Star Wars Visions was released onto Disney+ on Sept. 22, 2021, after Disney gave creative rights to several Japanese Animation studios so that they could create anime-esque Star Wars shorts.
Some of them are good, however, some of them need improvement. Rather than review the series as a whole, I will focus on each of the nine episodes individually.
The Duel by Kamikaze Doga
A small village is robbed and attacked by stormtroopers and a Sith. Luckily for them, a very powerful stranger is there to defend the town.
I really like this one because it is the only animation to use primarily 3D and it is entirely in black and white except for the lightsabers. The combat is put together very well and the story is woven around it well, also.
Tatooine Rhapsody by Studio Colorido
A former Jedi survived Order 66 with a broken lightsaber and decides to start a new life in a traveling band.
This was a very interesting concept. Most of the time, when you think Star Wars, you think about the big battles in space or the politics. Perhaps you think about bounty hunting or other action-packed plots of that nature. A perspective that has not been explored as thoroughly was that of musicians. This short offers some insight into that. Highly recommended.
The Twins by Trigger
In the first of two shorts produced by Trigger, a pair of twins raised by the empire are about to embark on a quest with their special Star Destroyer when something goes wrong at the last second.
This one is ok. One of the main plot points focuses on kyber crystals, which power lightsabers. The animators and writers tend to ignore a few rules about kyber crystals and continuity from the Star Wars universe, but it was still beautifully animated.
The Village Bride by Kinema Citrus
A Jedi and her companion visit an offworld village where a wedding is soon to take place.
This one is pretty good. The animation style reminds me of something produced by Studio Ghibli. I do think there’s a problem, however, with the pacing because we spend a lot of time watching the village ritual.
The Ninth Jedi by Production IG
A mysterious figure calls out to the Galaxy claiming to be in possession of lightsabers and has the goal of rebuilding the Jedi Order.
This one is also very good. I really like how they add the twist that the color of a lightsaber reflects the wielder’s connection to the Force. It also has an exceptional plot twist before the final scene.
T0-B1 by Science SARU
The T0-B1 droid has a childish personality and assists his creator with restoring life to an empty planet.
I did not enjoy this one. It is well animated, but the way the audio is mixed with the English voice acting is so bad that I had no idea what was happening in the final scenes.
The Elder by Trigger
A Jedi and his Padawan patrol the galaxy and stop to investigate a disturbance in the Force from something sinister.
This short is good. It has an above average quality fight scene that reminds me of anime like Demon Slayer with the way power level is presented. It tries to deliver a message to the viewers at the end but it does not make too much sense to be there.
Lop and Ocho by Geno Studio
The escaped slave Lop is taken in by the boss of the Yasaburo clan and raised alongside Ocho, who is heir to the leadership of the clan.
My opinion on this one is mixed. I like the family dynamic and how it sets up conflict later on, but I think that more screen time should have been put toward the fighting that the anticipation built up to. Overall, it is okay.
Akakiri by Science SARU
An exiled princess embarks on a mission to reclaim her throne and is joined by her Jedi friend and two guides.
The quality of this episode is mediocre at best. I feel that the plot is too long to be put into a short under 20 minutes. The journey they go on is mostly glossed over and the leadup to the final confrontation is rushed.
Overall I think the good episodes outweigh the bad ones. Star Wars Visions is a breath of fresh air for any Star Wars fan to enjoy.
