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Ewoks: The Battle for Endor

2017-12-11T03:02:39Z

109.112.78.246: /* Cast */

{{refimprove|date=July 2016}}
{{Infobox television
| show_name = Ewoks: The Battle for Endor
| image = Ilm-ewok2.jpg
| image_size =
| image_alt =
| caption =
| genre = {{Plainlist|
* [[Adventure film|Adventure]]
* [[Family film|Family]]
* [[Fantasy]]
* [[Science fiction]]
}}
| creator =
| based_on =
| writer =
| screenplay = {{Plainlist|
* Jim Wheat
* [[Ken Wheat]]
}}
| story = [[George Lucas]]
| director = {{Plainlist|
* Jim Wheat
* Ken Wheat
}}
| starring = {{Plainlist|
* [[Wilford Brimley]]
* [[Warwick Davis]]
* [[Aubree Miller]]
* [[Paul Gleason]]
* [[Carel Struycken]]
* Niki Botelho
* [[Eric Walker (entertainer)|Eric Walker]]
* [[Siân Phillips]]
}}
| narrated =
| theme_music_composer = [[Peter Bernstein (composer)|Peter Bernstein]]
| country = United States
| language = English
| num_episodes =
| executive_producer = George Lucas
| producer = {{Plainlist|
* Thomas G. Smith
* [[Ian Bryce]]
}}
| editor = [[Eric Jenkins]]
| cinematography = [[Isidore Mankofsky]]
| runtime = 94 min.
| company = [[Lucasfilm]]
| distributor = [[Disney–ABC Domestic Television]]
| budget =
| network = [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]
| released = {{Film date|y=TV|1985|11|24}}
| preceded_by = ''[[Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure]]''
| followed_by =
| website =
}}
'''''Ewoks: The Battle for Endor''''' is a 1985 [[television film]] set in the ''[[Star Wars]]'' [[Star Wars galaxy|galaxy]] co-written and directed by Jim and [[Ken Wheat]] from a story by [[George Lucas]]. A [[sequel]] to ''[[Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure]]'', it focuses on [[Cindel Towani]], the little human girl from the first film, who, after being orphaned, joins the [[Ewoks]] in protecting their village and defeating the evil marauders who have taken control of the [[Forest moon of Endor|Endor moon]].

==Setting==
The film is set after the Ewoks [[Star Wars: Ewoks|animated series]] and before the events of ''[[Return of the Jedi]]''.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Windham|first1=Ryder|last2=Lucas|first2=George|last3=Kasdan|first3=Lawrence|title=Star Wars Episode VI: Return Of The Jedi|date=2004|publisher=Scholastic|isbn=043968126X|pages=102–103|url=http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/56717804}}</ref> Nearly six months have passed since the events of the first film; the Towani family's star cruiser is almost completely fixed and Jeremitt is putting the final touches on the craft.

==Plot==
While the Towani family (Jeremitt, Catrine, Mace, and Cindel) are preparing to leave the forest moon of Endor, the Ewok village is attacked by a group of [[List of Star Wars races (P-T)#Sanyassan|Marauders]] (originally crash landed from Sanyassa) led by Terak and his witch-like sorceress Charal. Many Ewoks are killed. Cindel escapes, but is forced to leave Jeremitt, Catrine, and Mace to their doom, both parents having already been hit by enemy fire; her mother and brother killed when a Marauder blaster-cannon destroys a hut in which they had taken refuge from the battle.

While running away from the carnage, Cindel and Wicket meet Teek, a small, fast native of Endor. Teek takes them to the home of Noa Briqualon, a human man who is angered by their uninvited presence, and throws them out. Eventually he proves himself to be a kindhearted man, letting Teek steal food for them, and inviting the two in when they attempt to build a fire for warmth.

At the Marauders' castle, Charal is ordered by Terak to find Cindel, assuming she knows how to use "the power" in the energy-cell stolen from Jeremitt's star cruiser. Meanwhile, Noa, Cindel, and Wicket are becoming friends. It is revealed that Noa is rebuilding his own broken star cruiser, only missing the energy-cell.

Cindel is awakened one morning by a song her mother used to sing to her. She follows the voice to find a beautiful woman singing. The woman transforms into Charal, who takes her to Terak. He orders her to activate "the power." When she cannot, she and Charal are both imprisoned with the Ewoks. Outside, Noa, Wicket, and Teek sneak into the castle, making their way to the cellblock, where they free Cindel and the other Ewoks. They escape with the energy-cell.

Terak, Charal, and the Marauders pursue them back to the ship, where Wicket leads the Ewoks in defense of the cruiser, and Noa installs the energy-cell in his ship. The Ewoks put up a valiant effort, and are nearly beaten by the time Noa powers up the ship and uses its formidable laser cannons to fend off the Marauders. When Cindel goes to save Wicket, she is captured by Terak, even as the other Marauders retreat. Terak and Noa face off, with Wicket finally coming to the rescue, killing Terak and simultaneously leaving Charal trapped in bird form for eternity.

