Usa Today reports that the first of 20 animated Star Wars: Clone Wars episodes, each about three minutes long, premieres at 8 ET/PT on Cartoon Network. A new episode of the Lucas-approved series airs each weeknight through Nov. 20, repeating at midnight. Another 10 will air next spring.

The Clone Wars cartoon series bridges the time gap between Episodes II and III, and picks up after the first battle of the wars, where Episode II: Attack of the Clones left off.

Lucas chose Samurai Jack creator Genndy Tartakovsky to be the force behind the series. “(Lucas) said to stay between (Episodes) II and III and stay away from the love story, and that was it, to just focus on the wars,” says Tartakovsky, whose other credits include creating Dexter’s Laboratory and directing The Powerpuff Girls.

Chapters will be available nightly at 8:20 ET on the Star Wars online service Hyperspace ($19.95/year; go to www.starwars.com), and on starwars.com and Cartoon Network the next day.