Star Wars: The Clone Wars - Darth Maul Returns

This week's most surprising animation pick is Star Wars: The Clone Wars - Darth Maul Returns. It says what it needs to say in one sitting, no filler. Its 8/10 TMDB score, built from 28 ratings, reflects a title that consistently delivers. The visual style is immediately recognisable, but the writing is what keeps you watching. There is no real reason to keep putting it off.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars - Darth Maul Returns arrived without much fanfare and built its audience the hard way — through word of mouth. Star Wars: The Clone Wars - Darth Maul Returns has the visual identity that makes it immediately recognisable, and the writing to back it up. A decade after being nearly destroyed by Obi-Wan Kenobi, Maul is resurrected and joins forces with his Nightbrother brother, Savage Opress, seeking revenge. They form alliances, target Obi-Wan Kenobi, and spread terror across the galaxy. The story culminates in a confrontation with Obi-Wan, with Maul and Savage also recruiting Hondo Ohnaka and his pirates. Clancy Brown and Ben Diskin bring voice work that does more than the format usually asks for. It was released in 2012. What makes Star Wars: The Clone Wars - Darth Maul Returns more than a curiosity is writing that would hold up in any format. The consistency throughout is what elevates it — not every moment is the best, but none of them are a reason to stop watching.

Animation fans will appreciate the craft, but Star Wars: The Clone Wars - Darth Maul Returns works for viewers who do not typically seek out animation too. It stands on its own even without an obvious comparison point. Short enough to finish in one sitting, substantial enough to feel satisfying. Clancy Brown's voice work is a big part of what makes it distinctive. If you have been sleeping on it because of the format, the format is not the thing here.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars - Darth Maul Returns was released in 2012, directed by Bosco Ng. The full 87-minute film is available to watch now. Find exactly where it's streaming below, and TV Butler Pro makes it effortless to track your progress as you go. Just search the name, and Butler finds it instantly, tells you which service has it, and remembers exactly where you left off.