An anthology of animated shorts celebrating Star Wars through the lens of the world's best
anime creators and storytellers.
1) The Duel (Mizuno Takanobu, Kamikaze Douga)
2) Tatooine Rhapsody (Taku Kimura, Studio Colorido)
3) The Twins (Hiroyuki Imaishi, Trigger)
4) The Village Bride (Hitoshi Haga, Kinema Citrus)
5) The Ninth Jedi (Kenji Kamiyama, Production I.G.)
6) T0-B1 (Abel Gongora, Science SARU)
7) The Elder (Masahiko Ootsuka, Trigger)
8) Lop and Ochou (Yuuki Igarashi, Geno Studio)
9) Akakiri (Eun-Yeong Choi, Science SARU)
Note: A further batch of 9 episodes released on May 4, 2023 as Star Wars: Visions Volume 2
does not meet our eligibility requirements as only a single episode was animated by a studio meeting
our Country of Origin criteria.
~~~It is really cool to see starwars in a new light. Letting anime studios ingulf themselves into the world of starwars was amazing to see. The soundtrack was beautiful with it blending traditional Japanese music with that classic starwars sound everyone knows. Stunning visuals that are unique with every episode due to letting multiple studious making each story. You can either watch this in dub or sub they put a ton of effort into both so its amazing either way. I'm glad disney decided to do this and i hope they continue with this trend of pushing starwars to new heights. ~~~~~~~~ youtube(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lle0NNmvIyU) img220(https://www.nme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/star-wars-visions-11.jpg)~~~~~ ~~~__Rankings__~~~ ~~~ 1) __The Elder__ - master and apprentice find an ancient darkness 2) __T0-B1 __- cute astro boy robot fulfills his master's dream 3)__ The Duel__ - ronin force user wonders into a village occupied by bandits 4) __The Ninth Jedi __- jedi gather at a distress signal hoping to restore the jedi order 5) __Akakiri__ - a jedi tries to prevent a vision he keeps seeing 6 __Lop and Ochou __ - a family conflict between tradition and progression 7) __The Village Bride __ - a padawan lets go of her past 8) __The Twins__ - Twins confront each other for having different ideals with the force 9)__ Tatooine Rhapsody__ __ - lost padawan finds a home with unlikely strangers img220(https://static1.colliderimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/star-wars-visions-trailer-social-2.jpg)~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~ ~~~I urge any anime fan even those that have never seen starwars to check this out and starwars fans that have never seen anime to also check this out. All of these stories take little to no prior knowledge of starwars lore to understand. There will be at least one story you will find interest in. These stories are meant for people that like anime but have never got into starwars to enjoy and vice versa, people that only like starwars and never got into anime can enjoy this too. It is a great blend of two things I enjoy and I hope this brings new anime and starwars fans alike. ~~~~~~img220(https://starwarsblog.starwars.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/to-b1-to-b1-star-wars-visions_TALL-3983.jpg)~~~ ~~~__The Duel __~~~ ~~~This is the most unique when it comes to animation. It has an old traditional samurai feel to it like Seven Samurai which was an inspiration for George Lucas when making starwars.~! I really like the mysterious vibe the main character has. We don't really know what his deal is, he is a wondering samurai with a red lightsaber. Is he sith or is he more of a grey jedi? He is helping people out and being selfless which is not what a sith would do at all. I personally think he was trained by a sith that separated himself from the dark side and taught our main character the ways of the force. Now he just aimlessly wonders around looking to test his power by dueling dark side users. ~~~ !~ ~~~img220(https://starwarsblog.starwars.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/star-wars-visions-trailer-tall-28fja0-1.jpg)~~~
Star Wars: Visions is an episodic film, and like every episodic film there are ups and downs. It was really fun to watch all these different studios flex their artistic abilities. If there's one thing I loved about this film it's how every studio who took part in making this managed to incorporate Japanese culture into star wars. Every episode was different and intriguing, some episodes felt darker and mature like episode 7: The Elder while other episodes felt childish like episode 6: T0-B1. The tone wasn't the only thing that was different, the stories, the characters, the art style, and the setting were also different. Because every episode had different stories and characters anyone can watch this film without needing to know the Star Wars lore. Almost every episode had exceptional fight scenes, the way they were animated and choreographed were remarkable and left me surprised. These fights in my opinion were animated better than majority of the anime fights I have seen this year. Like I said earlier every studio managed to incorporate some Japanese culture into star wars. The ways they did this was by including Traditional Japanese clothing, music, or even architectures into the film. In episode 1: The Duel, The mysterious main character is wearing what seems like a samurai outfit and on his waist was a katana sheath. His robot friend happened to be wearing a samurai Ronin straw hat as well. This entire episode looked like it took place in the early japan, What time period? I do not know. Episode 1 reminded me a lot of the Netflix anime Yasuke because they were both a historical anime with a splash of fantasy. img800(https://cgworld.jp/special-feature/5d45f90aeca64ade255c765db9e3009f9f02a5fe.jpg) The music in every episode included either star wars music or traditional Japanese music except 1 episode. That 1 episode being episode 2: Tatooine Rhapsody, Tatooine Rhapsody was about a rock band in the star wars galaxies just trying to share there music. and of course this rock band played rock music which was unique because I have never heard rock music while watching Star Wars up until now. This entire episode was surprising, going into Star Wars: Visions I expected to only see action-packed episodes but this episode proved me wrong. Now if we ever get a Star Wars anime series do I want it to be this? as much as I love music I'd rather take action-packed Star Wars anime over this so HELL NAW this episode does not deserve its own series. I'll give episode 2 of Star Wars: Visions an A for effort... wait effort doesn't have an A. Well whatever. Star Wars: Visions doesn't deviate too far from the Star Wars movie franchise. Episode 2 literally has the name Tatooine in the title which is the home plant Anakin is from. I'm pretty sure the place the band performed at, in episode 2 was in the same place Anakin pod raced in, in the movie "Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace". Also at the end of episode 3: The Twins, you see one of the twins and his robot chilling on a planet with 2 suns, Anakin's home planet Tatooine also had 2 suns and I believe it's the only planet with 2 suns in the star wars galaxy (I might be wrong though I have only seen 4 star war movies). The location isn't the only similar thing, the lightsabers, the vehicles, the robots, the force, and aliens share similarity as well. img400(https://i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article153957.ece/ALTERNATES/s615/luke-skywalker-on-his-home-planet-tatooine-pic-dm-977796053.jpg) There's only 1 thing left for me to say before I wrap this review up and that being, what episodes deserve its own complete anime series? Well personally I think episode 5: The Ninth Jedi produced by Production I.G is really interesting and intense, the characters caught my attention and the fight scene was definitely my favorite out of all the other fight scenes. Episode 1: The Duel is a strong contender as well, produced by Kamikaze Douga, the only thing I didn't like was the black and white color scheme. The main character is really compelling he seems like a hero but his light saber says otherwise. The fight scene like almost every fight scene in the anime was fucking awesome. Finally episode 3: The Twins produced by studio Trigger had 2 interesting sibling who were born into a dark force family, it sounds fun watching 2 evil sibling trying to destroy the world. Star Wars: Visions was a very entertaining. Even if you are not a Star Wars fan I would still recommend this to you because of all the beautifully animated and choreographed fight scenes. Thanks to Star Wars: Visions I wanna go and finish all the Star War movies I haven't seen. It's great seeing anime become more and more main stream as the years go on, I still cant believe the fact that Disney really just made their own anime.
