Caravan of Courage : An Ewok Adventure Caravan of Courage : An Ewok Adventure ( originally released as The Ewok Adventure ) is a 1984 directed by John Korty from a script by Bob Carrau and story by George Lucas . It focuses on a family of human s who have been shipwrecked on the forest moon of Endor . After the parents are kidnapped by the Gorax , their children team up with the Ewoks in a quest to rescue them . The film was followed by 1985 ' s " " . Synopsis . The Towani family ' s star cruiser has crashed on the forest moon of Endor . The children — Cindel and Mace — have gone missing , and their parents Jeremitt and Catarine are searching for them with flashlights . Suddenly , they are ambushed by the Gorax . In an Ewok village , two of Deej Warrick ' s children — Weechee and Widdle — have also gone missing . He uses a hang glider to search the forest . In the process , he sees an object on the forest floor that is reflecting light . He locates the missing Ewok children , and on the way back they investigate the shining object . The object is the Towani starcruiser , inside of which they find the human child Cindel . Outside , Mace attacks one of the Ewoks , and enters the starcruiser wreck with his blaster , where he threatens the other Ewoks , fearing that they are a threat and that they may have their parents . The Ewoks subdue him , and carry him back to their village on a stretcher , with Cindel in tow . When they reach the village , Cindel becomes sick . Mace asks the Ewoks for food , thinking that it will help her . They instead give Cindel some of their medicine . However , it isn ' t enough to restore her health and the Ewoks don ' t have anymore , so Mace goes to find a special tree that contains the medicinal fluid . He reaches inside the tree and is attacked by a temptor . After a struggle , he manages to pull his hand out with the help of the Ewoks . They bring the fluid back to Cindel , and the Ewoks offer to use some to heal Mace ' s wound from the tree incident . The next morning , Cindel is doing better , and she and Wicket ( another of Deej ' s sons ) get to know each other while sitting around a table . She explains to Wicket that she and her family were in a ship that crashed . Mace is skeptical of the Ewoks ' and tells Cindel that they will be leaving the village when he gets his blaster back . That night , while the Ewoks are asleep , Mace wakes Cindel up and retrieves his blaster . They leave the village and make their way into the forest . Cindel insists that they are lost , and asks to rest . Mace builds a fire , and admits that he too misses their parents , and regrets some of his past bad behavior around them . Cindel worries that their parents are dead , but Mace is convinced they ' re not . Soon they hear a boar - wolf approaching , and take off running . Mace shoots at the boar - wolf . They take refuge in a hollow tree trunk , which the wolf tries and fails to get through . The next morning , the children awaken to the Ewoks fighting the boar - wolf with spears . Wicket shoots a poison dart into the beast , which subdues it . On the boar - wolf , they find Jeremitt ' s life monitor , which indicates that their parents are still alive . Mace asks the Ewoks for help in determining where the boar - wolf came from . Deej points him to Logray , the village shaman . In Logray ' s hut , Logray uses his crystal image spinner to discover the location of the Towani parents , who are being held in a cage by the Gorax . Cindel asks Deej for help , but he initially refuses , in the knowledge that Jeremitt and Catarine are being held in a place that no Ewok has ever returned from . Deej thinks it over , and decides to help the children . That night , Deej ' s wife Shodu looks mournfully at her family , fearing that she may never see them again . The next day , all of the village helps prepare for the journey . Logray calls the group to participate in a ceremony , in which they are each given one of the Sacred Tokens of the Legendary Ewok Warriors . Deej ( the leader of the group ) is given the White Wings of Hope , Weechee ( the eldest son ) is given the Red Wings of Courage , Wicket is given a magic walking stick , Widdle is given the Blue Wings of Strength , Cindel is given the Candle of Pure Light , and Mace is given a rock . A crystal and an ivory tooth are brought along to give to other Ewoks who they must find to join them in their quest . Mace dismisses his rock and throws it aside , but Wicket picks it up behind him . The Warrick family says their goodbyes , Logray blesses the group , and they departs on its quest . Cindel and Wicket ride in a compartment atop a horse , while the rest of the group either rides a horse or walks . A tree suddenly falls behind Mace . He fears for Cindel , but quickly discovers that she is alright . Chukha - Trok appears with an ax , and Deej offers him the ivory tooth to go with them . Mace protests , and challenges Chukha - Trok to an ax - throwing contest to prove his worth as a warrior . This earns Mace ' s respect , and he asks Chukha - Trok to join them . They continue on their quest , but Deej stops to find Kaink the priestess , to whom he gives the crystal totem . Before she can join however , they must pass a test ; Kaink hands Mace the crystal , which turns into a