Honestly, the Star Wars fandom is usually a bit of a disaster zone when it comes to agreeing on anything. You've got the sequel trilogy purists, the Legends die-hards who still miss Mara Jade, and the people who just want more clones. But then Star Wars: Visions dropped on Disney+, and things got... weird. In a good way. It wasn't just another spin-off. It was a total "what if" scenario that allowed Japanese animation studios to take the keys to the kingdom and drive it like they stole it.
Most people think of Star Wars as a strict timeline. They want to know exactly where a story fits between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope. But the Star Wars Visions anime threw that out the window. It isn't canon. It doesn't care about your timeline. That freedom is exactly why it’s the most creative the franchise has been since 1977.
The Cultural Full Circle Nobody Mentions
George Lucas was obsessed with Akira Kurosawa. This isn't a secret. If you've watched The Hidden Fortress, you’ve basically seen the blueprint for A New Hope. The Jedi are space Samurai. The Force is a localized version of Eastern philosophical concepts like Qi. So, when Lucasfilm partnered with studios like Kamikaze Douga and Studio Trigger, they weren't just making "anime Star Wars." They were returning the IP to its actual roots.
Take the short "The Duel." It’s black and white, grainy, and feels like a lost Mifune film. The Ronin character isn't a Jedi in the traditional sense, and he’s definitely not a Sith. He’s a wanderer with a red blade that he uses to protect a village. This isn't the high-stakes political drama of the prequels. It's a small, intimate story about honor.
It's funny because we spent decades watching Western creators interpret Eastern themes. Now, we’re watching Japanese creators re-interpret a Western property that was originally inspired by them. It's a creative loop. It’s meta. It works because it feels authentic to the feeling of Star Wars, even if the physics make absolutely no sense.
Why the Animation Styles Actually Matter
If you’re used to the sleek, 3D look of The Clone Wars or The Bad Batch, Star Wars Visions might give you a bit of whiplash. The styles vary wildly. You have the soft, storybook aesthetics of Studio Colorido in "Tatooine Rhapsody" and then the high-octane, neon-drenched chaos of Studio Trigger in "The Twins."
"The Twins" is a great example of why people love or hate the Star Wars Visions anime. In this short, two siblings created by the Dark Side fight on the exterior of two Star Destroyers that are fused together. One of them uses a lightsaber that turns into a massive, multi-whip weapon. It’s absurd. It’s "too much." And yet, it captures the raw, operatic energy of Star Wars better than many live-action scenes. It understands that at its heart, Star Wars is about big emotions and flashy visuals.
📖 Related: Big Brother 27 Morgan: What Really Happened Behind the Scenes
- Production I.G. (the legends behind Ghost in the Shell) brought a meditative, high-fantasy vibe to "The Ninth Jedi."
- Science SARU used their unique, fluid animation style for "T0-B1," which felt like a beautiful homage to Astro Boy.
- Studio Ponoc, known for their Ghibli-esque charm, gave us "Screecher’s Reach" in Volume 2, which honestly might be one of the scariest pieces of Star Wars media ever made.
Wait, I should clarify. Volume 2 actually expanded the scope. While the first volume was strictly Japanese anime, the second volume brought in studios from Ireland, Spain, South Africa, and India. It’s still often lumped under the "anime" umbrella because of the first season’s branding, but it’s really a global animation showcase now.
The Masterpiece That Is "The Ninth Jedi"
If Lucasfilm ever decides to make a full series out of one of these shorts, it has to be "The Ninth Jedi." Directed by Kenji Kamiyama, this story takes place in a distant future where the Jedi are a myth and the art of lightsaber smithing has been lost. It introduces a mechanic where the lightsaber blade changes color and length based on the user's connection to the Force.
It’s genius.
Think about it. In the movies, the color is fixed by the kyber crystal. In this version, if a person isn't strong in the Force, the blade is just a small, clear nub. If they’re dark, it’s red. It adds a layer of visual storytelling to the combat that we haven't seen before. It creates immediate stakes. You know exactly who is in trouble just by looking at the glow of their hand.