Shortly thereafter, goodbyes are said, as Noa and Cindel leave the forest moon of Endor aboard Noa's starship.

==Cast==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!align="left"|Actor/Actress
!align="left"|Role(s)
|-
|[[Warwick Davis]] || [[Wicket W. Warrick]]
|-
|[[Aubree Miller]] || [[Cindel Towani]]
|-
|[[Wilford Brimley]] || Noa
|-
|[[Carel Struycken]] || Terak
|-
|[[Siân Phillips]] || Charal
|-
|[[Niki Botelho]] || Teek
|-
|[[Paul Gleason]] || Jeremitt
|-
|[[Eric Walker (entertainer)|Eric Walker]] || Mace
|-
|[[Marianne Horine]] || Young Witch
|-
|[[Daniel Frishman]] || Deej
|-
|[[Tony Cox (actor)|Tony Cox]] || Willy
|-
|[[Pam Grizz]] || Shodu
|-
|[[Roger Johnson (actor)|Roger Johnson]] || Lieutenant
|-
|[[Michael Pritchard (actor)|Michael Pritchard]] || Card Player #1
|-
|[[Johnny Weissmuller Jr.]] || Card Player #2
|-
|[[Matthew Roloff]] || Ewok with Crutches
|}

==Production==

===Creation and crew===
The film, shot in the middle of 1985 in Marin County, California, was directed by Jim and Ken Wheat, executive produced by Lucas, and written by the Wheat brothers, based on a story written by Lucas. Co-director Ken Wheat explained the production and inspiration of the film in an interview with ''EON Magazine'':

{{quote|Lucas guided the creation of the story over the course of two four-hour sessions we had with him. He'd just watched ''[[Heidi]]'' with his daughter the weekend before these took place, and the story idea he pushed was having the little girl from the first Ewok TV movie become an orphan who ends up living with a grumpy old hermit in the woods.

We'd been thinking about the adventure films we'd liked as kids, like ''Swiss Family Robinson'' and ''The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad'', so we suggested having space marauders, which was fine with George -- as long as they were 7 feet tall, of course! The rest of the brainstorming was done along those lines. Joe Johnston (the production designer and second unit director) and Phil Tippett (the creature supervisor) were involved in the second day's story session, and they contributed an assortment of bits and pieces.<ref name=rb>{{cite book|last1=Robb|first1=Brian J.|title=Star Wars : the unauthorised inside story of George Lucas's epic|date=2012|publisher=Robinson|location=London|isbn=1780333994|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=i9jABAAAQBAJ&lpg=PT84&ots=qLBKqfzZHV&dq=EON%20Magazine%20ken%20wheat&pg=PT84#v=onepage&q=EON%20Magazine%20ken%20wheat&f=false}}</ref>}}

Lucas’ involvement primarily was in the design and editing stages, according to Wheat.

===Effects===
Both Ewok films were some of the last intensive [[stop motion]] animation work [[Industrial Light & Magic]] produced, as in the early 80s, the technique was being replaced by [[go motion]] animation, a more advanced form with motorized articulated puppets that moved while the camera shutter was open, capturing motion blur in the otherwise static puppet, eliminating the harsh staccato movement often associated with stop motion. However, the budgets of the Ewok films were such that go motion was simply too expensive for the projects, so stop motion was used to realize creatures such as the condor dragon, the blurrgs, and the boar-wolves.

The Ewok movies proved an opportunity for Industrial Light & Magic to hone a new technique in photographing [[matte paintings]], called latent image matte painting. In this technique, during live action photography, a section of the camera's lens blocked off, remaining unexposed, and a painting would be crafted to occupy that space. The film would then be rewound, the blocked areas reversed, and the painting photographed. Since the painting now existed on the original film, there would be no generational quality loss.

===Music===
{{Main article|Ewoks (soundtrack)}}

The [[film score|musical score]] for ''Ewoks: The Battle for Endor'' was composed by [[Peter Bernstein (composer)|Peter Bernstein]]. Selections from the score were released on [[LP (format)|LP]] by [[Varèse Sarabande]] in 1986.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Osborne|first1=Jerry|title=Movie/TV Soundtracks and Original Cast Recordings Price and Reference Guide|date=2010|publisher=Osborne Enterprises Publishing|location=[[Port Townsend, Washington]]|isbn=0932117376|page=175}}</ref> The release was known simply as ''Ewoks'', and also contained cues from Bernstein's previous score to ''The Ewok Adventure''.

