The series centers on the adventures of Wicket W. Warrick and his friends on the forest moon of Endor before the events of the original Star Wars film[a] and Caravan of Courage.[5] Unlike the Ewok films, the characters speak English[b] instead of their native language (though Ewokese phrases and songs are occasionally used).[6] The primary recurring villains are Morag the Tulgah Witch, who had a personal grudge against the tribe's shaman, Master Logray, and the Duloks, a rival species that is related to the Ewoks.[7]
The penultimate episode, "Battle for the Sunstar", which was reaired as the series finale, shows the Ewok heroes leaving the forest moon's surface when they go aboard an ImperialStar Destroyer that has traveled to their system.[5] An Imperial scientist attempts to destroy the Emperor, whose shuttle makes an appearance. The episode has been noted as forming a link with Return of the Jedi, which features the Empire using Endor as its base of operations for the second Death Star.[6]
Cast and characters
The Ewok tribe
Warrick family
Wicket Wystri Warrick (voiced by Jim Henshaw[8] then Denny Delk[9]) – The youngest brother of the Warrick Family. He is headstrong and determined and often takes the initiative. Wicket really wants to be a great warrior, which often gets him into trouble. Has dark brown fur and wears an orange hood, but wears a green hood in season two.
Widdle "Willy" Warrick (voiced by John Stocker[8]) – The middle brother of the Warrick Family. Originally called Widdle. He is clumsy, gluttonous and overweight, but exceedingly nice.
Weechee Warrick (voiced by Greg Swanson[8]) – The eldest brother and the strongest of the Warrick Family.
Winda Warrick – The youngest child of the Warrick Family.
Deej Warrick (voiced by Richard Donat[9]) – Father to Wicket, Weechee, Willy and Winda and his wife is Shodu.[10] A very respected warrior of the Ewok tribe. Has dark grey fur and wears a purple hood.
Erpham Warrick (voiced by Anthony Parr[9]) – Wicket's great-grandfather,[11] once a great warrior for the Ewok tribe and is still looked up to by young Ewoks. Not much is known about Erpham, as he died years ago, but he makes a brief appearance as a ghost when Wicket tries to repair his old battle wagon and instructs him.[11] He was a golden-colored Ewok with a green hood.
Kintaka family
Princess Kneesaa a Jari Kintaka[12] (voiced by Cree Summer[8] then Jeanne Reynolds[9]) – Younger daughter of Chief Chirpa and Ra-Lee.[13] Often the voice of reason and wisdom to her friends, but usually ends up in just as much trouble. She seems smitten with Wicket. Has white and grey fur and wears a pink hood with a blue gem dangling near her forehead.
Asha (voiced by Paulina Gillis[9]) – Older daughter of Chief Chirpa and Ra-Lee. Went missing during Ra-Lee's death and eventually was reunited with the Ewoks.[13]
Chief Chirpa (voiced by George Buza[8] then Rick Cimino[9]) – Widowed father to Kneesaa and Asha.[13] He gives order to the warriors when they are fighting against the Duloks.
Paploo (voiced by Paul Chato[9]) – Kneesaa's cousin, Great Chief Chirpa's nephew and son to Bozzie. He is close friends with Wicket and Teebo. He sometimes joins in when the young Ewoks go on their adventures. He is older, but often acts with less maturity than the younger Ewoks. Has grey fur, with a white face and wears an orange hood with a feather.
Bozzie (voice by Pam Hyatt[8]) – Chief Chirpa's sister / sister-in-law and mother to Paploo. She can be very bossy and domineering towards the young Ewoks.
Teebo's family
Teebo (voiced by Eric Peterson[8] then James Cranna[9]) – Wicket's best friend and the older child of Warok and Batcheela.[14][c] Fascinated by tales of sorcery and magic becomes his Master Logray's Apprentice. He is a bit of a dreamer, and sometimes a little clumsy. Teebo often lacks discipline, but this is something he learns to master over time from Logray, and eventually becomes a respectful young Ewok. Has ochre fur and he wears a tan, baggy hood with a feather.
Malani (voiced by Alyson Court[8]) – The younger child of Warok and Batcheela.[14][c] She is a close friends with Wiley, Nippet and Winda. She has a crush on Wicket[15] and desperately tries to impress him. Has beige fur and wears a blue hood with a flower in it.
Latara's family
Latara (voiced by Taborah Johnson[8] then Sue Murphy) – Has dark grey fur and wears a yellow hat with a pink feather in it in season one; in season two her fur is light brown and cream, and her hat is heather with a greenish-blue feather. Kneesaa is her best friend.[16] She dreams of being a great musician with her flute,[16] though her main job appears to be looking after her younger siblings. She has a huge crush on Teebo, though he rarely notices it. In the second season, it is the other way round.
Nippet and Wiley (voiced by Leanne Coppen[9] and Michael .Fantini,[9] respectively) – Latara's younger siblings. At times, Latara has to stay home to watch over them.
Zephee – The mother of Latara, Nippet and Wiley.[17] She was seen in three episodes: "The Haunted Village", "The Travelling Jindas" and "The Curse of the Jindas".
Lumat – The father of Latara, Nippet and Wiley.[17] He was seen in two episodes: "The Travelling Jindas" and "The Curse of the Jindas".
Various
Master Logray (voiced by Doug Chamberlain[8]) – The Ewoks' shaman, and often the dispenser of wisdom and knowledge about the world of Endor.[18]
Others
King Gorneesh (voiced by Dan Hennessey and then Cody Ryan) – A leader of the Duloks[19]
Queen Urga (voiced by Melleny Brown[9]) – King Gorneesh's wife and the only female Dulok in the series
Umwak (voiced by Don Francks[8]) – Gorneesh's right-hand man, a Dulok shaman[20]
Morag (voiced by Jackie Burroughs[8]) – The Tulgah witch and evil magic counterpart of Logray[21]
The Phlogs – A race of giants who live on Endor[22] (though they originated offworld)
Baga – A young gentle bordok and Wicket's personal pet[23]
The Hanadak – A purple monster which lives in the forest[24]
The Jindas – A race of canid aliens who live on Endor, and are cursed to an eternal nomadic lifestyle by the Rock Wizard. The Ewoks free them from their curse. Notable Jindas include their leader, Bondo, and magician Trebla.
The Raich – A tree demon that eats animals and was imprisoned by brave Ewok warriors with a magical hat, made by the Gonster, which was placed on its head, turning it into a tree. He is revived when Wicket takes the hat, but eventually defeated again.
The Gonster – A two-headed magician whom Ewoks seek out for spells, potions and traps to defeat monsters. His two heads constantly argue.
The Leaf Queen – A plantlike deity or spirit who dwells on Endor and is entrusted to the care of all its plants. Although kindly, she can be roused to great anger if her plants are harmed.
Dr. Raygar – An Imperial scientist who wants to steal the Sunstar and use it to overthrow the Emperor. After Kazz eventually learns of his treachery, he is arrested for treason.
Admiral Kazz – An Imperial officer tasked with assisting Raygar, who does not know his true intentions. Kazz thinks the Sunstar is a myth and considers the Ewoks not worth bothering over.
PD-28 – An Imperial droid assisting Raygar and Kazz. He eventually tires of working for the abusive Raygar and becomes friends with the Ewoks.
Ploob - A one-time character from the episode "Horville's Hut of Horrors" is a floating green monster that frightens the Ewoks as well as steals their honey and jam. Arguably, his name may be "Poob" or "Proob", but was proven otherwise by a court of peers and the author, Paul Dini, himself[25]
Production
The series is a follow-up (later stated to be a prequel) to the two Ewok films: Caravan of Courage (1984) and The Battle for Endor (1985),[5] which were themselves spin-offs (and prequels) of Return of the Jedi.[26] The first season of the series was somewhat sophisticated, but in the second, the writing and visual style were both simplified.[6]
Episodes
Season 1 (1985)
The theme song for the first season was written and performed by Taj and Inshirah Mahal.
Morag captures Izrina, Queen of the Wisties,[d] and forces her to set fire to the forest. The young Ewoks extinguish the flames via glider.
2
2
"The Haunted Village"
Ken Stephenson & Raymond Jafelice
Paul Dini
September 14, 1985 (1985-09-14)
Master Logray has developed invisibility soap to hide the Sunberry Trees from the destructive Mantigrue. The Ewoks manage to save the trees, despite the Duloks' interference.
3
3
"Rampage of the Phlogs"
Ken Stephenson & Raymond Jafelice
Paul Dini
September 21, 1985 (1985-09-21)
Morag prompts a family of Phlogs to rampage the Ewok village. Wicket and his friends rescue and return to the Phlogs their baby from the Duloks.