Breaking the "Canon" Prison
Canon is a cage. Seriously. When every story has to fit perfectly into a 60-year timeline, writers get scared. They don't want to break a rule established in a comic book from 2014 or a line of dialogue from an obscure episode of Rebels.
The Star Wars Visions anime doesn't have that problem.
👉 See also: The Lil Wayne Tracklist for Tha Carter 3: What Most People Get Wrong
In "The Elder," we see a Master and Padawan exploring the Outer Rim. There’s no big galactic threat. There’s no Palpatine pulling strings. It’s just a story about the inevitable passage of time and the way the Dark Side can wither a person. Because it doesn't have to be "canon," the creators could kill off characters or introduce powers that would normally break the game.
This freedom allows for tonal shifts that the main movies can't touch. "The Village Bride" is a slow, atmospheric piece about a Jedi in hiding observing a local ritual. There’s almost no dialogue for the first few minutes. It’s purely visual. In a standard Star Wars movie, there would be a quip or an explosion every ten minutes to keep the audience engaged. Here, we get to breathe.
Real Technical Hurdles in Production
Bringing these studios on wasn't just a matter of signing a check. James Waugh, the executive producer, has talked about how they basically told the studios to ignore the rulebook. However, they still had to translate the "visual language" of Star Wars. What does a thermal detonator look like in a hand-drawn, watercolor style? How do you animate the hum of a lightsaber in a way that feels right but also fits the studio's unique signature?
Most of these shorts were produced during the height of the pandemic. This meant the collaboration between Lucasfilm in California and the studios in Tokyo happened almost entirely over Zoom and digital whiteboards.
One of the biggest challenges was the sound design. Skywalker Sound provided the legendary library of effects—the TIE fighter screams, the lightsaber ignitions—but the Japanese composers had to figure out how to blend those with traditional instruments like the shamisen. The result is a soundtrack that feels nostalgic but totally fresh.
Common Misconceptions About the Series
A lot of people skipped Visions because they "don't like anime." That's a mistake. Anime isn't a genre; it's a medium. If you like Star Wars for the lightsaber duels, there are shorts here that outclass the prequels. If you like it for the spiritual aspect, there are shorts that go deeper than the sequels.
✨ Don't miss: Songs by Tyler Childers: What Most People Get Wrong
Another misconception is that it’s just for kids. While "T0-B1" is definitely kid-friendly, "Screecher's Reach" or "The Duel" are pretty dark. There are themes of sacrifice, lingering trauma, and the corruptive nature of power that are handled with a lot of maturity.
Actionable Takeaways for the Casual Viewer
If you’re overwhelmed by the number of episodes, you don't have to watch them in order. Each one is a standalone "vision."
- Start with "The Duel" (Vol 1, Ep 1). It sets the tone for the entire project. If you don't like this, you might struggle with the rest of the experimental stuff.
- Watch "The Ninth Jedi" (Vol 1, Ep 5) if you want a "real" Star Wars story. It’s the closest thing to a pilot for a new series.
- Check out "The Spy Dancer" (Vol 2, Ep 6) for a gut-punch ending. It’s a French-produced short that uses dance as a form of rebellion.
- Pay attention to the background art. In many of these shorts, the environment tells more of the story than the characters do.
The Star Wars Visions anime serves as a reminder that the galaxy far, far away is big enough for everyone. It doesn't all have to look the same. It doesn't all have to lead to the same ending. Sometimes, the best way to honor a legacy is to let someone else take a swing at it, even if they end up breaking a few lightsabers along the way.
The most important thing to do next is to stop worrying about what's "official" and just enjoy the artistry. Go watch "The Ninth Jedi" and tell me you don't want a 20-episode season of that immediately. It’s a masterclass in how to breathe life into a franchise that sometimes feels like it’s running on fumes.
Explore the different studios involved. If you loved "The Duel," go look up the work of Kamikaze Douga. If "The Twins" blew your mind, dive into Studio Trigger’s catalog like Promare or Kill la Kill. Understanding the DNA of these animation houses makes the Visions experience much richer. This project wasn't just a gift to Star Wars fans; it was a bridge to the incredible world of global animation.