==Alternative versions==
* In a home video release, the following two scenes were deleted: when being chased by Terak's men, Wicket races for Noa's house but Noa tells him the only chance they have got is the star cruiser. Then a scene that happened shortly after where the men went inside and burned down Noa's house.
*When Cindel has a nightmare about bad guys coming into Noa's house, a scene was cut from the television broadcast, in which Cindel rushes to Noa's bed to wake him up, but instead finds Terak in the bed and wakes up. The television version just shows Cindel waking up after the men break in.
*Cindel's lines: "Do something, Wicket! Use your sling! You hit the ring!" have been altered to "Do something, Wicket! Do something!" for the DVD release.
*In the original TV broadcast of the film, the end credits were rolled over the final scene, but in all home-video releases of the film, the end credits are rolled over a traditional black background ''after'' the final scene.

==Later Expanded Universe appearances==
Since the release of ''The Battle for Endor'' in 1985, several elements from the film have gone on to appear in other works from the ''Star Wars'' Expanded Universe. Many times, the characters, locations, or other elements are elaborated on in greater detail.

*'''''[[Star Wars: Ewoks]]''''' (1985–1987) was an ABC animated series featuring the Ewoks that ran for two seasons. A follow-up to the two films, it incorporated several elements introduced in the two Ewok films, such as the appearance of Queen Izrina of the Wisties.

*'''[[Star Tours]]''' (1987) - When Disney and Lucasfilm joined forces for the Star Tours ride, Lucasfilm suggested that certain characters be included in the Safety Guide video before the ride began. However, an Ewok costume from An Ewok Adventure (opposed to another Ewok costume from Return of the Jedi) and Teek were included in the instructional short.
*'''''Tyrant's Test''''' (1996) - According to the official continuity of ''Star Wars Legends'', the character of Cindel Towani went on to appear in ''Tyrant's Test'', the third book of [[Michael P. Kube-McDowell]]'s ''Star Wars'' book series, ''The Black Fleet Crisis Trilogy''. In the novel, set over ten years after ''The Battle for Endor'', Cindel is shown to have grown to become a reporter on [[Coruscant]]. During the Yevethan crisis, Cindel received the so-called [[Plat Mallar]] tapes from Admiral Drayson, and leaked the story of the only survivor of the Yevethan attack of Polneye. The report was meant to garner sympathy among the people of the [[New Republic (Star Wars)|New Republic]] and the Senate and it worked. The Expanded Universe timeline states Cindel decided to join the New Republic and go into [[journalism]] after witnessing the [[Battle of Endor]].
*'''''The Illustrated Star Wars Universe''''' (1997) by [[Kevin J. Anderson]] explains the origins of Charal the witch who kidnaps Cindel in ''The Battle for Endor'' in relation to ''The Courtship of Princess Leia'', in that it reveals that she was once one of the [[Nightsisters]], a dark side force-using sect of witches from the planet Dathomir.
*'''''HoloNet'' issue #49''' (2002) was an issue of the in-universe news report. In the "regional" section of this issue, the article "Moddell Starship Search Abandoned", explains that the search has been called off for the rescue of Salek Weet and Noa Briqualon, which had been funded by Salek's father, Jimke Weet. The search was said to have been called off due to the fact that Jimke had to file bankruptcy due to his expenses in the search.
*'''''[[Star Wars: Galaxies|Star Wars Galaxies: An Empire Divided]]''''' (2003) is a [[MMORPG]]. In the game, when exploring the [[forest moon of Endor]], the player can run across the base of the Sanyassan Marauders, who were originally seen in ''The Battle for Endor''.
*'''Geonosis and the Outer Rim Worlds''' (2004) was a [[sourcebook]] for the ''Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game''. In it, Terak's son Zakul takes over rule of his Marauders after Terak's death. The book gives Terak's bio and stats. It explains his death, and the rise of his son, Zakul.

==Adaptations==
In 1986, Random House published a children's book adaptation of ''The Battle for Endor'' called ''The Ring, the Witch, and the Crystal: An Ewok Adventure''. The book was written by Cathy East Dubowski, and utilized the film's story and images from the film. The title is an allusion to [[The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe|''The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe'']] by [[C. S. Lewis]].{{Citation needed|date=December 2011}}

==Release==

''Ewoks: The Battle for Endor'' initially premiered as an [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] TV special on November 24, 1985. It was released theatrically in the UK as a limited run in the Spring of 1986. After the run had disappeared due to low box office receipts, it appeared on home video in late 1987 on MGM/UA and re-issued for retail in 1988 and 1990. The US later released on [[VHS]] and [[Laserdisc]] in 1990 through [[MGM Home Entertainment|MGM/UA Home Video]].

The only theatrical trailer for the film was issued only once in a short run and only widely available on the UK release of MGM's Spaceballs rental video cassette.

The film was released on DVD with its predecessor as a double feature collection entitled ''Star Wars: Ewok Adventures'' on November 23, 2004 via [[20th Century Fox Home Entertainment]]. The release was a single double-sided disc, with one film on each side. Fox had reported of bonus material for the release including behind the scenes footage shot during the making of the films that was made for an ABC Special (but never finished), but no bonus material was eventually included with the DVD upon release.