4
4
"To Save Deej"
Ken Stephenson & Raymond Jafelice
Bob Carrau
September 28, 1985 (1985-09-28)
The Warrick brothers are tasked to find ingredients for Master Logray to brew a poison cure for Deej. A creature called Mring-Mring ensures their quest is a success.
5
5
"The Traveling Jindas"
Ken Stephenson & Raymond Jafelice
Bob Carrau
October 5, 1985 (1985-10-05)
Lacking appreciation for her flute-playing, Latara joins the Travelling Jindas. Wicket and his friends rescue Latara from becoming lost and the Duloks.
6
6
"The Tree of Light"
Ken Stephenson & Raymond Jafelice
Bob Carrau
October 12, 1985 (1985-10-12)
Wicket, Princess Kneesaa and Latara follow uninvited an expedition on a quest to restore the tree of life, the Duloks intent on destroying the tree.
7
7
"The Curse of the Jindas"
Ken Stephenson & Raymond Jafelice
Bob Carrau
October 19, 1985 (1985-10-19)
Master Logray stops the curse that affects the Jindas after they rescue Wicket and his friends from the Skandits. This angers the Rock Wizard, but Princess Kneesaa has the stone tooth to cure the wizard's pain.
8
8
"The Land of the Gupins"
Ken Stephenson & Raymond Jafelice
Bob Carrau
October 26, 1985 (1985-10-26)
After rescuing Mring-Mring's brother, Oobel, Wicket and his friends journey with them to save the Gupins' homeland from the Grass Trekkers.
9
9
"Sunstar vs. Shadowstone"
Ken Stephenson & Raymond Jafelice
Paul Dini
November 2, 1985 (1985-11-02)
Morag captures Teebo and his friends as ransom for the Sunstar. Morag utilizes the full power of the combined Sunstar-Shadowstone, but Master Logray destroys her for good.
10
10
"Wicket's Wagon"
Ken Stephenson & Raymond Jafelice
Paul Dini
November 9, 1985 (1985-11-09)
Inspired by his ancestor, Wicket rebuilds an old battle wagon. The Duloks steal it, but Wicket and Malani jump aboard and collapse the wagon.
11
11
"The Three Lessons"
Ken Stephenson & Raymond Jafelice
Bob Carrau
November 16, 1985 (1985-11-16)
Princess Kneesaa goes with Wicket to gather ingredients to shrink a Stranglethorn she accidentally overgrew. With the help of some Tromes, Wicket gets the required potion.
12
12
"Blue Harvest"
Ken Stephenson & Raymond Jafelice
Paul Dini & Sam Wilson
November 23, 1985 (1985-11-23)
In a plot to steal the Ewoks' harvest, Umwak unwittingly causes a Phlog named Hoona to romance with Wicket. The Duloks take advantage of this, but Wicket turns Hoona against them.
13
13
"Asha"
Ken Stephenson & Raymond Jafelice
Paul Dini
November 30, 1985 (1985-11-30)
Kneesaa and Wicket find Kneesaa's long-lost sister, Asha, and help her to repel the Duloks hunting defenseless creatures, before reuniting her with Chief Chirpa.
Season 2 (1986)
With this season, advertised as The All-New Ewoks, episodes are now shorted the 11-minute format meaning two segments per half-hour (with the exceptions of "The Raich", "Night of the Stranger", "The Season Scepter" and "Battle for the Sunstar"). This season introduced a new theme song, "Friends Together, Friends Forever", written and performed by Patrick Gleeson.
No. overall
No. in season
Title
Directed by
Written by
Original air date
14
1
"The Crystal Cloak"
Ken Stephenson & Dale Schott
Paul Dini
September 13, 1986 (1986-09-13)
"The Wish Plant"
Bob Carrau
An ambitious Wicket goes with his friends on a quest for the crystal cloak stolen by the Gracca. They end up destroying the crystal cloak instead. The leaf queen assigns Kneesa to care for a wish plant. Her friends abuse the plant with their wishes. Kneesa manages to restore the plant before the leaf queen's arrival.
