"Star Wars: Visions" Anthology Series Talkback (Spoilers)

[James Harvey]

It's a bold new vision for Star Wars in this stunning anthology series from LucasFilm and Disney+

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STAR WARS VISIONS
Premieres: Sept. 22, 2021
Streaming on Disney+

Presenting all-new, creative takes on the galaxy far, far away, Star Wars: Visions is a series of animated short films celebrating Star Wars through the lens of the world's best anime creators. The anthology collection brings fantastic visions from several of the leading Japanese anime studios, offering a fresh and diverse cultural perspective to Star Wars.

The English dub cast includes the voice talents of returning Star Wars actors and talent new to the Star Wars universe:

-The Duel: Brian Tee (Ronin), Lucy Liu (Bandit Leader), Jaden Waldman (Village Chief)
-Tatooine Rhapsody: Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Jay), Bobby Moynihan (Geezer), Temuera Morrison (BobaFett), Shelby Young (K-344), Marc Thompson (Lan)
-The Twins: Neil Patrick Harris (Karre), Alison Brie (Am), Jonathan Lipow (B-20N)
-The Village Bride: Karen Fukuhara (F), Nichole Sakura (Haru), Christopher Sean (Asu), Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa (Valco), Andrew Kishino (Izuma), Stephanie Sheh (Saku)
-The Ninth Jedi: Kimiko Glenn (Kara), Andrew Kishino (Juro), Simu Liu (Zhima), Masi Oka (Ethan), Greg Chun (Roden), Neil Kaplan (Narrator), Michael Sinterniklaas (Hen Jin),
-T0-B1: Jaden Waldman (T0-B1), Kyle Chandler (Mitaka)
-The Elder: David Harbour (Tajin), Jordan Fisher (Dan), James Hong (The Elder)
-Lop & Ocho: Anna Cathcart (Lop), Hiromi Dames (Ocho), Paul Nakauchi (Yasaburo), Kyle McCarley (Imperial Officer)
-Akakiri: Henry Golding (Tsubaki), Jamie Chung (Misa), George Takei (Senshuu), Keone Young (Kamahachi), Lorraine Toussaint (Masago)

Also, the cast voicing the shorts in Japanese includes a multitude of veteran voice actors:

-The Duel: Masaki Terasoma (Ronin), Akeno Watanabe (Bandit Leader), Yūko Sanpei (VillageChief)
-Tatooine Rhapsody: Hiroyuki Yoshino (Jay), Kōusuke Gotō (Geezer), Akio Kaneda (Boba Fett), MasayoFujita (K-344), Anri Katsu (Lan)
-The Twins: Junya Enoki (Karre), Ryoko Shiraishi (Am), Tokuyoshi Kawashima (B-20N)
-The Village Bride: Asami Seto (F), Megumi Han (Haru), Yūma Uchida (Asu), Takaya Kamikawa(Vaan), Yoshimitsu Shimoyama (Izuma), Mariya Ise (Saku)
-The Ninth Jedi: Chinatsu Akasaki(Kara), Tetsuo Kanao (Juro), Shin-ichiro Miki (Zhima), Hiromu Mineta (Ethan), Kazuya Nakai (Roden), Akio Ōtsuka, (Narrator), Daisuke Hirakawa (Hen Jin)
-T0-B1: Masako Nozawa (T0-B1), Tsutomu Isobe (Mitaka)
-The Elder: Takaya Hashi (Tajin), Kenichi Ogata (The Elder), Yuichi Nakamura (Dan)
-Lop & Ocho: Seiran Kobayashi (Lop), Risa Shimizu (Ocho), Tadahisa Fujimura (Yasaburo),Taisuke Nakano (Imperial Officer)
-Akakiri: Yū Miyazaki (Tsubaki), Lynn (Misa), Chō (Senshuu), Wataru Takagi (Kamahachi),Yukari Nozawa (Masago)

The studios creating the nine shorts include Kamikaze Douga - "The Duel"; Geno Studio (Twin Engine) - "Lop and Ochō"; Studio Colorido (Twin Engine) - "Tatooine Rhapsody"; TRIGGER - "The Twins" and "The Elder"; Kinema Citrus - "The Village Bride"; Science Saru - "Akakiri" and "T0-B1"; and Production I.G. - "The Ninth Jedi."

Discuss Star Wars Visions right here!

 

[Yojimbo]

There was some breathtaking material in these 9 episodes. "The Duel" and "The Elder" were the first ones I watched and they were astounding. The little twist on what Ronin was, so good! The leader's umbrella attachment to augment her lightsaber was balls to the wall nuts but so fit in with the aesthetic. I was surprised at the celebrity cast for the English version, they sure got some names.

EDIT: The Twins: Another interesting take on Force twins and crazy move using hyperspace during the duel.

Village Bride: Surprised to see the Jedi had a yellow lightsaber but that clever old man using the trade to help her heal from the death of her master.

