The Mandalorian and Grogu was co-directed by Dave Filoni after all

From the very outset of the series, The Mandalorian has been a joint passion project between two individuals: Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni. Set within the larger Star Wars galaxy, The Mandalorian was initially envisioned as a small-scale, episodic TV series. In this way, the project offered something unique for both of the primary creatives involved. For Favreau, a highly successful writer and director in his own right, it would serve as an introduction to Star Wars storytelling. And for Filoni, a longtime veteran of Star Wars animation, it would serve as an introduction to live-action filmmaking.

The resulting collaboration wound up ballooning to insane heights, both in terms of artistic ambition and success.