Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures is an animated Star Wars series focused for preschoolers, grade schoolers, and their families. It is set during the High Republic Era. It released on YouTube with shorts on March 27, 2023 and released on Disney Junior, Disney+, Disney Channel, and Disney XD on May 4, 2023. The first season was released in three batches on August 2, November 8, 2023 and February 14, 2024.
In 2024, the series was renewed for a second season, with shorts on August 2, the first half scheduled to be released on August 14 and the second half in 2025.
Set during The High Republic era, the animated series follows Jedi younglings as they study the ways of the Force, explore the galaxy, help citizens and creatures in need, and learn valuable skills needed to become Jedi along the way.
On May 27, 2022, during Celebration Anaheim, the series was announced. It was set during the High Republic era and would focus on a group of Jedi younglings training to be Jedi Knights. Young Jedi Adventures would be the first animated Star Wars series aimed at preschoolers, early grade schoolers, and their families.
On February 9, 2023, Jamaal Avery Jr., Juliet Donenfeld, Dee Bradley Baker, Emma Berman, Jonathan Lipow, and Piotr Michael were confirmed as key cast members. StarWars.com also announced that the series would premiere on May 4, 2023.
Young Jedi Adventures was produced by Lucasfilm for Disney+, Disney Junior, and Disney Channel. The series' executive producers included James Waugh, Jacqui Lopez, and Josh Rimes. The show runner was Michael Olson, who also served as executive producer. served as co-producer and supervising director. Other producers included and Lamont Magee.
The second season was produced by Lucasfilm in collaboration with Wild Canary. Waugh, Lopez and Rimes continued as executive producers while Olson continued as show runner and executive producer. Bour continued as supervising director and co-executive producer. joined as consulting producer while Icon Creative provided production services for the series.
A promotional image depicting several characters including Yoda, Kai Brightstar, and Nash Durango was unveiled at the D23 Expo 2022 on September 10, 2022.
The series' first official trailer was released at Celebration Europe on April 10, 2023.
On May 18, 2023, This Week! in Star Wars host Kristin Baver interviewed cast members Jamaal Avery Jr. and Juliet Donenfeld, who voiced Kai Brightstar and Lys Solay respectively.
On July 13, Baver interviewed Emma Berman and Trey Murphy, who voiced Nash Durango and Taborr Val Dorn, respectively. The video also announced the release of six further new episodes commencing August 2, 2023.
Three promotional shorts were released on YouTube on March 27, 2023. Three additional shorts were released over the following weeks leading up to April 26, 2023. These six shorts were subsequently released on Disney+ on April 26.
On April 8th, 2023, the first two episodes of the series were screened at the Young Jedi Adventures panel at Celebration Europe.
The first seven episodes were released on Disney+ on May 4, 2023. The seven episodes were also released on a weekly basis on Disney Junior between May 4 and 9 June.
On July 13, 2023, Lucasfilm, Disney+ and Disney Junior announced that six more episodes would be released simultaneously on Disney+ and Disney Junior on August 2. More episodes will be released in 2023, bringing the first season to a total of 25 episodes.
On August 18, 2023, StarWars.com announced that a third batch of episodes would be released on Disney+ and Disney Junior on November 8, including a Life Day special set on the Wookiee homeworld of Kashyyyk. In addition, further Season One episodes are scheduled to be released in 2024.
On January 11, 2024, StarWars.com announced that a fourth batch of episodes would be released on Disney+ and Disney Junior on February 14. These upcoming episodes would include a wilderness training exercise on Tenoo, trips to both Black Spire Outpost on Batuu and Starlight Beacon, and a climatic showdown with the antagonistic Taborr Val Dorn. Marcus Scribner, and Liam O'Brien were also confirmed as new cast members, playing Bell Zettifar, Lina Soh and Estala Maru respectively. Jecobi Swain was also confirmed as voicing Kai Brightstar alongside Jamaal Avery Jr.
On June 14, 2024, StarWars.com announced that the first half of the second season would be released on Disney+ and Disney Junior on August 14, with shorts on August 2. The second half is expected to be released in 2025. In addition, a new series of Young Jedi Adventure shots will be released on August 2, 2024. A tie-in a digital series called Star Wars: Fun with Nubs was also released on June 14. Jedi Padawan Wes Vinik () and astromech droid R0-M1 were named as new characters.
Jeff Spry of Space.com described the series as a "sugary-sweet, vividly-conjured animated series" that was targeted at the preschool demographic.
Arezou Amin of Collider awarded the series an "A" rating, stating that it "captured the Star Wars spirit for younglings of all ages." She also praised the series for exploring new characters rather than relying on long-established characters to advance the story plot.
Brett White of Decider described the series as a "fun show and a fine introduction to Star Wars" for the preschooler demographic. He also praised the television series' life lessons and action sequences.
Nate Manning of "Starwarsnewsnet.com" praised the series for its "fun action, great laughs, vibrant characters, and powerful moments that kids can latch onto." Manning also praised the series for its positive moral lessons for young viewers, its colourful animation, voice cast, and the dynamics between the characters.
On December 16, 2023, Young Jedi Adventures won two Emmy Awards for "Outstanding Editing for a Preschool Animated Program" and "Outstanding Sound Mixing and Sound Editing for a Preschool Animated Program." The series had also been nominated for three other Emmy awards including "Outstanding Pre-School Animated Series," "Outstanding Music Direction and Composition for an Animated Program," and "Outstanding Main Title."