Ninth Jedi: Loved that reveal when everyone got lightsabers and Juro being in the robot all along, classic. Dug how it changed colors when Juro took the Sith's lightsaber.

TO-BI: Definite shades of Astro Boy, Mega Man and the like.

Lop & Ocho and Akakri were kinda downers.

 

[BlackoutCreature]

Most of these ranged from good to very good. Between the downer ending and the completely pointless mountain pass plot thread that was resolved off camera, Akakiri was easily the worst.

I wish we could get more of The Ninth Jedi and Lop & Ocho, I thought both of those would make fun ongoing series.

 

[RoyalRubble]

09/28:
Interview with producers Kanako Shirasaki and James Waugh.

11/04:
"The Village Bride" will be submitted to the 2021/2022 Academy Awards in the Best Animated Short Film category.

 

[khuddle]

I went in with moderately high expectations, came away disappointed. The animation was pretty awful for the most, and the stories weren't interesting. Honestly, it felt like watching a series of deleted scenes from larger movies. The only two I enjoyed were the 9th Jedi and the Elder, but even there I didn't care for the art and animation.

Ah well. At least I watched "The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf" as well, which was outstanding and I would highly recommend.

 

[RoyalRubble]

"The Duel" is nominated for an Annie Award.

 

[Yojimbo]

Art of Hardcover and Deluxe Hardcover coming out on June 29 from Dark Horse.

 

[Fone Bone]

Star Wars Visions "The Duel"

I loved it unreservedly. It reminded me greatly of The Animatrix, but better because it didn't bum me out.

Still, it was quite violent. But the animation was unique and striking. The use of largely black and white animation gave things a cinematic feel.

I love the idea of a good Sith. And I'll tell you why. The idea that the Light and Dark sides go only one way is b.s.. Anakin Skywalker AND Darth Vader always struck me as more Jedi than Sith. If there can be corrupted Jedi, it would make sense that there are Sith out there who have traded up to the Light Side of the Force. It would be weird if there weren't. Frankly, until this short, the franchise was actually weird. Which is the selling point of the short. *****.

Star Wars Visions "Tatooine Rhapsody"

I'm all for stretching the formula a little, but this is ridiculous.

All throughout the short I was like "This is not Star Wars." And then Jay says "I've got a bad feeling about this." And I said, "Okay this is a LITTLE bit Star Wars."

Yeah, the music is better than the Cantina and Max Reebo. But that's why it isn't Star Wars. It's totally out of character for Jabba the Hutt to recognize good music when he hears it. *1/2.

Star Wars Visions "The Twins"

That was diverting enough, but the most consistent emotion that got out of me was confusion. Was the reference to a Galaxy Far Far Away a reference to OUR Galaxy? Why does Karre know and quote Yoda's stupidest and most useless catchphrase? Why is he even TRYING to save his turd of a sister? So many things I simply did NOT understand.

The animation was kinda spiffy though. I'll give it that. ***.

Star Wars Visions "The Village Bride"

I've decided I like the series with that. Some of the episodes rock and some megasuck. I like the series because you don't know which one it's gonna be until you have watched it. That's the entire selling point of anthologies in my mind. Forget the unpredictability of the stories most anthologies offer. It's Star Wars. That "Good triumphs over evil" morality endures throughout all of it. What I love is the unpredictability of the quality. I never know if it's gonna rock or megasuck. And that's exciting.

Did this episode rock or megasuck? I'll say in between, with me landing on the side of liking it a lot. The morality of Star Wars may be predictable, but I think the moral of the episode is "Take the small victories where you can find them and cherish them." Which is a nice feeling to have in this specific franchise. It's also the right moral. ****.

Star Wars Visions "The Ninth Jedi"

Terrific. The opening narration made this feel more like a Star Wars project right off the bat than the previous shorts did.

And I cannot say enough good things about the multiple Sith reveal. It is the most pleasurably surprising twist I have ever seen in Star Wars ("Luke, I am your father," counts for nobody because everyone knows it before they've even seen the saga). I didn't see it coming. I didn't trust the robot at ALL, and knew he was bad news for all present. I just KNEW Marglave was an adversary, not a friend. And he was! But they're all bad guys so that makes Marglave a Jedi! How cool is that? And how great is it they can do a reveal that complex simply by the colors of the lightsabers?

This project has done a LOT of identifying Sith and Jedi by lightsaber color. I'm questioning why I don't remember seeing another project do that. It's brilliant. Of course if other projects ever did that I might not have been as pleasantly shocked at The Big Reveal as I was. Because most Star Wars projects play it safe, and don't really explore morality outside of what the Jedi themselves claim is righteous, the Sith snuck right up behind me here. I felt almost as dumb as Yoda is for never seeing through Palpatine's b.s.. Granted, misjudgment of people I've never met over the course of a 20 minute cartoon is FAR more forgivable than misjudging people you've worked with for years, but Yoda and Obi-Wan's stupidity there makes me extra touchy on that specific subject. Don't hold it against me.

