by Jake Bourgeois, Contributing Writer
Releasing roughly once every two years, Star Wars: Visions has become one of the highlights of the Disney Star Wars era. Inviting different animation studios to have a play in the franchise’s sandbox, without having to worry about the canon, allows for some truly creative and spectacular storytelling. The original anthology was a blast, and Volume 2 offered some more great stories, albeit without hitting quite the high.
Like the originator, this slate is all anime studios. Here’s how it runs down:
“The Duel: Payback”
The first of three sequels this volume, the premiere continues the story from the first-ever episode of Visions. Kamikaze Douga and ANIMA return, and basically everything I said four years ago about the uniqueness of the animation holds true: It seems straight out of a sketchbook, the flickering quality is cool, and largely using charcoal means the use of colors really pops. There’s more scale to this as our mysterious stranger continues his fight. There are still super cool aspects to the fight choreography, as well as the introduction of phasing powers, but the narrative itself doesn’t quite work as well. Though, I’ll admit, it’s weird not rooting for the “Jedi.” Even if his quest for vengeance isn’t the most in line with what Jedi should be doing, having certain furry characters beat up the “good guys” was a fun twist. Overall, a good start.
“The Song of Four Wings”
This one starts with the traditional text, and includes a rebellious princess that is obviously very Leia-coded. This entry leans heavily into the original trilogy, complete with an astromech (with Wilhelm scream), speeder bike, a snow-covered planet, and Mon Calamari admiral, though it adds a modern, funky beat. It doesn’t hurt that our princess is protecting an adorable creature from the boot of the Empire, but this one is simple and heartwarming. It’s short, but a fun twist on the familiar formula. Plus, it features a suit-up moment for the climax that made me giddy. A true highlight moment of the volume.
“The Ninth Jedi: Child of Hope”
The second of the three sequels, Production I.G is back for their follow up to “The Ninth Jedi,” and this one also serves as a precursor to the first spinoff series for a Visions anthology. Kara, the young daughter of a lightsaber-smith we met in the original short, encounters a droid on an abandoned ship while set adrift seeking to evade Jedi hunters. The droid once again is hard not to fall in love with. Add in a solid lightsaber fight and some real emotional catharsis at the end of the episode, and this is a story that I am excited to continue in a longer format in the near future.
“The Bounty Hunters”
This short follows a bounty hunter who takes a job for an industrialist, bringing tensions bubbling under the surface to the forefront and further drives a wedge between her and her droid. Starting with some striking red flame and a haunting chorus, the colors in this one really pop. Plus, a seismic charge is never not cool, what they do with a droideka is awesome, and there’s just something fun about a villain they let go absolutely HAM. As far as the newcomer animation studios to the series, this one really stood out to me, but after looking up WIT Studio, it shouldn’t be surprising given their involvement in Attack on Titan. If you’re looking for action, this is the best of the bunch.
“Yuko’s Treasures”
The first of two straight shorts from Kinema Citrus Co., the studio behind Volume 1’s “The Village Bride,” this follows an orphan who teams with a street-smart kid to rescue his adorable, giant, bear-looking caregiver “droid.” Let me tell you, there are going to be a lot of BILY plushies, and it’s deserved. (The size difference between BILY and his ward doesn’t hurt the cuteness overload either.) Set on Tatooine, this one gives you all the sun and desert you could ever want, and it even pays homage to its most famous Jedi-turned-villain. This is an adventure that just put a smile on my face.
“The Lost Ones”
As a sequel to “The Village Bride,” this one is more in line with the studio’s first volume entry — particularly the environmental message — as the character from that short, F, helps refugees escape a natural disaster before confronting her past as the Empire comes calling. Like its 2021 predecessor, it’s much more in a contemplative mood, but has some gorgeous action boosted by its visuals, and uses it sparingly.
“The Smuggler”
From TRIGGER, who produced both “The Twins” and “The Elder” (the lightsaber aesthetic would give away if you weren’t aware) in the first batch of episodes, this one follows the titular character looking to rescue someone from the clutches of the Empire. This is perhaps the episode that best captures the tyranny of the Empire and, much like “Yuko’s Treasure,” works as a pretty straightforward adventure story. The characters work to evade not only the imperial stormtroopers, but the bounty hunter in their employ. The studio really knows how to end their shorts with some satisfying action.
“The Bird of Paradise”
This follows a padawan that must undergo trials after being blinded in battle and losing a grip on her emotions in order to avoid the temptations of the dark side. While the story is interesting, it’s the most computer-generated style of the bunch. I struggled a bit with the aesthetic, though it certainly has its moments where it pops visually (particularly at the end). I think it’s also a case of there being better episodes of Star Wars animation that handle the same sort of subject matter in a better way. I don’t think I’d go as far to say I disliked this episode, just that it was certainly my weak link of the volume and the one I connected to the least.
“Black”
The shortest of the bunch, this exploration of a stormtrooper’s psyche is also the most intriguing in its animation style, as it feels the most artistic because you can see the strokes of the drawing implements on screen. With the audio largely driven by grunts and a jazz-inspired score, the rapidly shifting color palettes and landscapes always gives the viewer something to feast on. There are some truly breathtaking transitions. It’s the most experimental of the shorts this volume, and perhaps the most successful.
Overall, I feel much like I did after Volume 2. Though I don’t think either of the subsequent volumes have quite the highs of the first set of shorts, I enjoy spending time in unique stories and that these studios are getting the chance to tell them. In a climate that all too often is risk-averse, giving people carte blanche to do what they want with a hallowed franchise, even in a format like this, is refreshing.
Rating: Liked It
Star Wars: Visions is currently streaming on Disney+
You can read more from Jake Bourgeois, and follow him on Bluesky and Letterboxd