15
2
"Home Is Where the Shrieks Are"
Ken Stephenson & Dale Schott
Bob Carrau
September 20, 1986 (1986-09-20)
"Princess Latara"
Paul Dini
Wicket and Teebo try to live by themselves in a house inhabited by Larry the Shriek, who convinces them they are better off back at home. The Gorph Queen Slugga kidnaps Latara masquerading as a princess for her son to marry. Wicket and his friends rescue Latara and trap the Gorphs.
16
3
"The Raich"
Ken Stephenson & Dale Schott
Michael Reaves
September 27, 1986 (1986-09-27)
Wicket accidentally unleashes the Raich from its tree form prison. With some help from the two-headed Gonster, Wicket and his friends trap the Raich as it was before.
17
4
"The Totem Master"
Ken Stephenson & Dale Schott
Bob Carrau
October 4, 1986 (1986-10-04)
"A Gift for Shodu"
Paul Dini
Creatures in the guise of a totem led by the master rob the Ewok village. Wicket and his friends follow the master and destroy him along with his curse. Wicket and his friends venture into an ancient temple to get a jewel for Shodu's birthday. That jewels turns out to be an egg of the Scuver Dragon.
18
5
"Night of the Stranger"
Ken Stephenson & Dale Schott
Paul Dini
October 11, 1986 (1986-10-11)
A phantom has the Duloks raid the Ewok village to steal the Sunstar. Wicket and his friends manage to prevent a phantom exodus from taking place.
19
6
"Gone with the Mimphs"
Ken Stephenson & Dale Schott
Linda Woolverton
October 18, 1986 (1986-10-18)
"The First Apprentice"
Paul Dini
Wicket is captured by the Mimphs after a failed hunt for a Hanadak, but then he has to rescue them from the rampaging Hanadak. Ex-Apprentice Zarrak tries to teach Teebo his secrets but tires of his failures. Wicket, his friends rescue Teebo and Teebo masters enough magic to defeat Zarrak.
20
7
"Hard Sell"
Ken Stephenson & Dale Schott
Michael Reaves
October 25, 1986 (1986-10-25)
"A Warrior and a Lurdo"
Michael Dubil
Wicket and his friends compete selling Mooth's goods for some valuable horns, but they end up empty-handed. Teebo flunks at Wicket's warrior training, but is asked by the Tambles to chase away a creature named Blog. Teebo sticks with magic to destroy the Blog's dam.
21
8
"The Season Scepter"
Ken Stephenson & Dale Schott
Bob Carrau
November 1, 1986 (1986-11-01)
Pressured by Odra, the Snow King freezes the lands of Endor. Wicket and his friends restore the balance of Endor's seasons after liberating the season scepter.
22
9
"Prow Beaten"
Ken Stephenson & Dale Schott
Bob Carrau
November 8, 1986 (1986-11-08)
"Baga's Rival"
Linda Woolverton
Wicket and his friends accidentally lose Chirpa's canoe prow carving to the Duloks. While trying to get it back, they destroy Urga's battleship. Kneesa takes in a quarf (a shapeshifting monster) sent to hold her ransom for the Sunstar. Wicket and Baga come to the rescue.
23
10
"Horville's Hut of Horrors"
Ken Stephenson & Dale Schott
Paul Dini
November 15, 1986 (1986-11-15)
"The Tragic Flute"
Bob Carrau
A visit to Horville's Hut of Horrors puts the woklings into a crying fit. An attempt to hide the truth only makes Wicket regret it. Latara gets captured by a creature who takes greedy people to be his slaves so Wicket, Kneesaa and Teebo have to rescue her, but to get out Latara must pass a test.
24
11
"Just My Luck"
Ken Stephenson & Dale Schott
Michael Dubil
November 22, 1986 (1986-11-22)
"Bringing Up Norky"
Bob Carrau & Earl Kress
Wicket experiences bad luck when he takes his warrior's test. To Wicket's chagrin, his family babysits the unruly Norky.
Doctor Raygar, a mad scientist from the Galactic Empire arrives to steal the Sunstar and it is up to Wicket and his friends to stop him; re-aired as the series finale.
26
13
"Party Ewok"
Ken Stephenson & Dale Schott
Bob Carrau
December 13, 1986 (1986-12-13)
"Malani the Warrior"
Stephen Langford
Kneesaa's friends save her from a gang. Malani wants to join the warrior games, but some thieves come to take the Sunstar.