Did I mention that was terrific? *****.

Star Wars Visions "T0-B1"

I suppose if you gather a bunch of animation visionaries together and tell them to cut loose with the Star Wars premise, it's probably inevitable one of them would hand you something as adorable and appealing as that. A Droid Jedi? How great is that? And is his name a phonetic in-joke about Obi-Wan? The Professor is a Jedi so, maybe?

You think a robot Jedi is weird? Try an armless one. Of course with The Force at his command, he doesn't strictly speaking need them.

The cartoony animation was totally outside of Star Wars which is why I loved it. The bright and sunny positive outlook also made me feel good too.

SO cute! SO fun! ****1/2.

Star Wars Visions "The Elder"

Dynamite.

David Harbour did a SUPERB job as the Master. James Hong is always a treat, but after hearing how chill and wise the Master is, I'm thinking Harbour is due more voice-over work too.

I wrongly predicted Dan would turn out to be Mace, and I am very pleased there is more than one Black Jedi in existence.

What I liked most about the short was its timing. Much of it was slow and deliberate, which is good for conversations about philosophy (and I never tire of hearing the different perspectives of Sith / Former Sith) but I also found the pauses in the final battle between the Master and the Elder incredibly realistic. It's hard enough to find that kind of realism in a fight in live-action. In animation it's unheard of. But in real life battles people don't just go hacking at each other until somebody's dead. There are real-life pauses as decisions are made and options are considered. They probably don't take too long for experienced warriors. But the pauses exist. And I don't see them very often in fiction, much less animation. I appreciated the short for taking its time and telling every part of its story as credibly as it could. It did not go unnoticed by me. *****.

Star Wars Visions "Lop & Ocho"

Wow, that did NOT work at all. It was flawed from the ground up. Doomed to fail. Its pathos makes no sense. And it's down to one reason and one reason only.

The animation is utterly crappy.

"Whoa!" you're gonna protest! Did you see those sweet fight scenes and detailed backgrounds, and all that awesomeness? I did. And the truth is none of that crap MATTERS at all if the animation on the characters' facial expressions sucks. I draw comics. Badly. But I have loudly and proudly stated that whatever artistic greatness The Universe left out of me, it gave me the skill I believe matters most in cartoon art: The ability to draw great facial expressions. And the short's failure is down to one character: The skeevy Empire dude.

It's clear Ocho has been going downhill for some time (and in scenes we didn't get to witness). But she used to be a good person. The beginning of the short makes that clear. If that's so, there is no way a guy as creepy looking and clearly sadistic as the Empire guy with the rictus Joker grin would ever convince her of his righteousness. If she were a bad person, I'd consider the partisan political divide a timely real-world allegory. As long as she started out okay, this is no way she would be trusting somebody this scary-appearing to supposedly lead her down the path of sensibility and compromise. She'd be running in the other direction from this loon. The art failed the characters and the story. And it made the difference between the short working and sucking. It made it suck.

One of the sisters essentially being a Furrie bunny character also bothered me for obvious reasons.

To be truthful, I did have high hopes for the short at the outset. It's a female Narrator! Because why the frak not, that's why! And I hoped the short would give us some good female empowerment after that. But it's actually about a rift between two women and how they fail each other, and their entire family and planet. Did I mention the short was flawed from the ground up? Using a female Narrator for the first time for this specific story is another major example of why.

I haven't seen the last short yet, but if this one isn't the worst, I'll be shocked. *.

Star Wars Visions "Akakiri"

Well, that wasn't the worst episode. But I still think it sucked.

The second half was better than the first.

The first half ALSO had terrible character designs and also super annoying voices, if you can believe it.

But I liked the design and voice of the female Big Bad, and I also liked the voice performances and animation of the quiet scenes between the serious characters in the second half.

Ultimately though, I don't like or respect the short. But while it IS useful to say that prophecies can't possibly go down the way you foresee, it's still suggesting prophecies are always right and free will is bogus. That's b.s. Lucas has been shoveling at us for over 40 years, and I totally and wholeheartedly reject it. It's actually something the franchise has been moving away from a bit, and to see it come back with such a vengeance was disheartening. As far as sci-fi morality fables go, Star Wars as told by George Lucas in the first six movies and most of Clone Wars is a wholly immoral franchise. It's not sociopathic like say, Titans or Riverdale, but it's clear Lucas knew nothing about psychology or philosophy when constructing the fortune cookie spouting characters like Obi-Wan and Yoda. And say what you will about Disney taking over, I always mostly liked it more than the Lucas stuff specifically because it distanced itself from that idea. This whole short feeding into it instead and pretending it's clever for it left a bad taste in my mouth. **1/2.

 

[Yojimbo]

The Duel will be continued in a Visions comic book starting in September.