Ashley Eckstein disapproves one thing about Ahsoka Tano's original Clone Wars design

Introduced as Anakin Skywalker's Padawan in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Ahsoka Tano remains a major character in the series and beyond, growing over the years into one of the most prominent characters in the franchise. Played in live-action by Rosario Dawson, Ahsoka appeared in The Mandalorian with Pedro Pascal's Din Djarin and later got her own Disney+ show, Ahsoka.

For the first two seasons of The Clone Wars, Ahsoka is seen fighting enemies in a red tube top, which is hardly practical. It was also criticized for sexualizing the character, who was only 14 at the beginning of the series.

In Season 3, her character design was given an upgrade with a pair of leggings and a tunic that covered her abdomen. It wasn't until the later seasons of the show that she was seen wearing an armor suited for warfare, with gauntlets and all.

At the recently concluded FAN EXPO Philadelphia 2024, Eckstein sat on the Rebels & Clones panel moderated by Kevin Polowy for Screen Rant. Speaking on the controversial topic of Ahsoka's attire, she said, "Who fights a war in a tank top?"

It seems like Dave Filoni agrees with her, as Ahsoka retconned the costume in the much-loved flashback sequence. While fighting her former master in the World Between Worlds, Dawson's Ahsoka gets thrust into a memory of the Clone Wars.

Played by Ariana Greenblatt, a younger Ahsoka is shown wearing a much more sensible outfit instead of the tube top. Before that, Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi also revealed new scenes set during the same time where Ahsoka wears a practical and protective gear.

Retcons can be a risky venture, especially in franchises like Star Wars, but sometimes it can add something positive to the narrative. Ahsoka's retconned costume, while being more battle-worthy and less sexualized, manages to pay homage to the original design in elements of the color scheme.