Dave Filoni

Writer

Television Producer

Animator

Star Wars Rebels

Star Wars Forces of Destiny

Star Wars Resistance

The Mandalorian

**David Filoni** (born June 7, 1974) is an American animation director, voice actor, television writer, television producer, and animator. He is most known for his work on *Avatar: The Last Airbender* and on the theatrical film and television series of *Star Wars: The Clone Wars*. He was also the creator and an executive producer on *Star Wars Rebels* for all four seasons and served as its supervising director for the first two and fourth and final seasons. (Justin Ridge served as supervising director for the third season when Filoni accepted a promotion to oversee all of Lucasfilm Animation projects.[1]) Filoni is also credited as one of the executive producers of the web series, *Star Wars Forces of Destiny* and as the creator of the 2018–2020 animated series, *Star Wars Resistance*.

## Early life

Dave Filoni grew up in Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Pittsburgh. He graduated from the Mt. Lebanon High School in 1992 and Edinboro University of Pennsylvania in 1996.[2] Filoni's father was an opera and a classical music fan, according to composer Kevin Kiner (who did most of the music for *The Clone Wars* and *Rebels*); as such, he inherited appreciation for classical music and helped with the collaboration process, with Kiner crediting Filoni for suggesting the organ in Grand Admiral Thrawn's theme from *Rebels*.[3] Filoni has also said that his grandfather and uncle were pilots, with the latter specializing in restoring planes. He cited this as a significant influence with regard to the concept of *Star Wars Resistance*.[4]

## Early career

Prior to his work with Lucasfilm Animation, Filoni worked for Nickelodeon directing episodes of the first season of animated series *Avatar: The Last Airbender*.

## *Star Wars*

An avid *Star Wars* fan, particularly of character Plo Koon, Filoni dressed up as the Jedi Master for the opening of *Revenge of the Sith* and was dismayed at the character's fate in the film. Filoni left Nickelodeon after George Lucas offered him a job, helping him develop a *Star Wars* animated series. While on *The Star Wars Show* Filoni revealed that he originally believed he was being pranked when given the *Star Wars* job.[5]

### Directing

He is the director of the *Star Wars: The Clone Wars* animated feature film and the supervising director of the *Star Wars: The Clone Wars* animated series.

Filoni at Star Wars Weekend in 2009

Filoni made an appearance at Celebration IV on Sunday, May 28, 2007, with producer Catherine Winder to discuss the beginnings of the new television series and reveal how *The Clone Wars* is being created. At the time, he announced he would be writing for the Clone Wars monthly comic. Filoni voices the bounty hunter Embo during various episodes in different seasons. In February 2009, Filoni was inducted as an Honorary Member of the 501st Legion international costuming organization in recognition of his contributions to the continuing *Star Wars* saga.[*citation needed*]

Filoni's office, as seen in the extra features on the *Star Wars: The Clone Wars* DVD, is filled with Plo Koon paraphernalia. He has a bust of Plo Koon's head, a model of Plo Koon's ship, an autographed portrait by the actor who played Plo Koon, a replica of Plo Koon's lightsaber on his desk, and his personal Plo Koon costume on display. Filoni also has a notebook-sized planner on his desk with Plo Koon's picture taped to the outside, and he has written the words "Plo Kool" on concept art designs for the Clone Wars, indicating that he liked those designs. Filoni also has a small model of the character Appa on his desk, from *Avatar: The Last Airbender.* Filoni has attended all the *Clone Wars* premieres and attended the fifth season premiere in Orlando, Florida during the special event Celebration VI on August 24, 2012.[*citation needed*] He is most associated with developing the characters of Ahsoka Tano and Captain Rex.

Filoni served as an executive producer of *Star Wars Rebels*, which debuted in fall 2014, alongside Greg Weisman and Simon Kinberg. For the first two seasons, he also served as its supervising director. He appointed Justin Ridge as his successor for the remainder of the show, though he still remained as executive producer. Filoni departed as a supervising director in September 2016 when he was given the job as overseer of all future and current Lucasfilm Animation projects.[7] Then he returned as supervising director for season 4. He directed two episodes of *The Mandalorian* television series, making his live-action debut.

### Voice acting

Filoni provided the voice of the bounty hunter Embo in *Star Wars: The Clone Wars*. In the *Star Wars Rebels* season three episodes "The Holocrons of Fate" and "Legacy of Mandalore", Filoni voiced a Rebel Crewman, Stormtroopers, and Mandalorian Warrior, respectively. He also voiced Chopper for the entirety of the show, a fact not revealed until the series finale. Dave Filoni also voiced Bo Keevil, a secondary character in Star Wars Resistance [8].

### Acting

Dave Filoni made his first live-action acting roll in The Mandalorian as Trapper Wolf; an x-wing pilot during the time of the New Republic in episode Chapter 6: The Prisoner.