===Features===
*Presented in its original 1.33:1 aspect ratio
*Available Subtitles: English
*Available Audio Tracks: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround)

==Reception==
At the [[38th Primetime Emmy Awards]], ''Ewoks: The Battle for Endor'' and the CBS documentary ''[[Dinosaur!]]'' were both juried-awarded Emmys for [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Special Visual Effects|Outstanding Special Visual Effects]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Leverence|first1=John|title=Outstanding Special Visual Effects — 1986|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/1986/outstanding-special-visual-effects|website=38th Primetime Emmy Awards, September 21, 1986|publisher=Academy of Television Arts & Sciences|accessdate=16 January 2016}}</ref> The film additionally received two nominations for [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Program|Outstanding Children's Program]] and Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Miniseries or a Special.<ref>{{cite web|title=Outstanding Children's Program — 1986|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/1986/outstanding-childrens-program|website=38th Primetime Emmy Awards, September 21, 1986|publisher=Academy of Television Arts & Sciences|accessdate=6 February 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Miniseries or a Special — 1986|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/1986/outstanding-sound-mixing-for-a-miniseries-or-a-movie|website=38th Primetime Emmy Awards, September 21, 1986|publisher=Academy of Television Arts & Sciences|accessdate=6 February 2016}}</ref>

In his review for ''[[The New York Times]]'' John Corry faulted the production's source of inspiration, saying "The problem with 'Ewoks: The Battle for Endor' isn't that it's badly done; on the contrary, it's wonderfully well done. But when it's over it's over, and there is no residue. Mr. Lucas and his colleagues find their inspiration in their own technology, and there should be other places to look."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Corry|first1=John|title=New Shows For Children: Should We Expect More?|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/11/24/arts/tv-view-new-shows-for-children-should-we-expect-more.html|accessdate=6 December 2016|newspaper=The New York Times|publisher=The New York Times Company|issue=Vol. 135, No. 46,603||date=November 24, 1985|page=H29}}</ref>

The TV film currently holds an average rating of 52% on [[Rotten Tomatoes]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/ewoks_the_battle_for_endor/#|title=Ewoks: The Battle for Endor (1985)|work=Rotten Tomatoes}}</ref>

==Comparison to the original ''Star Wars'' trilogy==
Writers Douglas Brode and Leah Deyneka distinguish both the ''Battle of Endor'' and its predecessor ''[[Ewoks: Caravan of Courage|Caravan of Courage]]'' from the [[original Star Wars trilogy|original ''Star Wars'' trilogy]]. Pointing to the main characters, tropes and plot elements, they conclude both films are fairy tales and children's fantasies despite occurring in a science fiction setting. They also point to unexplained magical/supernatural phenomena in both films, which are never explained and are considered fantasy instead of science fiction.<ref name="BrodeDeyneka2012">{{cite book|author1=Douglas Brode|author2=Leah Deyneka|title=Myth, Media, and Culture in Star Wars: An Anthology|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LV4Wdl13aqMC&pg=PA130|date=14 June 2012|publisher=Scarecrow Press|isbn=978-0-8108-8513-4|pages=130–131}}</ref>

They also argue that in a science fiction story, the hero wants to disrupt or challenge the hierarchy of a supposed "utopian" society; whereas in both Ewok Adventure films, society is not challenged or disputed. Additionally, they argue, that while the ''Star Wars'' saga also has tropes from fairy tales, it adhered more towards science fiction [[Trope (literature)|tropes]].<ref name="BrodeDeyneka2012"/>

Likewise, Eric Charles points out that the television films ''[[Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure]]'' (1984) and ''Ewoks: The Battle for Endor'' (1985), intended for children, are "fairy tales in a science fiction setting", featuring magic and other fairy tale motifs rather than the Force and science fiction tropes.<ref name="Charles">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.ca/books?id=LV4Wdl13aqMC&pg=PA130&dq=Myth,+Media,+and+Culture+in+Star+Wars+ewok+adventures+fairytale&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj_nuWLqObMAhXBPCYKHXayA88Q6AEIJTAA#v=onepage&q=Myth%2C%20Media%2C%20and%20Culture%20in%20Star%20Wars%20ewok%20adventures%20fairytale&f=false|title=Myth, Media, and Culture in Star Wars: An Anthology|last=Charles|first=Eric|date=2012|publisher=Scarecrow Press|isbn=978-0-810-88513-4|pages=129–131|chapter=The Jedi Network: ''Star Wars''{{'}} Portrayal and Inspirations on the Small Screen|editor-last2=Deyneka|editor-first2=Leah|editor-first1=Douglas|editor-last1=Brode|accessdate=May 20, 2016}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game#Spinoffs|Battle for Endor]]
* [[Science fiction on television]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