Over the years Star Wars has become central in mainstream media, with people being born long after the release of the first movies falling in love with the stories of a galaxy far far away. However, as the Star Wars title is passed down from studio to studio, it becomes inevitable that the eventual recipe becomes overdone. With some people being dismayed at the newest Force Awakens trilogy. However, this is where Lucasfilm and Disney pulled the biggest brain move ever. Giving anime studios in Japan the name of Star Wars and free reign to create nine stunning short stories set in the greater Star Wars Universe. And the results were astounding from start to finish. __Plot__ Since Visions was an anthology of nine separate stories, it wouldn't make sense to judge them by their continuity nor their connection to established canon as it was made clear that these aren't canon stories but rather completely from the studios' imaginations. While not all of the stories felt fully fleshed out, they all provided at the very least enough to make me feel instantly immersed. The best exemplars of these would be _Lop and Ocho_ and _The Village Bride_. Their worlds felt immersive and vast, with a smooth integration of Star Wars' cyberpunk attitude even in rural or traditional areas like those settings. On top of that, some episodes kept signature Star Wars themes and canons, the best example of this being _Akakiri_, where you can trace the main Jedi's descent to the Dark Side by following the lines of the canonically established Sith Code. Even when they did deviate from Star Wars canon, they do so in an imaginative way, like the blades of the lightsaber turning color according to the owner instead of the crystal's natural color in _The Ninth Jedi_. __Animation__ Naturally with each anime studio comes its own unique animating styles. Despite this, each episode still kept some signature Star Wars elements, like the classic swipe transition. I'll quickly go over the anime studios and give a few thoughts on each of them _Kamikaze Douga - The Duel_ This one's my favorite one of them, pseudo-3d style with a black and white coloring make the animations seem like something out of a samurai movie. The fluidity of the fight between the Ronin and the Sith make the world seem even more realistic. Fantastic opening for the anthology _Studio Colorido - Tatooine Rhapsody_ This one's vibrant and colorful, bringing an interesting twist to the traditional characters. The chibi artstyle certainly made Jabba and Boba feel a bit cartoonish, but they retained Boba's level of badassness while also showing a lighthearted side of him bopping to the music. A very unique twist on classic characters _Studio Trigger - The Twins & The Elder_ Trigger's back at it once again with their signature fight animations, there was a clear difference between the animations in the two episodes they did. The Twins had powerful color contrasts to differentiate between siblings Am and Karre, while The Elder had moody shading to pose ominousness at the ancient Sith. _Kinema Citrus - The Village Bride_ This one was as colorful as it was heavy. The vast beautifulness of the world in the episode was displayed with vibrance as a clear contrast was made with the darkened technological conquerors of the bandits and their battle droids. _Production I.G. - The Ninth Jedi_ The central location of the fight gave this anime studio lots of room to play with lighting, The ominous turn of the camera as the sith reveal their identities and the vibrant blades of their lightsabers make for a memorable fight. _Science SARU - T0-B1 & Akakiri_ These two are perhaps the biggest opposites in the anthology made by the same studio, Tobi was a clever homage to the classic AstroBoy, with his signature eyes, the remarkably similar professor, and the idea that he can be something greater. The colorful solidness of technology contrasted with the natural contours of nature make for an interesting episode. Akakiri, on the other hand, played with colors and lighting to a whole new level. The constant visions as the misguided jedi fights both his brain and his enemies in a trance. And the final moments where the Sith offers him apprenticeship, the lighting mixed with the heavy taiko drums make for a hair-raising experience. Hats absolutely off _Geno Studio - Lop and Ocho_ This studio went really creative fusing Star Wars' cyberpunk with a traditional Japanese city, the bustling city compared with the tranquility of the clan home make for an interesting display. Not only to mention the fluidity of the animal-like Lop contrasted with the sternness of Ocho, it makes the story even more immersive as we see the sisters attempt to sort out their differences. __Music__ Just like how each studio brought a different style to their episodes, each composer brought their own twist to the classic Star Wars orchestra. The fights still feature the excellent orchestration, while the more natural aspects give smooth flowing of strings and accentuating horns. Some of the best examples of this is in _The Village Bride_. Composed by none other than Kevin Penkin, the scenes in this episode's natural world are heightened by Penkin's signature use of vocals, giving the natural world of this planet a vibe that resembles that of the natural ecosystems of The Abyss from Made In Abyss. Absolutely beautiful. Overall, I loved the uniqueness of each story in the anthology. Since they're all relegated to a single episode, each one felt like they were conclusive, and in cases where we were unsure of the main characters' fates, it gives an ominous vibe of uncertainly while sounding conclusive in terms of the events of the episode. A feeling that only Star Wars can pull off. Star Wars made the right choice giving its title and free reign to these studios, because they definitely outdid themselves.
# __~~~Star Wars: Visions~~~__ ~~~img250(https://lumiere-a.akamaihd.net/v1/images/p_starwarsvisions_disneyplus_v2_20651_87b70e6f.jpeg)~~~ --- - # __~~~Intro:~~~__ I've always been a big fan of _Star Wars_ for a long time. From a little kid playing _Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga_, to current times, watching Youtube videos on legends and canon stories. When _Star Wars: Visions_ was announced, I was beyond excited. Combining the world of _Star Wars_ with the wacky world of weeb entertainment? Say no more, I'm officially sold! Seven studios, nine stories, one beloved franchise. All we have to do is wait till September 22nd, 2021. Well _Star Wars: Visions_ came out, so how did it hold up? Did it live up to expectations? As this is an anthology series, we'll take the review episode by episode. --- - # __~~~Before We Begin:~~~__ Before we begin, I want to talk about how cool _Star Wars: Visions_ is as a concept (if uninterested, please skip this paragraph). Back in the day, liking anime was considered... weird. You fit the category of being a sweaty, anti-social, creepy loser just by saying you watched anime. In some ways, this stigma still exists, the mere mention of "I like anime" is sure to bring groans and sighs around you. "Oh, you're one of _those_ people?" Slowly but surely, that stigmatism is fading away. Now, it's not too uncommon to hear (in the 18-25 year old age group aka college) "yeah, I've seen Attack on Titan", or "I enjoyed Jujutsu Kaisen". However, anime in general is still kind of a niche to general western audiences. _Star Wars: Visions_ is a massive step to normalize anime to western audiences, I've had friends and family who know of or enjoy Star Wars mention _Star Wars: Visions_ to me, people with zero interest in anime say: hey, there making a new Star Wars cartoon, I'm going to check it out! Things like _Star Wars: Visions_, _Invincible_, _Primal_, etc. are starting to normalize not just anime, but animation not of the "for kids" or "raunchy sitcom humor" variety, but of differencing genres, age groups, and styles to the mainstream audience. I think projects, shows, and ideas like this should be celebrated around the community, and I for one am happy _Star Wars: Visions_ as a concept was even made. --- - # ~~~__The Duel__~~~ ## ~~~__Studio: Kamikaze Douga__~~~ _The Duel_ was the most visually striking from the trailer for _Star Wars: Visions_. Black and White film with some use of color, a lightsaber umbrella, a wandering jedi-samurai going into a village. From it’s opening shots, it’s made very clear to the audience. This is inspired by Kurosawa films. This short takes a lot of inspiration from Kurosawa film, including the old scratching film filter over the whole episode, but it is shot in it's own direction and doesn't feel old fashion in its cinematography. _The Duel_ tells a fantastic “samurai” story, akin to an old western/samurai genre film. A village under attack, a wandering traveler in the right place at the right time, and an empire tormenting innocent civilians. Very Yojimbo. A simple premise, with much fun to offer. ~~~img450(https://i.imgur.com/VGZccTn.gif)~~~ We get a visual feast of characters, from the rag-tag band of defenders to the village, including a tusken raider, to the main villain, who looks like Mortal Kombat’s Sindel with lightsabers. The weapons we see as well are an amazing treat, laser gatling gun to the lightsaber umbrella. We get dynamic camera work, well-choreographed fights, dramatic camera shots, etc. The cinematography incredible. It’s a hell of a start to the anthology that gives a lot of promise and hope for the next episodes. __~~~Overall: 9.5/10~~~ __ --- - # ~~~__Tatooine Rhapsody__~~~ ## ~~~__Studio: Studio Colorido__~~~ _Tatooine Rhapsody_ is an interesting one, and not in a good way unfortunately. _Tatooine Rhapsody_ suffers from a problem some other shorts also suffer from: “You have the chance to tell a story with the STAR WARS property, and you came up with this?” I think there is nothing wrong with wanting to tell a story in the Star Wars universe that is about regular people having relatively normal lives, no jedi, sith, grand battles or space conquest included, but two problems arise from this. One is universal with any media. If it’s just people being normal, it’s boring, it’s watching paint dry. There needs to be conflict in the world. For _Tatooine Rhapsody_, a... kid(?) joins a band, but one of his band mates is being hunted by a bounty hunter, Boba Fett, who tells the group their Hutt friend is wanted by Jabba the Hutt. Ok, that’s not a horrible premise, but then we encounter problem two. We get, 11 minutes, INCLUDING credits, with these characters. To resolve the conflict, the gang puts on a concert for Jabba the Hutt and ask him to be their sponsor instead of executing them. Taking a more “slice of life” style with the anthology made it really hard to connect with the story, or care at all. _Tatooine Rhapsody_ is a story that would have fit better in _K-On_ than Star Wars. Why make it Star Wars? When given a blank canvas, who came up with a band drama episode? Not only that, but not cool sci-fi fantasy band, but a generic rock band with a singer, drummer, guitarist, and bassist? Yes, for some reason, the music in this episode is music straight out of 2000s grunge and/or punk rock. ~~~img450(https://media.tenor.com/8NEiY0fAaMkAAAAC/star-wars-tatooine-rhapsody.gif)~~~ It's the same issue people have with SIng! vs Zootopia. One used its animal character to create a world centered around them, the other could have been done with humans. This short could have been done outside of Star Wars. To give the episode a break, it is commendable the writers and director chose to tell a unique story, even if it fell flat in my opinion. It told a story I haven't seen attempted in the Star Wars Universe to my knowledge, and I applaud the chance they took. Also, Temuera Morrison coming in to voice Boba Fett for this episode was honestly incredible to see, and a welcome surprise. Unfortunately, in the art and animation department, this episode was pretty uninspiring. By no means is it BAD of course, not with Disney money backing a studio, but nothing really stood out. There was one problem however I had, with the characters. Everyone in the animation looks like a kid. Maybe it’s personal preference, but the main character looking like an eleven-year-old, while sounding like he’s in his late twenties was jarring to say the least. Boba Fett as well looked like a “cutie-fied” version of himself. ~~~__Overall: 4/10__ ~~~ --- - # ~~~__The Twins__~~~ ## ~~~__Studio: Trigger__~~~ From the fan favorite studio _Trigger_ come the story: _The Twins_. I feel like this was the story in the trailers many people were excited about. From the start of the episode, it’s got the classic, beautiful _Trigger_ art. Thin to non-existent outlines on characters, dramatic perspective changes, and familiar character design. This was the episode we saw in all the promotional art leading up to _Star Wars: Visions_, and I can see why. For the casual fan of Star Wars, this is the episode to go. It’s an amazing fight between good and evil, with fantastical design, and familiar ships. I think overall, it was the “simplest” episode to get behind, not offering itself to an overly artistic interpretation like some on the list, but full of great action for the casual audience to enjoy. ~~~img450(https://i1.wp.com/kakuchopurei.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/starwarsvisionsGIF01.gif?resize=600%2C338&ssl=1)~~~ If I must nitpick, there are elements of this short that don’t make too much sense on the surface, like how the two main characters are able to just breath and fight out in space. Was it the force? Are they in an oxygen bubble? Why did the main character’s lightsaber grow taller than a star destroyer? I don’t know, but does it matter? It was a cool, fantastical, non-canonical story that delivered action and spectacle. ~~~__Overall: 8.5/10 __~~~ --- - # ~~~__The Village Bride__~~~ ## ~~~__Studio: Kinema Citrus__~~~ _Kinema Citrus_ was a studio I was not familiar with going into the anthology, so I was curious to see what kind of story and style this story would bring. A lady in a mask, who I assume to be a wandering jedi watches a man carry a woman up a mountain, where they pray and thank nature for the beauty of their planet. The village is “sacrificing” the chief's daughter to take his place as a hostage of the empire. Naturally, many villagers, including the “bride’s” sister are against this and attack the empire. The masked wander steps in and stops the villagers from being killed. ~~~img450(https://64.media.tumblr.com/e9acf6ee4624a78d5a8894e571e3f652/3ee729098a22215c-aa/s540x810/2969944c43f6c04cd57b96e257d6489710c956c7.gif)~~~ I’m a bit baffled by this one. _Village Bride_ didn’t really provide much to the anthology, nor did I think the story was all that interesting. Its animation is plain but passable, and while seeing/hearing the battle droids again was fun, it didn’t really do anything for me. I thought the short was going to run with the nature motif, maybe connect it to The Force, but they didn’t really go anywhere with that either. It’s not really a bad short, but I struggle to find anything worthwhile talking about it. ~~~__Overall: 5.5/10 __~~~ --- - # ~~~__The Ninth Jedi__~~~ ## ~~~__Studio: Production I.G.__~~~ _The Ninth Jedi_ probably contained the most “story-like” story from any episodes. Most episodes place us right into the mist of an ongoing story. _The Ninth Jedi_ took its time showing us many characters, and building up its story. This is mostly from its longer runtime, where the episode has the opportunity to slow burn the audience on its story. I think that the twists as well were fantastic to the story. I won’t reveal them now, as I want this review to be as spoiler free as possible. This episode also had many dynamic camera angles, often times without using CG characters as well. We also get some beautiful close-ups of some lightsabers. The ending battle was an exciting and vibrant one, definitely one of the best in the series. And the episode leaves us with a cliff hanger for a future time to be explored. ~~~img450(https://64.media.tumblr.com/d53542391144f348d26035ba8f59afa1/54d653e0bcb6f40c-93/s540x810/170e4873aa45164eee606eb9327ec9cf52d3dece.gifv)~~~ Similar to _The Twins_, _The Ninth Jedi_ is a great one for the casual viewer to enjoy. It’s not overly complicated or deep in its themes, but gave us an enjoyable story to sink our teeth into. ~~~__Overall: 8/10__~~~ --- - # ~~~__T0-B1__~~~ ## ~~~__Studio: Science SARU__~~~ _T0-B1_ starts off looking like a combination of Astro-boy, Mega-man, and Pinocchio. Its style and characters were initially off putting for me, looking more like Disney than Star Wars (ironic considering who owns the latter). But the episode quickly picks up a whimsical, child-like nature of fun and cheerfulness, much like T0-B1 himself. The sound design on this episode was fantastic. T0-B1's steps had a unique, cartoon-like sound-effect to them. The planet the episode takes place on is a barren planet with little to no life on it, and the professor, T0-B1's father is looking to change that. T0-B1, along with the many other droids he lives with are a great visual treat to see, along with the main bad guy. ~~~img450(https://cdn.shortpixel.ai/spai/q_glossy+w_944+h_402+to_webp+ret_img/https://www.thecosmiccircus.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/0e827319e98ae9f9e9276636befc0b7ac8c66ebe.gifv_.gif)~~~ _T0-B1_ suffers from its runtime however. It’s one of the shorter episodes in the series, and it REALLY shows in the pacing. Within a minute and half, we go from T0-B1 finding his father killed, swearing to avenge him, and fighting the main villain. The story works, I just wish they gave themselves more time to build up and let everything sink in, even if just for 5 more minutes. ~~~__Overall: 7.5/10 __~~~ --- - # ~~~__The Elder__~~~ ## ~~~__Studio: Trigger__~~~ Studio Trigger returns for their second episode, and I must admit, I had high hopes for this one. I thought it looked great from the trailer. Coming out of it, I’m mixed. _The Elder_ is definitely one of the strongest episodes in _Star Wars: Visions_, and my biggest complaint is that we didn’t get more of the episode. The first half was great, setting up a mysterious and unknown villain and the Master & Padawan relationship between our two main characters. Where this short (no pun intended) falls short, is with the elder himself. I wish we got more time with him, and more time with the fight. With a title like _The Elder_, you know this is what the whole episode is building up to. I just wish they spent more time on it. ~~~img450(https://64.media.tumblr.com/b207b4c3eea54c734cfccbd92156589a/557d7c6a926b51fe-a4/s540x810/1a1c73293390a3af91260b8485e6abe507d256ca.gif)~~~ Animation and art are on point, as to be expected of Studio Trigger. I also really enjoyed the ending topic the episode gave us. “No man, no matter how powerful, can escape the passage of time.” No matter how powerful that Elder was, time slowed him down and dulled his senses. As with the master and apprentice relationship, the master will get weaker with time so he fills his apprentice with his knowledge to make him stronger and pass on not just his strength, but his ideals and legacy as well, as the jedi have done for centuries. ~~~__Overall: 7.5/10 __~~~ --- - # ~~~__Lop and Ochou__~~~ ## ~~~__Studio: Geno Studio__~~~ I honestly had low expectations for _Lop and Ochou_. Going in, I thought Lop didn’t fit as a new Star Wars creature at all, but then again look at the design of T0-B1. I thought it was too humanistic looking for a creature where they played up its “cuteness” too much. Luckily, _Geno Studio_ did a great job with this one. _Lop and Ochou_ was my personal favorite episode. It had the best of all worlds to me. It’s animation, while not the best, was great to watch. Its story is easily one of if not the strongest in _Star Wars: Visions_. The family dynamic between Lop, Ochou, and their dad was an interesting story that I wanted to see explored more. ~~~img450(https://static1.colliderimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/star-wars-visions-trailer-social-featured.jpg)~~~ This is the greatest strength of _Lop and Ochou_. The culture and society of this planet and family is dripping in culture and history that I wanted to see explored more in the future. It excels not just in its character designs, but it’s world design. Just look at the scene where Lop is given the family lightsaber as an example. The story was the most emotional one to me. While we only get a few minutes with Ochou, her siding with the empire was understandable, though I wish we got to see why she grew up so different from her younger self. Lop’s struggle to keep her family and sister together was heartbreaking to watch. If _Star Wars: Visions_ is getting a second volume, I’d love to see _Geno Studio_ return to continue this story. ~~~__Overall: 9.5/10 __~~~ --- - # ~~~__Akakiri__~~~ ## ~~~__Studio: Science SARU__~~~ The galaxy brain studio behind Devilman Crybaby returns for their second episode, and ends _Star Wars: Visions_ on an... unexpected note? _Akakiri_ is most similar to a typical Star Wars story in my opinion, especially its ending, but we’ll get to it. Right off the bat, Akakiri opens up with unique music that actually sounds alien like to me. That was one of the weakest parts of _Star Wars: Visions_ as a whole. I enjoyed hearing traditional Japanese instrumentations, but combining it with the alien sounding universe of Star Wars or orchestral genius of John Williams was lacking throughout the whole anthology except this episode. I also thought the designs of the new characters and creature fit much better into the Star Wars universe. As great as it is to see the Japanese influence, it was nice to see something that was clearly alien while taking inspiration from Japanese culture. ~~~img450(https://64.media.tumblr.com/6d77ed5b90ced7785fd64340a7c3e112/101db68037d916d7-0a/s540x810/6b24b08ce7fef2c4b2d2a94e0c0200f964e2f014.gif)~~~ The story of _Akakiri_ surprised me being the last episode. It was quite a somber one, and I would argue that it didn’t have a happy ending. The main character goes chasing after a vision he had of someone dying, over and over, trying to stop it from coming true. Sound familiar? It’s very much like what was going on with Anakin Skywalker in the original Star Wars. It ends badly for all involved, and was quite an odd episode to end the anthology off on. Not bad by any means, just surprising to say the least. ~~~__Overall: 8/10 __~~~ --- - # ~~~__Final Thoughts__~~~ _Star Wars: Visions_ is a project I’m glad to see come out, and not only that, succeed in most episodes. There are some overall nitpicks, mostly small ones. Inconsistency of course plagues the show, but that’s found with every anthology. This is VERY minor, but I found the story elements to be a bit too similar between each episode, like how almost all episodes revolved around something to do with the Kyber crystals, and I swear, if I have nickel for every: “I have a bad feeling about this” line, I’d be a rich man indeed. But these are minor in the face of the whole product. Great animation was consistent in almost all episodes. Stories ranged from engaging to average. Characters, while designed great were usually one note and forgettable. Music was not bad by any means, but more variety and something more akin to Star Wars would’ve been a welcome addition. I know it may sound harsh and like I didn't like it, but _Star Wars: Visions_ was a real treat to watch. I hope we get another volume sometime soon in the future. ~~~__Overall: 8.1/10 __~~~
~~~img520(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ce/Star_wars2.svg/1200px-Star_wars2.svg.png)~~~ #~~~__A long time ago in a galaxy , far away.....__~~~ __It was an Iustin . Iustin was a huge Star wars fan and an anime fan . That's me Iustin Makihige , even if Makihige is just an alias for internet media . I am here to disscus about Star Wars Vision . My opinion is subjective so don't write me in the comments that my review isn't good . Now let's start ! __ _______ __Story : 9/10__ __This was hard to rate because every episode was with a different story , production and with different applied themes . I really loved some episodes but some episodes didn't seem Star Wars ! For Example : episode 2 "Tatooine Rhapsody" it was an really good episode but it was more a childish episode i like it but i feel it wasn't Star Wars even if i saw Jabba The Hut And Boba Fett . Another example that didn't seem a Star Wars it was episode 6 "T0-B1" an really good episode as well but again to childish for Star Wars and it was more like to Astro boy . Then It was an episode who was boring probably the worst episode from Star Wars Vision and that's episode 7 "The Elder" i just feel like a bit to much clichee the themes for this episode weren't good and it wasn't my cup of tea . Now let's speak about the epic episodes in Star Wars which i truly love . The Best episodes from Star Wars Vision it was clearly episode 5 "The Ninth Jedi" which it gave me the same feels like in Star Wars episode 4 " A new Hope " from 1977 . I really loved that episodes Thx Production I.G for doing a great Job . The second place of the best episodes from Star Wars Vision is episode 8 "Lop and Ochou" which it gave me the same feels like in Star Wars episode 3 " The Revenge of Sith " from episode 2005 , btw episode 9 from Star Wars vision "Akakiri " really feels like Revenge of Sith . Episode 1 was Really good episodes it was just dark and white , the themes were very good aplied . Now i didn't Speak about Episodes 3 and from Star Wars Vision which are great and very good . Episode 3 "The Twins" and episode 4 " The Village Bride" it feels like Star Wars episode 6 "Return of the Jedi " from 1983 . In every episodes i can see different themes from the original series and i really like it .Honestly i really want that Episodes 5 "The Ninth Jedi" and 8 "Lop and Ochou" from Vision to receive an anime sequel . __ ______ __Animation : 10/10__ __The animation was very consistent in evey episodes i really love how all the 6 anime studious managed to make the animation very good and consistent . __ ~~~img720(https://media4.giphy.com/media/tbaPvhjlU74i7YHZym/giphy.gif?cid=790b7611694e0bcb9ae29b88e420803c279af11ebb8eeabe&rid=giphy.gif&ct=g)~~~ ~~~img720(https://64.media.tumblr.com/a367d4df5a130b3657b8bddcac4480b8/53cdc25a0e4b33d2-09/s540x810/ca312a62d97607ca85247b29ab8d42be9fe4813c.gifv)~~~ ~~~img720(https://64.media.tumblr.com/8f3ff0b510698dd6db61daedc5c9fa25/53cdc25a0e4b33d2-87/s540x810/2f26009ea8c520ed53c1c95d5504a683ac4c502b.gifv)~~~ _______ __Sound:10/10__ __This is clearly an 10/10 just listen to the original songs from Star Wars and different sounds from anime studious .The sounds of lightsabers were really Great . The Voice actors were really Great :))))__ ______ __The Characters: 9/10__ __Every Character were good . My favorite characters from Star Wars Vision where : Lop , Kara and Karre __ ~~~img720(https://media4.giphy.com/media/HBK0HXs4yagTawmbtN/giphy.gif?cid=790b7611cc2513887e9bebad78f86e6727a4e5f1126f8f0e&rid=giphy.gif&ct=g)~~~ ~~~img720(https://media1.giphy.com/media/y7Lgln6fFBdOTEw1Ef/giphy.gif?cid=790b76114bc6eaad27435a4a3242015f6ff70f3b327c05c5&rid=giphy.gif&ct=g)~~~ ~~~img720(https://media3.giphy.com/media/txI5TK9qQjOg9LoR8V/giphy.gif?cid=790b7611df4945e879e424ccc781b79eea24d9b98224c281&rid=giphy.gif&ct=g)~~~ ____ __The Enjoyment : 10/10__ __For me an Star Wars fan and an anime fan it was a pleasent gift for me __ ____ __Overall :10/10 __ __I really recommend this anime if you like anime and you are a Star Wars fan . Star Wars vision is a great anime with a fantastic Cast .__
When I originally heard that Disney was going to allow anime studios to animate shorts for Star Wars, I was excited but at the same time wary. Japan doesn't have the same exposure and love for Star Wars as America has, so I was worried that what makes Star Wars unique would be lost in the shorts. Fortunately, I seem to be proven wrong. Here are my impressions of each episode of the 9 part ONA ~~~ # Episode 1: The Duel~~~ ~~~img220(https://www.indiewire.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Screen-Shot-2021-08-17-at-9.16.16-AM.png?w=780) ~~~ Very fun episode, I enjoy the mix of star wars and Pre-Meiji aesthetics that were shown, and the 3D was done wonderfully. Reminded me a lot of a Kurosawa film. Just wish we got a little more characterization. ~!Also if you think the lightsaber umbrella is lame or unrealistic you are a loser.!~ 9/10 ~~~ # Episode 2: Tatooine Rhapsody~~~ ~~~img220(https://cdn.onebauer.media/one/media/611b/c474/6179/2390/e540/bb5c/star-wars-visions-4.jpg?format=jpg&quality=80&width=960&height=540&ratio=16-9&resize=aspectfill)~~~ I know that it's trying to show us how there's more to star wars than fighting but I don't find "Jedi forms a rock band and Boba becomes a fan" to be that interesting. I'm not a fan of how the characters are drawn and feel like that even for a short episode is extremely rushed. The song isn't bad and it hits a kind of childlike wonder that came with star wars as a kid I'll give it that 6/10 ~~~ # Episode 3: The Twins~~~ ~~~img220(https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/star-wars-visions.jpg)~~~ This episode really hammered home how much this is not canon but I don't care because it's tight as fuck. it doesn't even matter if they broke every rule of hyperspace travel when you look cool doing it. I don't view it so much as a star wars story but as a cool ass animation test using star wars. While I can sometimes be a stickler to canon and shit like that I know how these shorts aren't trying to be that serious and can appreciate when something is cool as hell. If you don't enjoy this episode because it isn't perfectly adherent to canon I consider you a nerd. 9/10 ~~~ # Episode 4: The Village Bride~~~ ~~~img220(https://cdn.atomix.vg/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/visions-.jpg)~~~ Another great episode, probably the best of the 9 I enjoy how they incorporated the aspects of the ending of the Clone Wars. The Clone Wars is one of my favorite parts of Star Wars so seeing it in anime form was very fun. The action was grounded and the music was great along with the visuals. Felt like a callback to the old days of star wars where lightsabers were very rarely used or shown so when they were brought out it meant shit was getting serious. I also enjoyed how the lightsabers have been shaped like katanas, its a small detail but it is a fun twist on the stereotypical lightsaber .10/10 ~~~ # Episode 5: The Ninth Jedi~~~ ~~~img220(https://www.denofgeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/star-wars-visions-the-ninth-jedi.jpg?resize=768%2C432)~~~ The animation was top-notch and well thought out. I know it's hard to cram a cohesive story into one episode but I feel like some points of this story were a bit all over the place. Also, the issue I have is how it pretty much disregards how kyber crystals work, you can't just expand and retract the lightsaber length. The music, animation, and general aesthetics made up for a lot of the issues.~! Also idk where Kara becoming the 9th Jedi came from but whatever!~ 9/10 ~~~ # Episode 6: T0-B1~~~ ~~~ img220(https://insidethemagic.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/star-wars-visions-t0-b1-550x233.jpeg)~~~ Dogshit. It feels like the director never watched Star Wars and based it entirely off on Astro-Boy. I don't have an issue with a robot being able to use a lightsaber but the force is only usable by LIVING BEINGS. Zero characterization or explanation of what exactly is going on besides the fact that this Megaman bootleg Dr. Light is trying to bring life to some random planet. The character designs are straight from Astro Boy and the animation is the only thing holding it together. It looks like a homage to Star Wars Detours, which isn't a good thing. I'm aware it's a homage to Astro Boy and I know that I just said earlier that I don't care if it doesn't follow canon if it looks cool, but the issue with this one is that it doesn't look cool, it looks lame, so I'm gonna pull the canon card on this. 2/10 Also, the main villain looks like Emperor Zurg. ~~~ # Episode 7: The Elder~~~ ~~~ img220(https://static2.cbrimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/star-wars-visions-sith-lord-header.jpg)~~~ Enjoyable episode. I like how they grounded the swordplay and even incorporated old Jedi lightsaber stances, which were based on Japanese sword stances. I always enjoyed the rare times in Star Wars media where there was a lightsaber fight in the rain and you saw the steam from the lightsabers, I just find it cool. You could really see where the Japanese aesthetics came through in this one with the design of the village and the elder's clothes and demeanor. Again, it is held back by the short run time that comes with this series. 8/10 ~~~ # Episode 8: Lop and Ochou~~~ ~~~ # img220(https://www.fanthatracks.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/td-4-lop-and-ocho-star-wars-visions-1.jpg)~~~ Probably the third-best episode. Again it borrows a lot of imagery from Meiji Japan, combining the cities of Star Wars with traditional Japanese buildings, but also draws from the ideas of imperialism and industrialization versus tradition. It touches on the idea of what a true family means, and if the family is by blood or by choice. The animation isn't anything jaw-dropping but does its job. The only problem I have with it is that it ends pretty abruptly and I feel like the Japanese use the idea of the Force a little too liberally. It seems like everyone is using it nowadays in these shorts. 9/10 ~! Also, I hate what you furry fuckers are going to do to the rabbit !~ ~~~ # Episode 9: Akakiri~~~ ~~~ img220(https://static2.cbrimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/star-wars-visions-sith1.jpg)~~~ Both of the SARU episodes sucked ass and this was no exception. The story is all over the place and seems to be lacking a beginning. The animation is unique but that's the best word I could use to describe it. The swordfights look like high-quality stop-motion lego fights. 3/10 ~~~ # Conclusion and closing thoughts~~~ Overall, I believe that Visions is an amazing project, incorporating a medium that has been getting more and more popular in the west. Although I am not a fan of a few of these shorts, I am extremely happy that the animators and directors were seemingly given free rein over the Star Wars IP. Disney is historically controlling of their IP's and I hope that this is a sign that they are willing to experiment when it comes to Star Wars even if the result might not be perfect. __In my opinion, Episodes from best to worse are 4>5=8>1>3>7>2>>>>9>6__ Part of me believes that this was a test run of sorts to gauge fan interest in a Star Wars anime, and which studio/story they should go with for the project. If that's the case then I believe the stories from episodes 4,5, and 8 would be the best bets for engaging and well-received stories. Please for the love of god do not give it so SARU. Adding up all the scores we get a 7.5 rounded to an 8 for my ranking Never give SARU the rights to this shit they suck ass.
____OVERALL REVIEW:____ I've been excited about this project since it was announced, and I'm very pleased that I wasn't disappointed. I enjoyed some more than others, but that's to be expected from an anthology from a variety of different creators. However, throughout all of these short episodes, you could sense the passion these people had for Star Wars. It really feels like some super talented fans were given free reign to make whatever stories they wanted, and their love and care for the franchise is on full display. Every story told is definitely deserving of its own show. Absolutely worth a watch if you're a fan of Star Wars, anime, or both. ___ Now, my thoughts on the individual episodes: Episode 1: The Duel (8/10) Right out of the gate, the unique style of The Duel is on display. I really like the grainy black-and-white movie look, which hearkens back to some of the Japanese movies that inspired the original Star Wars. Because these stories aren't part of the canon, there's a lot more room for the artists and the animation studios to express their own unique visions of Star Wars. The traditional Japanese setting mixes surprisingly well with the Star Wars aesthetic, but I like that it leans heavier on the Japanese side of things: the lightsaber in a sheath, the clothing everyone wears, the styles of the architecture. Plus, the music is just so Star Wars. What a strong start to this anthology series! ___ Episode 2: Tatooine Rhapsody (7/10) The first episode was a celebration of the inspirational roots of Star Wars, but this one feels like a love letter to how fun Star Wars can be. Seeing tropes like the Wilhelm Scream and "I've got a bad feeling about this" brings a smile to my face just as much as (I'm sure) it did to the faces of those who worked on this episode. You can feel the passion for Star Wars in every scene. Plus, the music rocks! ___ Episode 3: The Twins (6/10) A really cool concept with super stylish animation! However, it feels a tad rushed and too complicated for its shorter runtime. If this were the length of a regular episode of TV, it would have given the interesting ideas some room to breathe and flesh itself out. As it stands, it's flashy and cool, but at times, it can also be confusing. ___ Episode 4: The Village Bride (8/10) It's so darn peaceful. The music is soothing, and the connection the village has with nature, while mysterious, is not too dissimilar to a Jedi's connection with the Force. It does a good job of telling you what you need to know, and letting you fill in the gaps for yourself. Heck, the main character doesn't even have a name, and that's pretty cool. Gives me Studio Ghibli vibes. Very well done! ___ Episode 5: The Ninth Jedi (8/10) Being the longest episode of the anthology, The Ninth Jedi feels the closest to an actual episode of television in terms of story. I really like the characters in this one, even the one-off characters. They set the stage for this reimagining of the Star Wars universe very well, and it pays off with some excellent characterization and a great twist in the final act. ___ Episode 6: T0-B1 (8/10) I was hesitant about this one when I first saw a picture of T0-B1 (because his design doesn't match the style of typical Star Wars droids), but this one might be one of my favourites! The Pinocchio/Astro Boy type premise makes it easy to connect to both the story and the characters, and it really nails a large premise on a small scale. ___ Episode 7: The Elder (8/10) Apart from the mystery behind the elderly man, this story could feasibly fit into the pre-Prequel canon. That is to say, it doesn't require any suspension of disbelief; this feels like regular old Star Wars, through and through. I especially like the relationship between the master and the padawan. It reminds me of Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan, but if Qui-Gon were a bit less hardheaded. The dialogue about Jedi wisdom was great, something we see far less frequently in the Disney-era Star Wars, so that was a welcome addition. All in all, it's a solid Star Wars story. ___ Episode 8: Lop & Ocho (7/10) A traditional Japanese family adopting an alien rabbit girl gives me warm, fuzzy feeling inside, and subsequently, it breaks my heart when family drama eventually arises. But as much as I like the story, this feels very rushed. Not in terms of animation or voice acting (both of which are superb), but in the story beats. It feels like they condensed an entire season of anime into nineteen minutes. It's a good story, but there's too much of it to fit in one episode. ___ Episode 9: Akakiri (5/10) It starts out interesting enough, but the middle section is just a lot of nothing. There's essentially no conflict on the way to the palace, and that's boring. The ending was good, though; I like the way the Jedi's mental instability plays into it. However, if they had explored that instability beyond a recurring nightmarish vision, it would have both deepened the character and would have bolstered the episode greatly.
