There are series and films you didn’t even know you wanted to watch and would have loved to see them even be made… until the moment they appear, and then you watch them with pleasure and say “how didn’t they think to do this earlier.” And so brilliant anthology series like “Love, Death and Robots” appear… or now “Star Wars: Visions.”
The “Star Wars” universe has had its, let’s say, “specific” path on film and television screen. The first trilogy (IV-VI) set some standards, not only for the “Star Wars” world, but also for the film industry. The prequel trilogy (I-III) had its brilliant and dark moments, and the final trilogy (VII-IX) aimed to awaken this franchise, and largely succeeded in that, although its quality is debatable for many. And what connects them all is that time period following the Skywalker family epics (under the supervision of legendary Obi-Wan Kenobi).
Animated series “Clone Wars” and “Rebels” tried a bit to expand the story and transfer the plot to some other people in that period, but that still wasn’t it.
Then the story slowly began to change. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story was a film that introduced some new heroes, with their challenges in the period of war between Rebels and the Republic. Some people liked this film, some didn’t.
And then “The Mandalorian” appeared and left everyone speechless. The story of a mercenary who has his own path in the “Star Wars” universe delighted the audience, and people wanted more… and so they got a second season, which was even better, and even included our taciturn mercenary’s encounters with Jedi. This series enabled “Disney” to give the green light for new “Star Wars” projects in series format.
However, I believe quite a few people (who are SW film fans) wondered: “And does there exist some SW world before the first film (“The Phantom Menace”) or set outside the events of the existing nine films”?
Oh, it exists.
There are whole worlds and historical events that those who follow the SW world only through films and series don’t know about. Numerous comics and books cover some adventures of our beloved heroes we don’t know about or go into the distant past, when Jedi and Sith were in great numbers and fought battles across the universe. Video games pretty well covered these events (the word KOTOR awakens some association for some, perhaps) because of their excellent stories and characters they created, and thus additionally expanded the SW world.
And I’m quite sure that over time a huge number of people (including me) had one simple yet brilliant question pass through their heads.
And why doesn’t a “Star Wars” anime exist?
Specific (phenomenal) animation style, possibility for excellent music, including their weirdness and creativity… all kinds of things could emerge from that, right?
So “Star Wars: Visions” was created, a set of nine short animated films/episodes, made in some of the best Japanese animation studios, who decided to tell some of their invented SW stories, which chronologically span the period before, during and after SW films, as well as plots set in an alternative SW universe.
If you’ve already thought of a samurai with a katana-shaped lightsaber… then you’re in the right place. 😀
“Star Wars: Visions” consists of nine stories:
The Duel – a lone wanderer (ronin) arrives at a village that at that moment is being occupied by a group of former stormtroopers, led by a self-proclaimed Dark Lord of the Sith
Tatooine Rhapsody – during the “Clone Wars,” young padawan Jay tries to escape the horrors of war and becomes lead singer of a rock band (and one of the musicians is a relative of the disgusting Jabba the Hutt we all know)
The Twins – after final defeat, the Empire’s remnant tries to create a powerful weapon for destroying planets, and with the help of the Dark Side and alchemy, “creates” two Sith twins, to become leaders of the remaining Empire
The Village Bride – a “fallen” Jedi named F comes to one unknown planet, where he sees how a gang of bandits holds a complete village hostage
The Ninth Jedi – many generations after “The Jedi Order” ceased to exist, seven Jedi across the galaxy receive a mysterious call from a planet’s ruler to take their lightsabers, although it was believed the technique of making them was lost forever
T0-B1 – a droid named Tobi lives on one abandoned planet with his creator-scientist and dreams of becoming a Jedi
The Elder – centuries after the death of terrible Darth Bane, Jedi Tajin and his padawan Dan are sent to investigate one planet, because they sensed (drums), “disturbance in the Force”
Lop and Ochō – during the Empire’s reign, rabbit-like slave named Lop escapes from her tormentors and is saved by girl Ochō and adopted into the family of her father, clan/planet leader
Akakiri – Jedi Tsubaki is reunited with his old love, but is constantly tormented by visions of a masked person dying in front of him
As can be noticed, the Japanese don’t lack silly ideas for the SW world. 😀
“Star Wars: Visions” is a great mini-series.
Although episodes are short, the “plots” themselves are interesting and relatively rounded wholes, and also leave a desire to explore a bit more both the characters themselves and the world and events in which they’re set.
Music is also pleasant.
But the series’ star is, expectedly, the visual side. Seven different anime studios worked on these nine episodes, each with the intention to tell some of their own story and show visual artistry. Studios that gave us JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, Batman Ninja, A Whisker Away, Golden Kamuy, Kill la Kill, The Rising of the Shield Hero, Sengoku Basara, Devilman Crybaby… you can certainly expect interesting visual solutions in this series.
I liked the first, third, fourth, sixth, seventh and eighth episodes most, especially those samurai/ronin motifs.
All in all, “Star Wars: Visions” is one little top series that, because of its format, would be worth watching both for lovers of the “Star Wars” world and those who aren’t, but loved to enjoy interesting visual solutions.
I hope a second season will appear in some future. 🙂
And you, dear reader, which episodes did you like? 🙂
Trailer
IMDb | Rotten Tomatoes | Metacritic
Release date: 2021
Format: Series
Number of seasons: 1 (9 episodes)
Average episode duration: 13-22 minutes