*''Ewoks: The Battle for Endor'', 2004 DVD release
*''Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure'', 2004 DVD Release
*''Return of the Jedi'', 1983, Richard Marquand
*''The Illustrated Star Wars Universe'', 1st edition, 1997. Kevin J. Anderson, {{ISBN|0-553-37484-2}}
*''The Courtship of Princess Leia (Star Wars)'', 1st edition, 1994. Dave Wolverton, {{ISBN|0-553-08928-5}}
*''Return of the Ewok'', 1982, David Tomblin
*''Tyrant's Test'', (Book 3 of The Black Fleet Crisis), first paperback printing, 1996. Michael P. Kube-McDowell, {{ISBN|0-553-57275-X}}
*''The Essential guide to Characters (Star Wars)'', 1st edition, 1995. Andy Mangels, {{ISBN|0-345-39535-2}}
*''Endor and the Moddell Sector'', article from ''Star Wars Gamer'' magazine, Issue #9
* ''[http://www.holonetnews.com/49/regional/13328_2.html ''HoloNet'' News #49]''

==External links==
{{Wikiquote}}
*{{IMDb title|0089110|Ewoks: The Battle for Endor}}
*{{AllMovie title|16277|Ewoks: The Battle for Endor}}
*{{Wookieepedia|Ewoks: The Battle for Endor|Ewoks: The Battle for Endor}}

===Official sites===
* [http://www.starwars.com/eu/tv/classic/f20000824/index.html Star Wars Databank entry]
* [http://www.starwars.com/databank/updates/news20041112.html StarWars.com databank entries for the film's characters]

===Reviews===
* [https://www.cnet.com/news/star-wars-ewoks-the-battle-for-endor/ My first Star Wars? An 'Ewoks' film, and I was hooked anyway] -Nick Hide

{{Star Wars}}
{{Lucasfilm}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ewoks: The Battle For Endor}}
[[Category:Lucasfilm films]]
[[Category:Television sequel films]]
[[Category:Star Wars spin-off films]]
[[Category:1985 television films]]
[[Category:Television prequel films]]
[[Category:Science fiction television films]]
[[Category:Films using stop-motion animation]]

Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure

2017-12-11T02:58:58Z

109.112.78.246: /* Cast */

{{about||the series of road trip television specials|Caravan of Courage (TV series)|the animated series|Star Wars: Ewoks}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2017}}
{{Infobox television
| show_name = {{Plainlist|
* Caravan of Courage:
* An Ewok Adventure
}}
| show_name_2 = The Ewok Adventure
| image = Caravan_bg.jpeg
| image_alt =
| caption =
| genre = {{Plainlist|
* [[Adventure film|Adventure]]
* [[Family film|Family]]
* [[Fantasy]]
* [[Science fiction]]
}}
| screenplay = Bob Carrau
| story = [[George Lucas]]
| director = [[John Korty]]
| starring = {{Plainlist|
* [[Eric Walker (entertainer)|Eric Walker]]
* [[Warwick Davis]]
* [[Fionnula Flanagan]]
* [[Guy Boyd (actor)|Guy Boyd]]
* [[Aubree Miller]]
}}
| narrated = [[Burl Ives]]
| theme_music_composer = [[Peter Bernstein (composer)|Peter Bernstein]]
| country = United States
| language = English
| executive_producer = George Lucas
| producer = {{Plainlist|
* Thomas G. Smith
* Patricia Rose Duignan
}}
| editor = John Nutt
| cinematography = John Korty
| runtime = 97 minutes<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/caravan-courage-ewok-adventure-film|title=''Caravan of Courage - An Ewok Adventure''|work=[[British Board of Film Classification]]}}</ref>
| company = {{Plainlist|
* [[Lucasfilm]]
* [[Korty Films]]
}}
| distributor = [[Disney–ABC Domestic Television]]
| budget =
| network = [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]
| released = {{Film date|y=TV|1984|11|25}}
| preceded_by =
| followed_by = ''[[Ewoks: The Battle for Endor]]''
}}
'''''Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure''''' (originally broadcast as '''''The Ewok Adventure''''') is a 1984 American [[television film]] based in the ''[[Star Wars]]'' universe. It is the first of two spin-off films featuring the [[Ewoks]] from ''[[Return of the Jedi]]''. The film, which is set on the moon of [[Endor (Star Wars)|Endor]] some time after the Ewoks [[Star Wars: Ewoks|animated series]] but before the events of ''Return of the Jedi'',<ref>{{cite book|last1=Windham|first1=Ryder|last2=Lucas|first2=George|last3=Kasdan|first3=Lawrence|title=Star Wars Episode VI: Return Of The Jedi|date=2004|publisher=Scholastic|isbn=043968126X|pages=102–103|url=http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/56717804}}</ref> focuses on the struggles of two young humans, a brother and sister, trying to locate their parents who have been kidnapped by a monster known as the [[List of Star Wars races (F-J)#Gorax|Gorax]].

==Plot==
On the forest moon of Endor, the Towani family starcruiser lies wrecked. The Towani family (Catarine, Jeremitt, Mace, and Cindel) are stranded. When Catarine and Jeremitt vanish (having been captured by the Gorax), the children are found by the Ewok Deej. After Mace tries to kill them, the Ewoks subdue him and take both children to the Ewoks’ home. There, Cindel and Wicket become friends. Shortly thereafter, the Ewoks kill a beast only to find a life-monitor from one of the Towani parents with the creature.

They seek out the Ewok Logray who informs them that the parents have been taken by the monstrous Gorax, which resides in a deserted, dangerous area. A caravan of Ewoks is formed to help the children find their parents. They meet up with a wistie named Izrina and a boisterous Ewok named Chukha-Trok before finally reaching the lair of the Gorax. They engage the Gorax in battle, freeing Jeremitt and Catarine, but Chukha-Trok is killed. The Gorax is thought destroyed when it is knocked into a chasm, but it takes a final blow from Mace (using Chukha-Trok’s axe) to kill the creature, which tries to climb back up after them. Thus reunited, the Towanis decide to stay with the Ewoks until they can repair the starcruiser, and Izrina leaves to go back to her family.

== Cast ==
* [[Warwick Davis]] as [[Wicket W. Warrick]]
* Aubree Miller as Cindel Towani
* [[Eric Walker (entertainer)|Eric Walker]] as Mace Towani
* [[Fionnula Flanagan]] as Catarine Towani
* [[Guy Boyd (actor)|Guy Boyd]] as Jeremitt Towani
* Daniel Frishman as Deej
* [[Debbie Lee Carrington]] as Weechee
* [[Tony Cox (actor)|Tony Cox]] as Widdle
* Kevin Thompson as Chukha-Trok
* Margarita Fernández as Kaink
* Pam Grizz as Shodu
* Bobby Bell as [[List of minor Star Wars characters#Logray|Logray]]
* [[Burl Ives]] as Narrator (voice)
* Darryl Henriques as Wicket (voice) (as Daryl Henriquez)
* Sydney Walker as Deej (voice)

==Production==
===Inspiration and creative control===
The original impetus for ''Caravan of Courage'' was an idea [[George Lucas]] had for a one-hour television special dealing with the Ewoks, but this was eventually expanded into two hours. Lucas had allowed his Star Wars universe to be produced for television six years earlier with the ''[[Star Wars Holiday Special]]'' which, although economically successful for the most part, had proved an embarrassment to Lucas. With ''The Ewok Adventure'', Lucas assumed full control over the content and production of the film, to ensure a film of good quality.

The film's producer was Thomas G. Smith, at the time an employee at [[Industrial Light & Magic]] (ILM). Smith had intended for ''[[Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom]]'' to be his last project for ILM, wanting to make his own movies, however Lucas convinced him to stay by offering the producer role for a half-hour Ewok film he was developing.<ref name=Yahoo>{{cite web|last1=Alter|first1=Ethan|title='Star Wars': How the Ewoks Came to TV 31 Years Ago|url=https://www.yahoo.com/tv/star-wars-ewoks-caravan-of-courage-the-battle-190346641.html|website=Yahoo|accessdate=19 December 2015}}</ref> When shopping the film around Smith discovered that none of the TV networks at the time were interested in airing a movie with short runtime.<ref name=Yahoo/> ABC showed interest, however under the condition that the movie be fleshed out so that it could fit in a two-hour [[movie of the week]] slot as such the movie was expanded to fill the request <ref name=Yahoo/>

===Crew===
Working from a story written by George Lucas, and a screenplay by Bob Carrau, director [[John Korty]] transformed the scenic northern California [[Redwood National Park|redwood forests]] into the forest moon of Endor. Joe Johnston, an art director at ILM for years and one of the key concept artists of the classic ''Star Wars'' trilogy, acted as production designer. Prior to this movie, Johnston had written and illustrated a book about Ewoks, ''The Adventures of Teebo: A Tale of Magic and Suspense''. This gave him a background to the arboreal aliens that was crucial in designing new Ewoks and their surroundings.

===Effects===
Both Ewok films were some of the last intensive [[stop-motion]] animation work ILM produced, as by the early 80s, the technique was being replaced by [[go-motion]] animation, a more advanced form with motorized articulated puppets that moved while the camera shutter was open, capturing motion blur in the otherwise static puppet, eliminating the harsh staccato movement often associated with stop-motion. However, the budgets of the Ewok films were such that go-motion was simply too expensive for the projects, so stop-motion was used to realize creatures such as the condor dragon, the blurrgs, and the boar-wolves.

The Ewok movies proved an opportunity for ILM to hone a technique from ''[[2001: A Space Odyssey (film)|2001: A Space Odyssey]]''. The technique, used in photographing [[matte paintings]], is called latent image matte painting. In this technique, during live action photography, a section of the camera's lens is blocked off, remaining unexposed, and a painting is crafted to occupy that space. The film is rewound, the blocked areas reversed, and the painting photographed. Since the painting now exists on the original film, there is no generational quality loss.

