS COMING  TO DISNEY XD THIS SUMMER
"LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures" is an all-new animated television series scheduled to debut this summer on Disney XD in the U.S. The fun-filled adventure comedy series will introduce all-new heroes and villains in exciting adventures with many familiar Star Wars characters.

Told in the whimsically-charged style that audiences have come to expect from LEGO Star Wars entertainment, the series stars the Freemakers, a family of scavengers who build and sell starships from the scoured debris of space battles strewn throughout the galaxy. When their youngest discovers a natural connection with the Force through an ancient artifact - the Kyber Saber – his world is turned upside down, and he and his family are thrown into an epic struggle against the Empire to restore peace and freedom to the galaxy. Throughout their adventures, the Freemakers explore new worlds, meet new and familiar characters, and learn the true value of what it means to be a family.

"We are very excited to launch for the first time a TV series with Disney XD," said Jill Wilfert, vice president, licensing & entertainment at the LEGO Group. "The creative team behind 'The Freemaker Adventures' is extremely talented, and the series is a great testament to our longstanding and successful partnership with Lucasfilm and Disney. The show masterfully combines the rich heritage of storytelling, great characters, action and adventure in a galaxy far, far away with the creativity, imagination and humor that only LEGO Star Wars can deliver. We are sure fans young and old are going to love the show."

"With 'The Freemaker Adventures' we are thrilled to bring all new stories to life that could only be realized in the LEGO Star Wars universe," said Carrie Beck, vice president, animation development at Lucasfilm. "We are embarking on an unprecedented collaboration that will allow us to extend the narrative experience of the Star Wars saga with the same playful spirit that’s always made LEGO Star Wars so much fun to watch. We are so thankful to have such great partners in the LEGO Group, Disney XD and series developers Bill Motz and Bob Roth."

See the Star Wars Movies LEGOized on Disney XD

Cartoon Network and Disney's cable network equivalent, Disney XD, have featured over the years LEGO themed television specials called the YODA CHRONICLES that are a fun spoof of the Star Wars space opera.  These humorous adventures are a show that my kids and I equally enjoy and it is always nice to be able to watch a show together that everyone in the family likes (yes we even find my wife who claims to not really like Star Wars sitting on the couch with us whenever these shows come on chuckling at the jokes and slapstick humor in them).  So we were all really excited to hear that based upon the popularity of the YODA CHRONICLES and the new animated hit series STAR WARS: REBELS that Disney XD to help promote the upcoming feature film STAR WARS EPISODE VII: THE FORCE AWAKENS will be retelling the original six movies in half hour LEGOized tv specials.

LEGO / STAR WARS: DROID TALES which will air on Disney XD later this year will consist of five 22-minute episodes that will re-tell the Star Wars saga in chronological order from Star Wars: The Phantom Menace through Star Wars: Return of the Jedi.  Taking place in a LEGO universe, Droid Tales will start with R2D2 and C3PO beginning to tell the Star Wars story from their perspective during the victory celebration at the Ewok village on Endor that took place at the conclusion of Return of the Jedi.  An accidental kidnapping occurs while the droids are reminiscing and viewers are taken on a new adventure that leads to encounters with familiar faces and places that prompt the retelling of the entire saga.

Through a press release, Jill Wilfert, vice president of licensing and entertainment for The LEGO Group, provides some insight into this new LEGO/STAR WARS collaboration:

Since we introduced our first LEGO Star Wars set in 1999, we have seen and heard from countless Star Wars fans who have used LEGO bricks to tell their own version of this timeless story, re-enacting favorite scenes and imagining new story lines.  LEGO Star Wars: Droid Tales gives us an opportunity to share highlights of the Star Wars story with a sense of humor and excitement that can only be conveyed through the LEGO brick, and will be a fun resource for families as they gear up for the next movie.

Keep your eyes peeled for more information about when LEGO Star Wars: Droid Tales will be airing on Disney XD as the countdown for The Force Awakens December premiere begins.

DISNEY'S CABLE NETWORKS WILL HAVE A STAR WARS FOCUS ON MAY THE FOURTH

Disney is using what has become known as Star Wars Day (May the Fourth ... be with you) to premiere the first official trailer for its new animated television show STAR WARS: REBELS.  It will also be broadcasting the first LEGO STAR WARS: THE YODA CHRONICLES episode (a comedic look at the Star Wars Universe through the use of Lego building blocks ) to appear on the Disney cable network since the show was moved from Cartoon Network.

 

The now named LEGO STAR WARS: THE NEW YODA CHRONICLES will air on Disney XD on Sunday, May 4th (Star Wars Day) at 7pm ET/PT.  Disney XD is a cable channel with programming targeted to children and teens in the age range of 6 to 14 years old.  Disney also has cable channels Disney Channel, Disney Junior, ABC Family, Fusion, and the ESPN networks under its ownership.  During the May 4th showing of LEGO STAR WARS: THE NEW YODA CHRONICLES the trailer for the STAR WARS: REBELS animated series will be premiered.  Immediately following the NEW YODA CHRONICLES premiere of the REBELS trailer it will than be shown on Disney's other cable properties and online.

According to the STAR WARS: REBELS production team, this is the official synopsis for the new series:

Star Wars Rebels continues the epic tradition of the legendary Star Wars saga with all-new exciting, action-packed adventures. It is a dark time in the galaxy, as the evil Galactic Empire tightens its grip of power from world to world. As the series begins, Imperial forces have occupied a remote planet, ruling with an iron fist and ruining the lives of its people. The clever and motley crew of the starship Ghost is amongst a select few who are brave enough to stand against the Empire. Together, this ragtag group will face threatening new villains, encounter colorful adversaries, embark on thrilling adventures and become heroes with the power to ignite a rebellion.

STAR WARS: REBELS will debut with an hour long special this summer on the Disney Channel and half hour weekly episodes will air on Disney XD starting in the fall.

The YODA CHRONICLES though having a "new name" appear similar to the same format of the show that recently ran on Cartoon Network.  These are funny shows that are enjoyable for parents and kids to enjoy together.  The quips often have both me and my kids chuckling. If you have time this weekend, tune in to THE NEW YODA CHRONICLES and enjoy an extra special treat by getting a sneak peek at the new STAR WARS: REBELS animated series.

May the Fourth be with You!