lizard . Mace storms off in frustration , but Cindel picks up the lizard and it turns into a white mouse . She asks Kaink for her help and she agrees . They continue in their quest , now crossing vast fields . They reach a lake , where Mace sees his reflection and becomes curious . He touches the water and is suddenly trapped below the surface . Cindel and Wicket are playing , but she suddenly realizes that Mace has disappeared . She calls for help , and the Ewoks run to help him . They first try a rope , but it too becomes trapped below the surface . They then try a tree branch , which does the same . Cindel then tells Wicket to use his magic stick . This works , and Mace grabs ahold , and they pull him to safety . Back on dry land , Deej and Kaink look at a map , while Weechee and Widdle play a game and Wicket swings on a tree branch . Mace ushers the group to move on , and puts Cindel in the compartment atop the horse . He then calls for Wicket , who lets go of the tree branch . This scares the horse , which runs away with Cindel . Chukha - Trok rides another horse after her . He gets alongside the horse , and brings it to a stop . Chukha - Trok , Cindel and the horses return to the rest of the group , and they continue their quest . That evening , they set up camp for the night . In one tent , Cindel , Wicket and Mace are almost asleep , when a wistie grabs Mace ' s attention . He follows it outside , and an entire group of wisties emerge from the ground . He calls for the other to come and look . Wicket instantly recognized them , alerts other tents to look . A sleepy Widdle comes out , but is not impressed . Cindel sets her candle on the ground , and the wisties gather around it . They all fly down into the flame of the candle , which transforms into Queen Izrina . Mace takes her into his hand , and he and Cindel speculates that Izrina is away from her family like she , Mace and Wicket are . The group continues their quest , and camps again that night . Cindel complains of being hungry , but Mace refuses , not knowing how longer their quest will be . Wicket then offers them some food . Mace brings out Izrina , and offers her some of the food . She then flies around the tent , to the joy of all the inhabitants . The next day , the group crosses the Desert of Salma , where they finally reach the Forbidden Fortress of the Gorax . Mace wonders aloud how they will enter the fortress . Kaink suggests Mace ' s rock , but Mace tells him that he threw it away . Wicket has it however , and gives it to Mace . Mace is still skeptical , and ask what to do with it . Kaink motions for him to shake it , which makes Mace realize that it has something inside . He throws it on the ground to reveal an arrowhead , which Kaink motions for him to put on the ground . The arrowhead then magically points and moves toward the entrance to the fortress , which they discover is blocked by a giant boulder . Mace then uses his blaster to destroy the boulder and unblocks a cave entrance . They go inside , and Deej insists that the youngest members of the group ( Wicket , Widdle and Cindel ) stay by the entrance . Mace tells Cindel to stay behind , and everyone exchanges hugs . The rest of the group moves deeper into the fortress , where they eventually encounter a giant spider web stretched across a bottomless pit . Mace climbs onto the web , and compares moving on it to " climbing a ladder sideways " . Suddenly , a spider attacks them . Mace stabs it with a knife , causing it to fall into the pit . The Ewoks follow him across . Meanwhile , back at the entrance , Wicket reassures and entertains Cindel . Deej is the last of the group to cross , when he is also attacked by a giant spider . Mace pulls his blaster , only to find it out of power . Deej tries to knock it away , Kaink uses her magic wand to hypnotize the spider . Once Deej is safely across , Chukha - Trok uses his ax to cut the spider web , which causes the spider to fall with the web into the pit . The group then finds themselves at the bottom of a giant staircase , where they attacked by a third spider , which Wicket kills with a knife . They climb the steps to the top , where they find the Gorax ' s lair . Mace hears the Gorax , and tells the others to run and hide with him . However , Weechee doesn ' t make it out in time , and has to hide behind the Gorax ' s giant ax as the Gorax sits down at his table eating off of a bone . It gets up to look at its next meal : Jeremitt and Catarine , who are hanging in a cage from the ceiling . Weechee accidentally knocks the ax over , which garners the Gorax ' s attention , and it comes after him . He runs to the rest of the group , who again run and hide . Mace wonders how they will reach their parents , and Chukha - Trok suggests they use the Gorax ' s ax as a lever . Mace stands on one end , at which point Jeremitt and Catarine notice him . Chukha - Trok and Deej jump off a ledge onto the other end of the lever , which sends Mace flying up into the air , where he grabs hold of the cage containing his parents . Mace throws down a rope , and introduces Chukha - Trok as " a friend " as he climbs up . Mace climbs down first , but as soon as he reaches the bottom , the Gorax notices their activity . Weechee distracts it by hiding under a basket and moving across