<Tr> <Th> Budget </Th> <Td> $8.5 million </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Box office </Th> <Td> $68.3 million </Td> </Tr> <P> Star Wars: The Clone Wars is a 2008 American 3D animated science fiction - space opera film that takes place within the Star Wars saga, leading into a TV series of the same name produced by Lucasfilm Animation . The film is set during the three - year time period between the films Star Wars: Episode II--Attack of the Clones (2002) and Star Wars: Episode III--Revenge of the Sith (2005). Distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, which also holds the home media distribution rights to both this film and the first five seasons of the television series, the film premiered on August 10, 2008 at the Grauman's Egyptian Theatre, while screening in wide - release on August 14, 2008 across Australia, and August 15 in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom . The Clone Wars served as an introduction to the television series of the same name, which debuted on October 3, 2008 . Though critical reception was negative, the film was a box office success, and grossed $68.3 million worldwide against an $8.5 million budget . </P> <P> During the Clone Wars, Jedi Knights Anakin Skywalker and Obi - Wan Kenobi lead a small Republic clone army against the Separatist droid army on the planet Christophsis . Awaiting reinforcements, the two Jedi greet a shuttle carrying the young Jedi Ahsoka Tano, who insists that she has been assigned by Jedi Master Yoda to serve as Anakin's Padawan . Anakin begrudgingly accepts Ahsoka's apprenticeship, and the two succeed in deactivating the Separatists' energy field while Obi - Wan stalls the droid army commander, allowing a Republic victory . Ahsoka earns Anakin's respect . </P>

Is the clone wars movie before the tv series