Broadcast and home media
Ewoks was broadcast on ABC, originally with its sister series Droids (as part of The Ewoks and Droids Adventure Hour), and then by itself, as The All-New Ewoks.[27] The series ran for two seasons of 13 half-hour episodes between 1985 and 1986 and was later shown in reruns on Sci-Fi Channel's Cartoon Quest.[28]
Almost all of the episodes (except for "The Three Lessons" and "Prow Beaten / Baga's Rival") were released on VHS in the 1980s and 1990s, most notably the UK PAL releases over six cassettes (Ewoks 1–6), which had the opening sequences and credits edited out. On April 2, 2021, the entire series was released on Disney+.[29]
During the making of the Star Wars prequel trilogy, its producer, Rick McCallum, oversaw two direct-to-video compilation films, each compiled from four episodes of the series. The first, The Haunted Village, was released on VHS in 1997. The second, Tales from the Endor Woods, was released by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment in 2004 on a DVD titled Star Wars: Animated Adventures – Ewoks (which also features The Haunted Village).[30] The newer film includes narration from "Adult Wicket" (voiced by Alex Lindsay).
Title
Content
Format
Ewoks 1: Morag's Revenge
"The Haunted Village", "The Cries of the Trees", "Rampage of the Phlogs", "Sunstar vs. Shadowstone"
VHS
Ewoks 2: The Gupins and the Jindas
"To Save Deej", "The Land of the Gupins", "The Traveling Jindas", "The Curse of the Jindas"
Ewoks 3: Wicket the Hero
"Wicket's Wagon", "The Tree of Light", "Asha", "Blue Harvest"
Ewoks 4: Wicket's Adventurers as He Becomes a Warrior
"The Crystal Cloak / The Wish Plant", "The Totem Master / A Gift for Shodu", "Horville's Hut of Horrors / The Tragic Flute", "Just My Luck / Bringing Up Norky"
Ewoks 5: Wickett's Adventurers
"Home Is Where the Shrieks Are / Princess Latara", "Gone with the Mimphs / The First Apprentice", "Party Ewok / Malani the Warrior", "Hard Sell / A Warrior and a Lurdo"
Ewoks 6: Battle for the Planet Endor
"Battle for the Sunstar", "The Season Scepter", "The Raich", "Night of the Stranger"
The Haunted Village
"The Haunted Village", "The Cries of the Trees", "Rampage of the Phlogs", "Sunstar vs. Shadowstone"
VHS / DVD
Tales from the Endor Woods
"Wicket's Wagon", "The Traveling Jindas", "To Save Deej", "Asha"
DVD
Reception
According to David Perlmutter, Ewoks was "unremarkable both technically and creatively."[31]Screen Rant says the series was made at a time when "television executives had no idea what constituted good children's animated television", comparing it to series like The Smurfs, Snorks, or Care Bears.[32]SyFy Wire calls the series "more a marketing ploy for Lucasfilm than a worthwhile extension of the franchise ... designed to sell toys, cereals, and action figures", though mentions that it "featured a few surprisingly entertaining installments that appealed to both parents and kids, particularly the penultimate episode, 'Battle for the Sunstar.'"[33]
Some controversy has resulted from the Ewoks' apparent mastery of English[6][b] while appearing not to speak the language in the Ewok films or Return of the Jedi (which are set some years later).[5]
The series' opening titles are briefly featured in an episode of Stranger Things' fourth season (2022).[36]
Merchandising and media
Action figures
In 1985, Kenner Products produced a series of action figures based on the series. A second wave of figures were prototyped but ultimately cancelled due to poor sales of the initial wave. Several previously released Ewok themed vehicles, play sets, and accessories were advertised on the card backs of the figures but were curiously never offered in Ewoks Cartoon branded packaging.
Comics
In 1985, Star Comics, an imprint of Marvel, published a bi-monthly Ewoks comic based on the animated series. It ran for two years, with a total of 14 issues. Like the TV series, it was aimed towards a younger audience and produced parallel to a comic spun off from Droids. Issue #10 of Ewoks continued the "Lost in Time" crossover story from Droids #4.[37] Additionally, Spanish comics publisher Editorial Gepsa produced two-page Ewoks comics as part of an anthology series.[38]
^Erickson, Hal (2005). Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 (2nd ed.). McFarland & Co. pp. 306–307. ISBN978-1476665993.
^"Star Wars: The Essential Guide to Alien Species". New York: Del Rey Books. October 1985: 38. ((cite journal)): Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