the floor . The Gorax smashes the basket , but finds nothing underneath . Weechee runs out from behind a corner , enraging the Gorax . Meanwhile , everyone continues climbing down from the cage , which is beginning to break . Weechee runs back to warn them , with the Gorax on his trail . The cage breaks , and Chukha - Trok falls into the hands of Jeremitt . They run out of the Gorax ' s lair , but Chukha - Trok stays behind and repeatedly attacks the Gorax ' s foot with his ax . As Mace is yelling for him to come on , Izrina lights up in his pocket . Mace unleashes Izrina on the Gorax , which disorients it while Chukha - Trok continues his attacks . In a rage , the Gorax strikes the walls of his fortress , which causes rocks to crumble and fall on Chukha - Trok . Mace runs to him , but realizes that Chukha - Trok is dying . Before he dies , Chukha - Trok gives Mace his ax . The Gorax chases the survivors down the giant steps , but they use a pulled - tight rope to trip him . Kaink then uses her magic wand to cause a stalactite to fall on his head . Catarine then uses Mace ' s blaster to shoot the Gorax in the chest , which causes him to fall off the ledge into the pit . Mace shows Deej Chukha - Trok ' s ax , and explains his sacrifice to them . Cindel , Wicket and Widdle appear on the other side of the chasm . But at that moment , the Gorax emerges from the pit and moves toward them . Mace throws Chukha - Trok ' s ax into the Gorax ' s back , which causes him to fall back into the pit . The group then swing across the chasm using a remaining part of the spider web as rope . Once they are safely on the other side , the family embraces , happy to be back together and out of danger . They then head for home , with Mace suggesting that Izrina will help guide the way . Later on , back at the Ewok village , Mace says goodbye to Izrina , and the Towani and Warrick families hold a celebration . Development . Some time after the release of " Return of the Jedi " , George Lucas had the idea for a television special involving the Ewoks . The idea emerged from his desire to make a movie for his young daughter Amanda , who was a particular fan of the Ewoks . Producer Thomas G . Smith pitched the idea to the major television networks , all of whom turned him down except ABC , who agreed on the condition that the project could fill two hours of television . Lucas later commented on the production : " I hadn ' t done any TV and it was a chance to use many people in the company who hadn ' t had much experience with live - action production and experiment a little . The economics of TV are vastly different than the economics of film . It was done for very little money . " John Korty served as director and cinematographer for the film , which was written by Lucas and Bob Carrau . Korty and Smith held auditions for most of the roles in Los Angeles and Marin County . The only roles which weren ' t auditioned were those of Warwick Davis and the other Ewok actors , who had already proven themselves in " Return of the Jedi " . Pre - production began in April 1984 and filming began that June , taking place throughout Marin County , California and the California Redwoods . The film shot for eight weeks , with a shooting schedule structured around child labor laws , as well as the children ' s school schedules . Davis had a tutor on set , with whom he studied for four hours per day . Lucas himself directed the film ' s re - shoots and edited some of the film ' s scenes . Davis also filmed one of the shots . After production was complete , Lucas and Smith oversaw post - production . At Lucas ' s suggestion , an actual hang - glider was built and flown in the film by an actor in an Ewok suit . Jon Berg designed the Gorax , which he portrayed with both a stop - motion model as well as himself in costume . A scene shot for the film but deleted had Mace come across a group of large flowers . He sticks his hand in one of them , which then tries to pull him underground . This was replaced in the final film with a scene of Mace sticking his hand into a tree . The film also originally had a different ending in which the characters dance in snow . Production Designer Joe Johnston commented on the film ' s special effects : " The effects we did were pretty primitive . We did forced perspectives and glass paintings , back - to - basics things that had been around since the 1920s . George just told us to go out there and have some fun . " During production , Lucasfilm provided Warwick Davis and Eric Walker with a film camera , feeling that it would be educational for the two . Their on - set tutor had the idea for them to make a documentary about the making of " The Ewok Adventure " . Davis and Walker , calling themselves " W & W Productions " , proceeded to shoot behind - the - scenes footage , which they edited in their hotel room using Lucasfilm equipment . The documentary wasn ' t publicly released at the time , and was thought of as a private " home movie " for the two . When the Ewok films debuted on DVD in 2004 , Eric Walker expressed his disappointment with the DVD ' s lack of extras , and felt that the " Ewok Adventure " documentary should have been included . In July 2006 , Walker announced on his website that he would publish a book about working with George Lucas