Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi are two of the biggest characters in all of Star Wars, but what exactly were they doing between Star Wars movies and TV shows.

Yet, many gaps remain even within the prequel trilogy timeline. Little is known about the period between The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones in particular, as shows like Star Wars: The Clone Wars have filled in other years during this era. This was a critical period for Obi-Wan and Anakin, though, as this was when the two began their training with one another and developed the bond that was shown in Attack of the Clones and Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith. Star Wars has confirmed some key events (off screen) during this time, however.

Anakin And Obi-Wan Infiltrated A Crime Syndicate

Just Three Years After The Phantom Menace, Anakin Went On A Key Mission

Anakin Skywalker and Obi Wan Kenobi meeting in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace

In the canon audiobook Star Wars: Padawan's Pride, written by Bryan Q. Miller, Obi-Wan and Anakin set off on a mission as a relatively new master and apprentice duo. Set just three years after The Phantom Menace, Padawan's Pride sees Anakin and Obi-Wan infiltrating a crime syndicate, with Anakin ironically needing to adopt the identity of a racer—a clear callback to his Phantom Menace story. This mission wasn't exactly a reward or indication that the Council had faith in Anakin, though. Rather, it was meant to curtail Anakin's recent reckless behavior.

While Padawan's Pride did therefore see Anakin stepping into his own a bit more as a Jedi, the main focus of the short audiobook was on Obi-Wan and Anakin's relationship. Unsurprisingly, given all that had transpired in The Phantom Menace, Anakin was struggling to adjust to the life of a Jedi, and Obi-Wan was finding stepping into the role of Anakin's Jedi Master challenging. Padawan's Pride saw them each taking steps in the right direction while also foreshadowing some of the troubles to come.

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Anakin Skywalker Trained Specifically To Take On A Sith

Anakin Requested A Droid Made To Fight Like Darth Maul

Darth Maul wearing his black hood in Phantom Menace

The canon Star Wars comic book series Star Wars: Obi-Wan and Anakin, written by Charles Soule, is perhaps the biggest source of information regarding Obi-Wan and Anakin's exploits during this time. The first issue of the series, Obi-Wan and Anakin 1, reveals that Anakin requested to train with a droid that simulated Darth Maul's fighting style. Evidently, Anakin had become a bit obsessed with the fight between Darth Maul, Obi-Wan, and Qui-Gon Jinn—something that Hayden Christensen has also mentioned being the case in interviews.

This is interesting for a host of reasons. For one, even with Anakin being the Chosen One, it's shocking to think that a young Padawan would specifically request training essentially to prepare to fight a Sith Lord. It's also interesting that Obi-Wan allowed him to do so, as this type of interest in the Sith seems like something he and the other Jedi would have shut down. Most interesting of all, in the training session depicted in the comic, Anakin defeated the droid, cutting it in half, exemplifying the incredible power he already possessed.

Anakin defeated the droid, cutting it in half, exemplifying the incredible power he already possessed.

Anakin Threatened Two Other Padawans

Anakin's Violent Tendencies And Anger Were Already Clear

Anakin Skywalker killing Tusken Raiders.

In the same issue, Obi-Wan and Anakin 1, Anakin gave an early indication of the dark path that was ahead of him. During a training session, two other Padawan learners describe Anakin as "a slave to his emotions." No doubt affected by hearing himself referred to as a slave, in light of his history, Anakin turned the Padawans' lightsabers around on them and asked them what emotions they were feeling now.

Anakin turned the Padawans' lightsabers around on them and asked them what emotions they were feeling now.

Despite all that Anakin becomes, this is nevertheless a jarring moment. For Anakin to act violently towards other Padawan learners is shocking, especially as this predates Attack of the Clones. Anakin's arrogance and angry outbursts were evident enough in that movie (especially once he slaughtered the Tusken Raiders), but in The Phantom Menace, there was really no sign of all that was to come. Clearly, that changed not too long after The Phantom Menace.

Anakin crying in Attack of the Clones in a red hue to the left and Vader at the end of Revenge of the Sith to the right
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Anakin Told Obi-Wan He Wanted To Leave The Jedi Order

Shockingly, Anakin Developed These Feelings Very Early On

Perhaps the most shocking of all the events between The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones, in Obi-Wan and Anakin 4, Anakin told Obi-Wan he was considering walking away from the Jedi Order. Star Wars has previously suggested this was the case, not only with Anakin's obvious doubts throughout Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith but also based on his comments to Ahsoka Tano in Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Knowing that he felt this way and verbalized it to Obi-Wan so early on changes things, however.

Evidently, there was never a time when Anakin truly felt he belonged with the Jedi. This informs the events of Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith so much more, particularly because in Obi-Wan and Anakin 4, Palpatine jumps at the opportunity to use Anakin's feelings to his advantage. Even more surprising, when Obi-Wan warned Anakin about what a significant decision this would be, Anakin responded that he understood the weight of such decisions because he'd decided to leave his mother.

Evidently, there was never a time when Anakin truly felt he belonged with the Jedi.

Anakin's Doubts About The Jedi Began On Carnelion IV

Anakin Was Frustrated By The Jedi's Lack Of Action—Not Unlike Qui-Gon Jinn

Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson) looks back and speaks to Pé Amidala on Tatooine.
Image via Disney+

Coinciding with Anakin's apparent desire to leave the Jedi Order was his frustration with some of the Jedi's practices, including their lack of action in certain situations. In Obi-Wan and Anakin 1, Anakin and Obi-Wan travel to the war-ravaged planet of Carnelion IV. Devastated by what they find there, Anakin asks why the Jedi didn't do anything to stop the war, and he's displeased when Obi-Wan explains that the Jedi are not intended to be an army.

Of course, this is a great irony, as an army is exactly what the Jedi become in Attack of the Clones. In addition to that, this is a sign of the frustrations to come for Anakin. Here, he blames the Jedi and the larger political system of the Republic for what has been allowed to happen on this planet, believing that somebody should have stepped in. This is precisely what Anakin says to Pé about the issues with the Republic in Attack of the Clones, and it reflects how he feels throughout Revenge of the Sith.

This moment is also quite reminiscent of Qui-Gon Jinn's own frustrations with the Jedi, which must have been a bit unsettling for Obi-Wan. Even so, Obi-Wan seems to believe wholeheartedly in what he says about the Jedi's role in the galaxy, and that likely only added to Anakin's frustrations. In the end, it's clear that Anakin's sentiments came from a good place—he hated to see others suffer—but this story makes it clear that this is precisely what leads to his inevitable fall, at least in part.

Obi-Wan Kenobi Fell Into A Nest Of Gundarks

In Attack Of The Clones, Anakin And Obi-Wan Referenced A Mysterious Gundark Event

Anakin and Obi-Wan talk in an elevator in Star Wars Episode II Attack of the Clones

One of the few references to this period in the prequel movies happens at the beginning of Attack of the Clones, when Anakin and Obi-Wan are on their way to see Pé. Sensing Anakin's nerves, Obi-Wan says, "I haven't felt you this tense since we fell into that nest of gundarks." Anakin then remarks upon the fact that it was really Obi-Wan who fell in, and Anakin rescued him. Curiously, little more about this event is known in Star Wars canon, but it clearly fell between The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones.

Gundarks have since been depicted in The Clone Wars and were revealed to be large, rather terrifying clawed creatures, but the specifics of this event with Obi-Wan and Anakin are still unknown. This period of the Star Wars timeline has so much potential simply based on how much happens to Anakin and Obi-Wan, this story being just one example. Yet, shockingly little is known even know about all that took place between Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace and Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones.