The galaxy far, far away is ever-expanding, and the most recent release of “Star Wars: Visions” is a stunning addition to the franchise. The nine separate stories are tied together by themes within the Star Wars universe: stories of hope, loss, good versus evil and the undefeatable strength of the force.
Unlike the animated series “Star Wars: Rebels” and “Star Wars: The Clone Wars,” which had distinct and consistent animation, all the episodes in this anthology are produced by different Japanese anime studios with unique artistic styles.
The animation creates a whole new way to experience new, original Star Wars content.
Each new story offers a different perspective on the “Star Wars” universe, something that is rarely seen on screen when it comes to content produced by Disney. I enjoy the various plots and twists that “Star Wars: Visions” uses to keep viewers entertained.
I’ve consumed a lot of “Star Wars” content over the years, and the one thing that always keeps me coming back is the subtle changes that can impact the entire story.
My favorite episode “The Ninth Jedi” was directed by Kenji Kamiyama and animated by Production I.G. The story feels reminiscent of “The Force Awakens,” one of my favorite Star Wars films, and begins with a group of Jedi looking for a way to regain lightsabers lost during the fall of the Jedi Order.
The focus then turns to a blacksmith and his teenage daughter, Kara. This blacksmith is the key to the Jedi getting the lightsabers, but they are attacked by a group of hunters after their plan is discovered. Chaos ensues, and Kara has to escape to safety with the lightsabers in her possession.
Not only did I love the pacing of that episode, but the soundtrack was beautiful. Every moment was filled with music that mimicked the tension, calm or shock I felt while watching it. “Star Wars” is known for its unbelievable music scores, and this series did not disappoint.
But despite my love for this new Star Wars anthology, I want more.
I want these stories to connect with each other or see another piece of the universe to strengthen my understanding of all these new characters. The short episode lengths made them easy to binge, but it didn’t do them justice. With the past animated Star Wars series that have come out, we’ve gotten several seasons to watch characters grow and change.
I would ask for the same thing with this new content, but I know that’s unlikely to happen. The fact that these episodes were so short tells me that the producers have little interest in expanding on the story and characters; these stories wouldn’t have positive feedback from people who have never seen Star Wars before.
“Star Wars: Visions” is designed to be enjoyed by all ages and especially by those who enjoy animated, high-action shows. I’ve rarely watched anime in the past, but I understand why so many people like it.
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It’s worth the hype and should be integrated into the universe with more representation in the future.
Growing up as a Star Wars fan, I didn’t think that the universe would expand as much as it has in the past few years. But now there is plenty of potential for this anthology to become an integral piece of Star Wars lore, and it deserves the opportunity to be just as impactful as series like “The Mandalorian” and “Star Wars: The Clone Wars.”
Rating: 9/10
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