entitled " Growing up on Skywalker Ranch " . In 2011 , he opened a Kickstarter project to raise funds to complete the book — by then retitled " Growing Up in a Galaxy Far , Far Away " . The campaign was successful , raising well over the original goal . One of the gifts for donating to the project was a DVD of the " Ewok Adventure " documentary . On November 25 , 2014 ( the 30th anniversary of the first airing of " Caravan of Courage " ) , Walker posted the documentary on his channel . Release . " The Ewok Adventure " debuted on ABC on November 25 , 1984 as the " ABC Sunday Night Movie " . Some radio stations broadcast a simultaneous audio track in order to create a stereo experience for viewers . It received the second - highest ratings that year for an ABC movie . It later aired on the Disney Channel . The film was also given a theatrical release in Europe under the title " Caravan of Courage : An Ewok Adventure " . For the ending credits of the French edition of the film , the Peter Bernstein score was substituted with an original song by French singer Dorothée . Merchandising . Beginning in 1984 , Random House released a series of tie - in children ' s books that continued the adventures of the Ewoks from the film , many of which also used the subtitle " An Ewok Adventure . " In 1985 , two children ' s book adaptations were released : Random House ' s " The Ewoks and the Lost Children " and Buena Vista Records ' s book - and - record " The Ewok Adventure " . In 1986 , Lucasfilm released an official soundtrack , which included selections from Peter Bernstein ' s scores for both Ewok films . Home video . " The Ewok Adventure " was released on VHS and Laserdisc in 1990 through . On November 23 , 2004 , Lucasfilm and 20th Century Fox released the film on DVD — this time with its theatrical title of " Caravan of Courage : An Ewok Adventure " . The DVD presents the film in its original 1 . 33 : 1 aspect ratio with a Dolby Digital 2 . 0 English audio track and English subtitles . The release was billed as " " , a " double feature " of " Caravan of Courage " and its sequel , " Ewoks : The Battle for Endor " . The disc itself is double - sided , featuring one film on each side . It featured no extras , only the films themselves . Reception . The film was nominated for for " Outstanding Children ' s Programming " and " Outstanding Special Visual Effects , " winning the latter . " " commented that the film ' s set pieces were " handled with skill , " and that " Mr . Korty ' s direction of the photography and Peter Bernstein ' s martial score , out of the school of John Williams , help immeasurably in transforming rather ordinary scenes into settings of foreboding . " ABC initially expressed interest in having the film be the pilot for a TV series , though Lucas wasn ' t interested . However , a sequel — " " — was filmed in the summer of 1985 and aired that November on ABC . It picks up not long after the first film , and focuses on Cindel and the Ewoks ' battle against a group of pirates . In late 1985 , Lucas told " Starlog " that further Ewok films were planned , and both Warwick Davis and Eric Walker believed that a third film was in the works . However , as Lucas later recalled " We made two , and were going to do a third , but they became " very " expensive to make . " During the Celebration IV opening ceremonies , the cast of " " Star Wars " in 30 Minutes " performed a skit called " Lucasfilm in Five Minutes 1983 - 2005 " , in which they re - enacted segments or imitated elements from all major Lucasfilm productions from 1983 to 2005 . Both Ewok films were included in the act . In 2009 , StarWars . com celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Ewok films with a series of articles covering various aspects of each . " " director Gareth Edwards had a " Caravan of Courage " poster in his office while making that film , reportedly as a reminder of past " Star Wars " spin - off films . Continuity . The film was classified as C - canon in the Holocron continuity database , and was officially set in 3 ABY . Producer Thomas G . Smith claimed that the film shows a young Ewok playing with a toy AT - AT , which would indicate that the Galactic Empire had been on Endor by that point . Eric Walker has said that Smith told him that the crew saw the film as being set 150 years after " Return of the Jedi " . Leland Chee considered using this date for the Holocron , but ultimately rejected it due to Wicket ' s youthful appearance . Lucasfilm ' s canon system was completely reorganized following the 2012 Disney buyout . As of April 25 , 2014 , only the six episodic films , " The Clone Wars " and , and anything going forward are to be considered canon . In the novel " Tyrant ' s Test " , Cindel is shown to have become a reporter on Coruscant ; during the Yevetha n crisis , Cindel receives the so - called Plat Mallar tapes from Admiral Drayson , and leaks the story of the only survivor of the Yevethan attack of Polneye . In the novel " " , Allana ' s entertainment monitor is displaying an entertainment broadcast , " In which Ewoks spoke Basic and befriended shipwrecked little girls " . " Star Wars Battlefront " ' s " Survivors of Endor " map includes the Gorax cave , complete with rearing spider s and an empty cage hanging from the ceiling .