Hidalgo "set the galactic stage," with the series taking place 13 years after the end of Episode III. "When the Empire first formed, the stability was actually a welcome change from the constantly warring and declining Republic."
"One of the principles of the Empire is expansion, and they did that by pushing out into the Outer Rim territories that the Republic never really got into." Palpatine easily sells the idea. The planet Lothal is one of the principal locations for the show, a frontier world in the Outer Rim.
The Empire doesnt have the resources to invade every planet they want to annex," Hidalgo said. Instead, they tend to simply install new rulers on each world that doesn't declare loyalty. "It becomes pretty apparent, though, that the Empire doesn't have the best interests of Lothal in mind," and fosters a feeling of rebellion.
The Stormtrooper design for the show was put on screen, and it's "nearly identical" to the live-action model. Hidalgo outright said that Clone Troopers, who were lab grown, George Lucas said, "showed too much individuality to be of use to the Empire," and the Storm Troopers are instead recruited patriots.
The blaster the Storm Troopers will use on the show will have the bump that was on the original Kenner action figures, something that never made it into the movies.
A new walker, the AT-DP will be introduced, with new pilots as well. That was designed by Joe Johnson. The All-Terrain Defense-Pod is the first of many new vehicles.
Hidalgo teased the "Troop Transport" by showing the old commercial, and that will actually make it into the show.
The TIE-Fighters in the series will have a larger ball cockpit and smaller wings than that in the films. It's based off McQuarrie's original design (seen above). Hidalgo said they had a long email chain about whether troopers get into the TIE fighter through the top or the back hatch - for their "earlier version of the TIE Fighter" in this show, they'll all go in through a hatch on the top.
A new freighter was designed for the show, as well, but the Imperial Star Destroyers will also make it in. Hidalgo pointed out that with the show being "about 5 years before Episode IV" there will be some differences in these ships - they too will be inspired by McQuarrie paintings.
"That's how serious a threat the Empire is," Hidalgo said. "Our heroes are very much the underdogs." He pointed out that is a major change from The Clone Wars, where the heroes were the establishment.
"Every era of the Star Wars saga has a marquee villain. For most people, when Darth Vader hits the scene, he's the preeminent one. But there are others" and they introduced The Inquisitor, a dual-bladed lightsaber wielding white-skinned agent of Vader tasked to hunt down the remaining Jedi.