===Music===
{{Main article|Ewoks (soundtrack)}}

The [[film score|musical score]] for ''Caravan of Courage'' was composed by [[Peter Bernstein (composer)|Peter Bernstein]]. Selections from the score were released on [[LP (format)|LP]] by [[Varèse Sarabande]] in 1986.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Osborne|first1=Jerry|title=Movie/TV Soundtracks and Original Cast Recordings Price and Reference Guide|date=2010|publisher=Osborne Enterprises Publishing|location=[[Port Townsend, Washington]]|isbn=0932117376|page=175}}</ref> The release was known simply as ''Ewoks'' and also contained cues from Bernstein's score to the sequel ''[[Ewoks: The Battle for Endor]]''.

==Documentaries and commentary==
During the production of ''Caravan of Courage'', the children in the cast had to balance their school work with acting in the film. During their time on the set, Lucasfilm decided that it might be an educational and rewarding experience for the older children, Eric Walker (Mace) and Warwick Davis (Wicket), to be given their own camera to use between takes. So, calling themselves ''W&W Productions'', Eric and Warwick shot a documentary of the making of the film, which was released to Eric's YouTube-channel in 2014.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Walker|first1=Eric|title=Star Wars Ewok Adventures Making Of Teaser|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMLlKmrhfLM|website=YouTube|accessdate=9 December 2015}}</ref>

When the film was released on DVD in 2004 it contained nothing but the film itself. Eric Walker and Warwick Davis stated in interviews that they would be happy to record a cast commentary for another future DVD release, if Lucasfilm someday allowed a more detailed release of the films.{{citation needed|date=December 2016}}

==Adaptations==
In 1985, [[Random House]] released a children's book adaptation of ''The Ewok Adventure'' by Amy Ehrlich, titled ''The Ewoks and the Lost Children'', and utilized the story presented in the film, along with stills from the film.{{citation needed|date=August 2017}}

==Sequel==
The sequel film, ''[[Ewoks: The Battle for Endor]]'', was released in 1985. It was originally intended to be released as "Ewoks II".

==Later expanded universe appearances==
Since the release of ''The Ewok Adventure'' in 1984, several elements from the film have gone on to appear in other works from the [[Star Wars expanded universe|''Star Wars'' expanded universe]]. Many of the characters, locations, or other elements are elaborated on in greater detail.

*'''''[[Ewoks: The Battle for Endor]]''''' (1985) was the second of the two made-for-TV ''Ewok'' films. It dealt with the orphanage of Cindel, after her family was killed by Sanyassan Marauders. The marauders also kidnap many of the Ewoks. After meeting and being taken in by [[List of minor Star Wars characters#Briqualon, Noa|Noa Briqualon]], Cindel, along with the Ewoks, must team up to defeat the marauders and free the others from their grasp.
*'''''[[Star Wars: Ewoks]]''''' (1985–1987) was an ABC animated series featuring the Ewoks that ran for two seasons. A follow-up to the two films, it incorporated several elements introduced in the two Ewok films, such as the appearance of Queen Izrina of the Wisties.
*'''''Tyrant's Test''''' (1996) - According to the official continuity of ''Star Wars Legends'', the character of Cindel Towani went on to appear in ''Tyrant's Test'', the third book of [[Michael P. Kube-McDowell]]'s ''Star Wars'' book series, ''The Black Fleet Crisis Trilogy''. In the novel, set over ten years after ''The Battle for Endor'', Cindel is shown to have grown to become a reporter on [[Coruscant]]. During the Yevethan crisis, Cindel received the so-called [[Plat Mallar]] tapes from Admiral Drayson, and leaked the story of the only survivor of the Yevethan attack of Polneye. The report was meant to garner sympathy among the people of the [[New Republic (Star Wars)|New Republic]] and the Senate. It worked. The Expanded Universe claims Cindel decided to join the New Republic and go into [[journalism]] after witnessing the [[Battle of Endor]].
*'''''[[Star Wars: Galaxies|Star Wars Galaxies: An Empire Divided]]''''' (2003) is an [[MMORPG]]. In the game, the player has the opportunity to encounter the Gorax and the Gorax species, as seen in ''The Ewok Adventure''.

==Release==
''The Ewok Adventure'' was first shown on American television November 25, 1984. In its overseas theatrical release, it was rechristened ''Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure''. The film was released on [[VHS]] and [[Laserdisc]] in 1990 through [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer|MGM]] under the original title.

The film was released on DVD as a double feature collection with its sequel, ''Ewoks: The Battle for Endor'', on November 23, 2004. The release was a single double-sided disc, with one film on each side. For this release, the film bore theatrical release title, ''Caravan of Courage''.

