Summary

• The Star Wars franchise has expanded beyond live-action movies and TV shows to include animation, comics, video games, and more.
• Characters like Ahsoka Tano, Sabine Wren, and Ezra Bridger have made the transition from animation to live-action in the Star Wars universe.
• The interconnected storylines across different mediums make the Star Wars franchise unique and highly rewarding for fans.

The Star Wars franchise is best known for its live-action movies and TV shows, but many characters debuted in animation. As one of pop culture’s most famous and influential science-fantasy franchises, it’s no surprise that Star Wars lends itself well to other visual mediums like comics, video games, and animation. Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels have proved especially popular, with their storylines forming the foundation for the current era of live-action Star Wars TV shows. Watching characters develop across storylines spanning different mediums makes the Star Wars franchise unique and highly rewarding.

Animated Star Wars properties have given the franchise numerous iconic characters, some of whose arcs have far-reaching ramifications that affect live-action films. This will be especially true for the Star Wars movies, as Dave Filoni's The Mandalorian film will serve as the culmination of storylines that began years before with the animated shows. A few Star Wars characters who are best known for their live-action portrayals first appeared in animation, sometimes in wildly different fashions. From early 2D animated projects to the Disney+ TV shows, here is every live-action Star Wars character that debuted in animation.

Ahsoka Tano

Jedi Padawan Ahsoka Tano debuted in 2008’s Star Wars: The Clone Wars theatrical movie, ing its ensemble cast alongside prequel trilogy protagonists Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi. Leaving the order towards the end of the series after being framed for a terrorist attack, Ahsoka never became a full-fledged Jedi. Ahsoka went on to appear in Rebels season 2, and her popularity led her to have an audio-only cameo in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. She finally made her long-awaited live-action debut in The Mandalorian season 2, played by Rosario Dawson, who returned for a starring role in the Ahsoka series on Disney+.

Sabine Wren

Sabine Wren was a young Mandalorian who first appeared as the Ghost crew's demolitions expert in Star Wars Rebels. She studied at the Imperial Academy on Mandalore until she realized the Empire planned to use her weapon designs against her people. Sabine fought alongside the Ghost crew and the Rebel Alliance until her friends convinced her to return home, where she and Clan Wren started a Mandalorian rebellion against the Empire. Sadly, Mandalore was destroyed at the end of the war, leading to a falling out between Sabine and Ahsoka. Sabine made her live-action debut in Ahsoka, where she finally learned to use the Force as a Jedi.

Ezra Bridger

Ezra Bridger was the main character of Star Wars Rebels, a street orphan who was taken in by the Ghost crew and trained as a Jedi by Kanan Jarrus. Although his life had taught him to be self-centered, Ezra grew into a selfless man and a courageous Jedi Knight, eventually sacrificing himself to defeat Grand iral Thrawn at the Battle of Lothol. Ezra appeared as a holo message in the Ahsoka series premiere before making his full live-action debut later in the season. Ahsoka and Sabine became trapped on Peridea, but they kept their promise to Ezra and got him home, where he was finally reunited with Hera Syndulla and Chopper.

Hera Syndulla

Hera Syndulla was the Rebellion's best pilot and a leader among the Ghost crew, tolerating no nonsense aboard her ship. She was in with the Rebellion long before the Ghost crew knew they were a rebel cell, and she later rose to the rank of general. Hera and Kanan fell in love during their time together, eventually having a child named Jacen Syndulla. However, Kanan was killed before his son was born, leaving Hera to raise him throughout the war and the early days of the New Republic. Hera made her live-action debut in Ahsoka, doing everything in her power to make sure the galaxy was ready for Thrawn's invasion.

Chopper

C1-10P, a.k.a. Chopper, was a main character in Star Wars Rebels, serving aboard the Ghost. Chopper was a veteran of the Clone Wars, meeting Hera during the Battle of Ryloth and becoming her lifelong companion. In addition to a small role in Star Wars: The Bad Batch season 1, Chopper had a cameo appearance in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, showing up for a brief moment in the Rebel Alliance’s base on Yavin IV. Chopper returned to live-action in Ahsoka, still arguing with Hera in the heat of battle but also best friends with her son Jacen.

Jacen Syndulla

While A's Jacen Syndulla technically debuted in animation, he only had a brief cameo at the end of Star Wars Rebels. His proper introduction came in live-action, a young boy who dreamed of becoming a Jedi like his friends while displaying tremendous potential in the Force. Jacen's story has not been told beyond Ahsoka, but he is sure to play a role in future Star Wars projects.

Captain Rex

Captain Rex first appeared alongside Ahsoka in The Clone Wars as the leader of the 501st that answered to Anakin. Rex fought alongside the Jedi "from the Battle of Christophsis to the Siege of Mandalore," the latter of which was adapted in Ahsoka when Rex made his brief live-action debut. He also appeared in Star Wars Rebels, looking significantly older due to his accelerated aging but still a valued fighter in the Rebellion. Rex fought with Hera at the Battle of Endor, and Dave Filoni speculated that Rex may be the white-bearded trooper known as Nik Sant, though he would not confirm this theory.

Huyang

Tasked with helping Jedi younglings build their lightsabers, Huyang debuted in The Clone Wars season 5. Huyang is the oldest confirmed Star Wars character, having been built around 25,000 BBY when the Jedi Order was founded. He transitioned to live-action in Ahsoka, traveling with her around the galaxy as she searched for Ezra and Thrawn. Huyang's millennia of knowledge are an invaluable asset to the Star Wars franchise that future stories are likely to explore.

Hamato Xiono

New Republic Senator Hamato Xiono was the father of Kaz Xiono, the main character of Star Wars Resistance. Xiono was a career politician who viewed Leia Organa's Resistance as a band of extremists, views he had held onto since the events of Ahsoka over two decades earlier. This marked Xiono's first live-action appearance, the voice of the New Republic senators who were unconcerned with the Imperial Remnant and eager to transition away from the days of the Rebellion. Although Xiono maintained a prosperous career, he gradually pushed his son away, and they inevitably lost their homeworld of Hosnian Prime when the First Order fired Starkiller Base.