~~~*This review contains mild spoilers for Star Wars: Visions*~~~ img520(https://starwarsblog.starwars.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/star-wars-visions-is-here-tall-B-1.jpg) The advent of streaming platforms such as Crunchyroll combined with breakout hits such as *[My Hero Academia](https://anilist.co/anime/21459/My-Hero-Academia/)* mean that anime is more mainstream now than ever. You’d be forgiven if you couldn’t tell, however, as anime fans can be exclusive. This isn't too surprising — you see it in a lot of "nerd" communities, with people wanting to hold onto an identity that they feel is being encroached, typically by putting up barriers, keeping "casuals" out and "real fans" in. Fans of superheroes will usually make a distinction between the movies that make oodles of money and the comics that remain somewhat niche. Gamers™ will look down on people who play mobile games. Anime fans, wanting to pretend that anime merchandise *can't* be found easily at Hot Topic, will usually distinguish between "normie" anime (mostly shounen such as *Demon Slayer,* *Jujutsu Kaisen,* and *My Hero Academia*) and more "cultured" picks. Beyond this, however, the biggest distinction, one that most anime fans can agree on, is being made in Japan. Due to their artstyle, a layman might call *Avatar: The Last Airbender,* *Code Lyoko,* or *The Boondocks* anime, to which an anime fan will proceed to foam from their mouths. That's fine enough — "anime is an animation made in Japan" is a simple metric enough. But then the goalposts move. 2021's *[Yasuke](https://anilist.co/anime/131930/Yasuke/)* was indeed made in Japan — by the famous Studio MAPPA, no less. Yet many are pretty adamant that it's not anime. On this very site, it was an uphill battle just to get it added as a page. According to the mods, it was a question of how many members of the cast are from and live in Japan. LeSean Thomas worked as a director and executive producer, while Flying Lotus composed. Both talents are American. *Yasuke* was only allowed on the site once it was determined that a majority of its staff were Japanese. This reasoning for people questioning its anime status is annoying, to be sure, as it feels like splitting-hairs for the sake of nebulous purity (bear in mind that this is the site that readily lists manwha as well as comics from China and Taiwan), but ultimately something that's harmless enough. What's less harmless is when people openly deride the anime just for having American talent. Less harmless still is when people begin being either openly are subtly racist, but if I wanted to get into that, I'd review *Yasuke*. What in the galaxy does this have to do with *Star Wars: Visions* you may ask? Well, being of an American property, *Visions,* when announced, received the same amount of scrutiny. With the credits being entirely Japanese as far as I can tell, "legitimate" arguments against this being considered an anime flew out the window, but you still have a few people grumbling. From what I can glean, this goes both ways — a number *Star Wars* fans don't accept *Visions,* either (hey, just because I said anime is *more* mainstream doesn't mean that I don't acknowledge that many still see anime as nothing but "cartoons for weirdoes"). Meanwhile, I was excited about *Visions.* I had been an anime fan since 2013 and a *Star Wars* since 2015. Finally, these two passions would meet. While *Star Wars* has had a few obscure manga adaptions, a bonafide *Star Wars* anime has been a pipe dream, relegated to (admittedly very well-done) "Star Wars Anime Opening" YouTube videos. But in 2021, the fantasy became reality in the form of a ten-episode anthology. For this review, I decided to do something a little different and break away from my usual format. Since this is an anthology featuring wildly different and styles, people tend to engage with *Visions* by ranking the episodes. In the spirit of the anthology, I'll be ranking each *Visions* episode and giving my brief(?) thoughts on all of them. One thing to keep in mind is that I enjoyed every episode. Sure, I liked some more than others, but I had a good time with each of them. To drive this point home, I won't be doing a tier list. Without further adieu, let's take a gander at the *Star Wars Visions* episodes, ranked from least favorite to favorite! - - - - #~~~9)[Studio Trigger’s](https://anilist.co/studio/803/Trigger) “The Twins”~~~ img520(https://starwarsblog.starwars.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/star-wars-visions-the-twins-am-power-up.jpg) Coming at dead last, we have “The Twins,” perhaps one of the two most polarizing episodes in the collection. Going off of stills, this was the episode I was most excited for — it looked like the titular twins were plucked straight out of *[Promare](https://anilist.co/anime/99425/Promare/)* and Trigger has made a name for itself for its fluid animation and breathtaking fight scenes. I was ready to claim *The Twins* as my favorite, so I watched it first. And it was good! It has the best spectacle among the shorts. If you *liked* Holdo's maneuver in *The Last Jedi*, if you like the idea of supercharging lightsabers to become meters upon meters tall, then “The Twins” will be a good time. It's an episode that dares you to turn your brain off, to sit back and enjoy just how absolutely bonkers things will get. I can see myself watching a movie version of “The Twins” as a lovable, yet ultimately mindless popcorn flick. Even though I liked “The Twins”, I ended up liking every other episode more. While the spectacle is great, it's ultimately *just* spectacle, without much story or emotional weight to ground it. It doesn't help that *Lop and Ochō* feels like a better version of “The Twins,” as it actually does a better job of making me *care* about feuding siblings. As far as this episode's polarity goes, it seems that if you came to *Star Wars: Visions* as an anime fan, you'll love it, while if you came as a *Star Wars* fan, you'll probably just find it a bit too silly. - - - #~~~8) Studio Trigger’s “The Elder”~~~ img520(https://www.denofgeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/star-wars-visions-the-elder.jpg?fit=2864%2C1625) For the most part, *Star Wars: Visions* episodes seem to lean into the fact that they're anime, heavily utilizing 'anime' sensibilities (“The Twins,” “Tatooine Rhapsody”) or aesthetics (a great number of the locales feature traditional, Southeast Asian-inspired houses). This isn't a bad thing, but it's certainly noticeable and it makes *The Elder* notable in that it's one of the two episodes that feel like standard *Star Wars*. It approaches *bog*-standard territory, even. I still enjoyed it, with one of the highlights being the interactions between the collected Jedi and his headstrong Padawan. My enjoyment is tempered, however. “The Elder” certainly handles its various aspects *well*, but there's little excitement to be had, compared to every other episode in the anthology. It doesn't help that all the other episodes leave me yearning for more while “The Elder” is the least open-ended of the bunch by far. Still, I have to give “The Elder” a spot above “The Twins” for actually having some substance via the titular Elder and his plight of aging. The takeaway might feel simple, but I appreciate it due to its connection to *Star Wars.* Plus I have to give it points for having the maneuver wherein someone ignites a lightsaber *[through](https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Tr%C3%A0kata)* their opponent. I love that shit. - - - #~~~7) [Kamikaze Douga’s](https://anilist.co/studio/437/Kamikaze-Douga) “The Duel”~~~ img520(https://starwarsblog.starwars.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/star-wars-visions-highlights-the-duel-ronin-3963.jpg) The still that Disney+ used for this episode was a *fucking* **crime**. Swathed in red, it does a poor job of representing the episode. In reality, the entire episode is in black-and-white save for a key few objects like the ruby-red lightsabers. The grain marks on the image give the episode the feel of an old movie. Furthermore, this is one of the best examples of CG that I've seen in anime (which is to be suspected, the studio behind The Duel” is the one responsible for the amazing CG in the first three animated parts of *JoJo's Bizarre Adventure*), perhaps because the aesthetic works well with the models and animation. *[Earwig and the Witch](https://anilist.co/review/12505)* can eat its heart out. It's the most stylistic episode and it's a visual treat. As the title implies, we're also treated to the best, most intricate duel of the anthology. Ultimately, beyond the flare, there's not much to the episode, but it's more exciting than “The Elder” and I found myself more invested in the action here than in the “The Twins.” Sometimes, flare is all you really need. “The Duel” featured a decent twist and there’s an intrigue that makes you want more. Luckily, there *is* more thanks to the [*Star Wars: Ronin* novel](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57499884-star-wars). I've picked it up and I'm excited to see how it shakes out! - - - #~~~6) [Production