==Reception==
''Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure'' was one of four films to be juried-awarded Emmys for [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Special Visual Effects|Outstanding Special Visual Effects]] at the [[37th Primetime Emmy Awards]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Leverence|first1=John|title=Outstanding Special Visual Effects - 1985|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/1985/outstanding-special-visual-effects|website=37th Primetime Emmy Awards, September 22, 1985|publisher=Academy of Television Arts & Sciences|accessdate=13 January 2016}}</ref> The film was additionally nominated for [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Program|Outstanding Children's Program]] but lost in this category to an episode of ''[[Displaced Person (American Playhouse)|American Playhouse]]''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Outstanding Children's Program - 1985|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/1985/outstanding-childrens-program|website=37th Primetime Emmy Awards, September 22, 1985|publisher=Academy of Television Arts & Sciences|accessdate=6 February 2016}}</ref>

In his review for ''[[The New York Times]]'', John J. O'Connor noted the film's story as being almost "aggressively simple" and that "Mr. Lucas and crew do not come up with anything terribly astonishing."<ref name=cindel /> With Marin County serving as the backdrop, looking "like some never-never land east of the Sun and west of the Moon," O'Connor recognized most of the interactions as following well-established cinematic tropes, the notable ones being between Cindel "looking like one of those little blond angels used to top off Christmas trees" and Wicket, a performance by the-then 14 year-old Warwick Davis, whom O'Connor called "the cleverest of the lot."<ref name=cindel>{{cite news|last1=O'Connor|first1=John J.|title=TV Weekend; 'The Ewok Adventure,' Sunday Movie on ABC|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/11/23/arts/tv-weekend-the-ewok-adventure-sunday-movie-on-abc.html|accessdate=13 December 2016|work=The New York Times|issue=Vol. 134, No. 46,237|publisher=NYTimes Co.|date=November 23, 1984|page=C34}}</ref>

==Comparison to the original ''Star Wars'' trilogy==
Writers Douglas Brode and Leah Deyneka distinguish both the ''[[Ewoks: The Battle for Endor|Battle of Endor]]'' and its predecessor ''Caravan of Courage'' from the [[original Star Wars trilogy|original ''Star Wars'' trilogy]]. Pointing to the main characters, tropes and plot elements, they conclude both films are fairy tales and children's fantasies despite occurring in a science fiction setting. They also point to unexplained magical/supernatural phenomena in both films, which are never explained and are considered fantasy instead of science fiction.<ref name="BrodeDeyneka2012">{{cite book|author1=Douglas Brode|author2=Leah Deyneka|title=Myth, Media, and Culture in Star Wars: An Anthology|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LV4Wdl13aqMC&pg=PA130|date=14 June 2012|publisher=Scarecrow Press|isbn=978-0-8108-8513-4|pages=130–131}}</ref>

They also argue that in a science fiction story, the hero wants to disrupt or challenge the hierarchy of a supposed "utopian" society; whereas in both Ewok Adventure films, society is not challenged or disputed. Additionally, they argue, that while the ''Star Wars'' saga also has tropes from fairy tales, it adhered more towards science fiction [[Trope (literature)|tropes]].<ref name="BrodeDeyneka2012"/>

Likewise, Eric Charles points out that the television films ''Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure'' (1984) and ''[[Ewoks: The Battle for Endor]]'' (1985), intended for children, are "fairy tales in a science fiction setting", featuring magic and other fairy tale motifs rather than the Force and science fiction tropes.<ref name="Charles">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.ca/books?id=LV4Wdl13aqMC&pg=PA130&dq=Myth,+Media,+and+Culture+in+Star+Wars+ewok+adventures+fairytale&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj_nuWLqObMAhXBPCYKHXayA88Q6AEIJTAA#v=onepage&q=Myth%2C%20Media%2C%20and%20Culture%20in%20Star%20Wars%20ewok%20adventures%20fairytale&f=false|title=Myth, Media, and Culture in Star Wars: An Anthology|last=Charles|first=Eric|date=2012|publisher=Scarecrow Press|isbn=978-0-810-88513-4|pages=129–131|chapter=The Jedi Network: ''Star Wars''{{'}} Portrayal and Inspirations on the Small Screen|editor-last2=Deyneka|editor-first2=Leah|editor-first1=Douglas|editor-last1=Brode|accessdate=May 20, 2016}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Science fiction on television]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Wookieepedia|Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure}}
*{{IMDb title|0087225}}
*{{Amg movie|16276|The Ewok Adventure}}
*{{rotten-tomatoes|the_ewok_adventure}}
*[http://www.starwars.com/news/caravan-of-courage-celebrating-30-years-of-an-ewok-adventure Caravan of Courage: Celebrating 30 Years of An Ewok Adventure] (Dated 2014)
*[http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/before-rogue-one-ewok-adventure-star-first-star-wars-spinoff-956723 Before 'Rogue One': 'Ewok Adventure' Star on George Lucas' First 'Star Wars' Spinoff] (Dated 2016)

{{Star Wars}}
{{Lucasfilm}}
{{John Korty}}

[[Category:1984 television films]]
[[Category:Lucasfilm films]]
[[Category:Science fiction television films]]
[[Category:Star Wars spin-off films]]
[[Category:Films using stop-motion animation]]
[[Category:Television prequel films]]
[[Category:1980s science fiction films]]