'Star Wars: Visions' Brings the Space Opera Franchise into the World of Anime

Originally conceived by George Lucas back in the 1970s, the Star Wars franchise has grown into a multimedia tycoon of films, television shows, books and comics that has brought something to nearly every corner of its vast fandom. Its latest project in “Star Wars: Visions” has done nothing short of that, sparking new interest in a side of storytelling myself and many others probably aren’t very familiar with. An anthology series of short films produced by a collection of renowned Japanese animation studios, the series of nine films envisions the science fiction-fantasy world through the diverse palette of anime. With the freedom to explore any corner of the galaxy at any point in the franchise’s century-spanning timeline, the stories presented in these nine films blur the line between what we know of the Star Wars universe and the potential it can have to become something more profound and visually captivating.

While “Visions” as a whole works to tell unique stories set within the aesthetic of the Star Wars universe, with elements like the Force, lightsabers, Jedi and Sith populating much of their runtime, no story is like another. They each work to introduce characters we have never seen before in spectacular and dramatic new situations. Themes of good and evil, destiny and fate, kindness and ruthlessness exist at the heart of each story, but each one has its own set of lessons it works to bring to the forefront. While each film is wholly unique, I wanted to discuss each film briefly to give an overview of the series for anyone eager to check it out.

  

“The Duel”: The first film in the line-up of “Visions” is perhaps the one that would first come to mind when you think of a Star Wars anime, or at least Star Wars seen through the lens of Japanese culture. Acting as a primer to the series for fans who might be wary of the sci-fi franchise leaping into the world of anime, Kamikaze Douga’s “The Duel” envisions an alternate history of the galaxy far, far away like we have never seen before. Set in Feudal Japan, the established symbols for good and evil, the Jedi and the Sith, exist as sects within a world of lords and samurai. A wandering former Sith known only as “Ronin” roams the galaxy seeking out red Kyber crystals and protecting villages threatened by local bandits and far more ruthless enemies. The film, breathtaking in its black-and-white animation and efficient introductions to both Ronin and the vicious Sith warrior he confronts, is the perfect way to preface what the rest of the eight films will portray: Stories that look and feel like something else, but at their heart, represent the thematic principles of hope and redemption that Star Wars has always strived to push forward.   

“Tatooine Rhapsody”: While “The Duel” was a clear reference to the traditional Samurai films of Japan and their immediate Western counterparts, the musical short from Studio Colorido situated itself closer to the aesthetics of Japanese animation today and closer to a more familiar galaxy that we know. With the members of a rock band called Star Waver targeted by bounty hunter Boba Fett under the assignment of crime lord Jabba the Hutt, Jedi Padawan Jay must work to rescue his captured friend and bandmate Gee through the power of song. Even with a lightsaber at his disposal, Jay finds that his band’s music is where he draws his power and that through song he may be able to save Gee from the clutches of the vile gangster. While “Tatooine Rhapsody” might have the lightest tone out of all the “Visions” stories, its fast-paced storytelling and lovable characters make it an enjoyable entry point for younger Star Wars fans approaching the series.   

“The Twins”: With a story centered around a pair of twins guided by the Force yearning to leave behind a legacy in the galaxy, it’s easy to see parallels to other Star Wars characters and their stories when watching Studio Trigger’s “The Twins.” Once we are introduced to twins Karre and Am, however, we realize they are drastically different from the likes of Luke and Leia or even Rey and Kylo Ren (not siblings, but still applicable). Born of the dark side of the Force to enact the will of the Empire, the brother and sister are clad in black armor and hold immense power in the Force. While their power is matched with one another, their ideologies are not, as Karre begins to realize the destructive potential of his sister’s reign. As a kinetic and hyperactive space duel unfolds, the lore of established Star Wars elements like Star Destroyers and Kyber crystals is quickly subverted. The tension between the two warring siblings, as well as the film’s stunning visuals, easily made “The Twins” one of my favorite stories of the bunch.  

 

“The Village Bride”: While nearly all of the “Visions” stories were visually compelling in their own right, not all the stories landed for me as far as leaving behind something truly memorable. I don’t say that to take away from the efforts of Kinema Citrus and their story “The Village Bride,” it’s just that this one and a few later entries in the “Visions'' line-up didn’t have as much to offer when it came to introducing stories and characters I would like to see again. With that, “The Village Bride'' presented a story that felt very much removed from the Star Wars galaxy, aside from a handful of nods to the Jedi and the Clone Wars-era battle droids. When a village chief’s granddaughter and her fiancé are taken hostage by Seperatist forces, a mysterious duo of masked warriors step in to rescue the couple, leading to an intense stand-off between a former Jedi and a band of merciless bandits. While the short gave me similar vibes to the likes of Studio Ghibli’s “Princess Mononoke” in its beautiful and light animation and overall aesthetic, “The Village Bride'' unfortunately fell to the bottom of my list as far as producing memorable characters and thought-provoking storytelling.      

