They originally debuted in “Malani the Warrior,” a 1986 episode from the Ewoks TV series' second season, which started airing on ABC in 1985. In the episode, the Ewoks ride the Raichlings ...
In the scene, two Ewoks are running away from Imperial fire and are caught in an explosion. Only one of them survives, a heartbreaking realization that Ewok has when their companion never wakes up.