I’ve heard that bit, but does it take place during or after the Clone Wars?
First post jitters…
The lava thing is also mentioned in either the ESB or ROTJ book (the original editions at least). So I’ve always envisioned the battle that way…though, it does seem strange.
As for the cartoons, does Mr. Lucas think that everyone has TV or cable for that matter? Though it could be put on a DVD extra I still think that I’m going to feel cheated when I see Episode 3.
Mr. Lucas seems to be making all sorts of “interesting” decisions with what was my favorite story of all time. 
That had no connection with George Lucas; that’s a fanfic that got spread around for years as a prequel. For fifteen years people who had located a copy had to have it patiently explained to them that there were no Episodes 1, 2, or 3 and there never would be. That was followed by explaining that it wasn’t the script to Phantom Menace…