“The Ninth Jedi'': Although the primary intention of these short films was to introduce fans of the franchise to a new side of storytelling regardless of their connection to the established lore of the Star Wars universe, the most compelling stories came from the ones that showed promise as to where the galaxy far, far away was going next. “The Ninth Jedi'' from Production I.G. did just that, offering up a vision of where we might find the Jedi generations after the fall of their order. Acting as the most expansive of the nine stories, the tale finds a cryptic Jedi ruler named Margrave Juro rallying together some of the remaining Jedi of the galaxy to receive their lightsabers. All the while, the daughter of a sabersmith narrowly escapes the clutches of the Sith as she works to deliver the Jedi weapons to the margrave at his aerial temple. Even as a 20-minute short film, “The Ninth Jedi'' had all the makings of a new saga of cinematic storytelling, from a promising young hero in the sabersmith’s daughter Kara to a new age of Jedi and Sith conflicts that could easily set itself apart from the conflicts we have seen up to this point. “The Ninth Jedi'' also managed to reinvent themes and concepts that have persisted throughout the franchise, from an individual’s connection to the Force to the last ounces of hope that can spark a new age of heroism and rebellion.

       

“T0-B1”: In a Star Wars-themed cross between Astro Boy and Pinocchio, the tale from the studio Science SARU situated the hallmark theme of following one’s destiny into a light-hearted narrative of a droid who desires to become a Jedi. A wholesome and fun addition to the “Visions” line-up, with a bit more depth to it than the similarly-toned “Tatooine Rhapsody,” “T0-B1” felt very much in line with the narrative of the franchise’s first outing in 1977’s “A New Hope.” As it followed a young boy seeking adventure who stumbles into a whole new world of lightsabers, the Force and shadowy villains clad in black, there was a constant sense of hope that made me want to keep rooting for the ambitious droid hero and his quest to become something more than what he is told to be.  

“The Elder”: Another favorite short of mine was found in Studio Trigger’s “The Elder,” telling of a Jedi Master and his young apprentice who must embark to a mysterious village to confront an ancient threat closely tied to the dark side of the Force. The relationship between master and apprentice is one not uncommon to most of Star Wars storytelling, which made “The Elder” feel all the more familiar and accessible to long-time fans like me. Keeping the narrative centered mostly around the chemistry of teacher Tajin and his naive yet courageous student Dan, as well as the lessons Dan learns as his compassion and innocence is tested, the short balanced its evocative themes and brilliant action, all while wearing the tenets of Star Wars on its sleeve.  

“Lop & Ochō”: Much like “The Twins'' explored familial ties and the conflict that comes with them, Geno Studio’s “Lop & Ochō” took its focus in not only the importance of heritage but also the creation of a found family. Seen through the eyes of a rabbit-like being named Lop, the short unfolds the conflict between a clan leader Yasaburo and his daughter Ochō as the Empire occupies their planet. As Yasaburo sits on the side of rebellion, Ochō sees the potential for the Empire to help them and joins their cause. At the center lies Lop, who Yasaburo adopted as his daughter, and now stands firmly against the oppressive hand of the Empire. As tensions mount between Yasaburo and his daughter, Lop must take a stand against her adopted sister to save the family she has created. While this story might sit at a middle point in the “Visions” line-up for me, the kinetic animation mixed with the heart at the center of its familial conflict made for an enjoyable entry.        

“Akakiri”: Somewhat of a spiritual companion piece to the first “Visions” short film “The Duel,” Science SARU’s second short “Akakiri” follows the journey of a wandering Jedi named Tsubaki who reunites with his old love Misa, a princess who has been overthrown by her dark-side-wielding aunt Masago. While at first I didn’t see any connection between this story and “The Duel,” due to the two films varying in animation style and not featuring any of the same characters, they both functioned similarly in introducing the audience to mysterious, morally-ambiguous warriors set on a quest to thwart an evil presence. Taking inspiration visually and thematically from classic Japanese samurai films and American westerns, “Akakiri,” much like “The Duel,” presented a taste of what matters to its lone central warrior and what they are willing to do to complete their journey. 

Fairly ambitious and eclectic in its diverse collection of nine short films, “Star Wars: Visions'' ended up being an exciting and easily accessible dive into Japanese animation, whether you are a fan of anime or completely new to it. Even while some stories might not have landed as well as others for me, the ones that did work managed to leave me wanting more like them to exist in the Star Wars universe. Presenting characters and situations both familiar and new to audiences in one way or another, “Visions” works as a fantastic primer for those looking to broaden their love for animation and their love for Star Wars. If you have any sort of appreciation for either one of those things, I would highly recommend checking out these films.