I.G’s](https://anilist.co/studio/10/Production-IG) “The Ninth Jedi”~~~ img520(https://s.yimg.com/uu/api/res/1.2/jW910YvQbE4ZUMQhG77.1A--~B/Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTI4Nzt3PTY3NTthcHBpZD15dGFjaHlvbg--/https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2021-09/d8142400-1c76-11ec-9fc6-7db93704f496.cf.jpg) This is the *other* episode that feels the most like *Star Wars*. No complaints here, because this is where we really start getting into the good stuff. Unlike “The Elder”, this episode *is* exciting. Almost all of the episodes do a tremendous job of drawing us into their worlds despite a very short runtime, and “The Ninth Jedi” is no exception, investing viewers into a thrilling tale of Jedi on the losing side of their eternal war with the Sith, forcing a sabsersmith to distribute his creations in secret. The sabers that change color based on the user's affinity to the force made for a jaw-dropping twist and the use of a [purple lightsaber](https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Form_VII/Legends) shows how much the staff cares about the *Star Wars* universe. The crew behind “The Ninth Jedi” has apparently expressed a desire to continue their story and I'd really like to see it happen. Fingers crossed! - - - #~~~5) [Science SARU’s](https://anilist.co/studio/6145/Science-SARU) “T0-B1”~~~ img520(https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/hWbgunRK1QxjXPEBqwnOG9EXbZ8=/0x0:2852x1197/1200x0/filters:focal(0x0:2852x1197):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22879267/tobi_mitaka_star_wars_visions.jpg) Part *Astro Boy*, part *Star Wars*, all adorable. It's hard *not* to love an episode featuring a droid who dreams about being a Jedi. It's a very sweet episode and is poignant for *Star Wars* fans due to the fact that, in-cannon, droids aren't force-sensitive, and thus can't be Jedi. Beyond the lore, it's very hard *not* to love this when T0-B1 looks so adorable. He's not just the famed Tezuka character in role but in aesthetics; “T0-B1” looks like a modern take on the 1960s classic. The cuteness might be easier to swallow for viewers here than in “Tatooine Rhapsody,” as it doesn't step on the toes of canon *too* much. - - - #~~~4) Science SARU’s “Akakiri”~~~ img520(https://lumiere-a.akamaihd.net/v1/images/akakirii-visions-trivia-inset-03_6e803cea.jpeg?region=0%2C0%2C1280%2C720) Now we're in 'favorite episodes' territory. It's really hard to rank the episodes here because they're all excellent in different ways. What “Akakiri" brings to the table are my favorite character designs of the anthology. They're cartoony and *soft,* for lack of a better word, yet they don't feel "kiddy". Maybe it's because they're part of the darkest episode of the bunch, with the main character making a Deal With the Devil in order to save the one they love. It's a great nod to the series' ethos and as *Vision's* last episode, it's a hell of a note to end on. The darkness is also carried through thanks to the aesthetics, with a somber color palette. Combined with the traditional Japanese-inspired, warlord-controlled-locale, it reminded me a lot of [Calodan](https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Calodan)from *The Mandalorian*. The finale of the episode is swathed in a sinister, absolutely gorgeous sith-red. The only thing “Akakiri” fumbles is its backstory. The *Visions* vignettes do a pretty good job of working within the format of their short runtimes. “Akakiri” works well, for the most part, but at 14 minutes, it's tied with *Tatooine Rhapsody* as the shortest episode, and given how much the main characters' history with one another plays into the ending, it would have been more impactful if we got to explore this history a bit more. - - - #~~~3) [Kinema Citrus’](https://anilist.co/studio/290/Kinema-Citrus) “The Village Bride”~~~ img520(https://starwarsblog.starwars.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/visions-revisited-the-village-bride-highlights_TALL.jpg) With its bright colors and lush setting, “The Village Bride” is the most beautiful episode of *Visions*. Sure, the aesthetics of “Akakiri” or “The Duel” might be cooler and grittier, they might do a better job of taking your breath away, but the visuals of “The Village Bride” are more consistent and pleasant. You won't find establishing shots more beautiful anywhere else in the anthology. “The Village Bride” tells a very compelling story of a traditional village doing its best to survive oppression. All the while, we have a wandering padawan that must figure out what it means to be a Jedi. We're also treated to a breathtaking final action sequence. There might not be as much spectacle as “The Twins” but it really goes to show that sometimes, less is more. If “Akakiri's” bleak ending wasn't for you, “The Village Bride” might be more up your alley. It's perhaps the only entry that's uplifting while still feeling grounded, never at risk of dipping into "saccharine" territory. - - - #~~~2) [Geno Studio’s](https://anilist.co/studio/6142/Geno-Studio) “Lop and Ochō”~~~ img520(https://starwarstime.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/star-wars-visions-at-10.59.47-AM.jpeg) And here we have “The Twins,” but better. Jokes aside, it really goes a long way to *show* the breakdown of a relationship between two people who once saw eye-to-eye instead of just being *told* they were close before proceeding to show them clashing blades. I'm in awe that “Lop and Ochō” managed to not only pull off a time skip with only 21 minutes to its name, but pulled it off *excellently*, making Ochō's betrayal all the more heartbreaking. The episode's environmentalist, anti-imperialist message feels right at home in the *Star Wars* universe and really helped me care about the conflict. It's parts heartwarming, parts heartbreaking, and parts jaw-dropping. In “Lop and Ochō,” we have the most compelling characters in the entire anthology and thanks to the cliffhanger ending, I really, *really* hope the story is continued in some fashion. I also really liked Lop's design. It's nice to have a *Star Wars* protagonist that's not human. That's the only reason, I swear. What do you mean that's suspicious? Why the hell are you looking at me like that? Moving right along! - - - #~~~1) [Studio Colorido’s ](https://anilist.co/studio/4419/Studio-Colorido)“Tatooine Rhapsody”~~~ img520(https://decider.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/star-wars-visions-band.jpg?quality=80&strip=all&w=1200) While I *really* love “Lop and Ochō,” I ultimately had to give it to “Tatooine Rhapsody.” My experience with “Tatooine Rhapsody” is essentially the inverse of “The Twins.” When I was watching it, I didn't expect to enjoy something that was so silly, so lighthearted in a serious setting, but it was hard to dislike it by the end. I couldn't stay stone-faced in the face of such a feel-good episode. On paper, “Tatooine Rhapsody” would be far too silly for its own good, but in execution, it hits all the right notes. The reason it does so is because it has a lot of heart. It has a real genuineness to it that helps me swallow some of the more outlandish elements. It draws me into the episode. [The Power of Friendship](https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ThePowerOfFriendship) is an anime trope that can be tiring for me, but “Tatooine Rhapsody” has so much charm that it really hits hard, here. This is definitely a story that feels more like an anime than something that would happen in *Star Wars*, yet the message of the show feels right at home in the galaxy far, far away. The ragtag band of misfits captured my heart, which is very impressive given the runtime. It certainly helps that I'm a sucker for non-standard OST and “Tatooine Rhapsody” gives that in spade with its rock songs. “Tatooine Rhapsody’s” tone makes it polarizing. Jabba and Bib Fortuna are ruthless gangsters and Boba Fett is a cold-hearted mercenary. Jabba *probably* wouldn't be acquiesced by the prospect of sponsoring a rock band (or maybe he is, I'm not sure how much money people launder through the music industry). The three of them *probably* wouldn’t bob their heads nor tap their feet (or tail) to the beat of the song. It all boils down to your reaction towards this — do you find this really cute or really stupid? - - - And there you have it, folks. While I was able to rank all the episodes, it became harder and harder to do so as I climbed up the list. The bottom line is that these are some really great episodes. While some might hem and haw, this *is* *Star Wars* and it *is* anime, and a damn good example of both. I think its an example of just how much anime has "made it” that even as Ghibli exits stage left at the house of mouse, a whole score of studios were invited to work on one of the company's most cherished properties. *Visions* shows just how amazing both anime and *Star Wars* can be and I hope it can serve as a gateway for both. ~~~img200(https://i.imgur.com/xkgl8UN.png)~~~ img520(https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/images/star-wars-visions-poster-english-1632138998.jpg?crop=1xw:0.675xh;center,top&resize=480:*)