During
the Star Wars Celebration Japan 2025 event, major new projects related to the
animated anthology "Star Wars: Visions" were announced , highlighting a significant
expansion of its universe through new stories, formats, and collaborations with
renowned anime directors.
One of
the most notable announcements was the unveiling of a new limited series titled
"Star Wars: Visions Presents - The Ninth Jedi," which will continue
the story presented in the short film "The Ninth Jedi" from the first
anthology. Kenji
Kamiyama, director recognized for his work on "Ghost in the Shell: Stand
Alone Complex," will serve as script supervisor and general director of
this new installment, which will be released next year. Unlike the
previous short films, this new series will allow for a more expansive
development of the story.
Additionally,
it was confirmed that the previously announced third season of the anthology,
"Star Wars: Visions Volume 3," will premiere on Disney Plus on
October 29, 2025. This
new installment will continue the stories of three popular shorts from the
first volume: "The Duel," "The Village Bride," and
"The Ninth Jedi."
As for
"The Duel," director Takanobu Mizuno confirmed that the character
Ronin will return in a new short film titled "The Duel: Payback." In this story, Ronin will face
off against a Jedi known as the Grand Master, and may even form an alliance
with a Sith. Also returning will be character designer Takashi Okazaki, who
will introduce new creations such as a Wookiee, an insect-like creature called
the Huk, and a peculiar "AK-BK" walker with a Japanese building in
its frame.
Regarding
"The Village Bride," director Hitoshi Haga revealed that the story
will continue in a new short titled "The Lost Ones" (Samayou-mono-tachi), which
will follow the mysterious Jedi known as F after the events of Order 66. Additionally,
another short set in the same universe as "The Ninth Jedi" was
presented, titled "The Ninth Jedi: Child of Hope ," which
explores a war that began even before the birth of Kara, the protagonist of the
first short.
Other
projects were also revealed, including:
- "Yuko's Treasure,"
directed by Masaki Tachibana, follows a girl named Yuko and her giant
bear-like droid protector, Billy, who carries a microwave in his stomach. The story is set in the
iconic Mos Eisley spaceport on Tatooine.
- Masahiko Otsuka's (The Elder)
"The Smuggler" will tell a standalone story about a young female
thief inspired by Han Solo , on an all-new planet.
- "The Bounty Hunters,"
directed by Ken Yamamoto and produced by Wit Studio, follows two bounty
hunters: Sevn and the droid IV-AH4 (Ivaho) , hired by a mysterious and handsome
businessman.
- "The Song of Four
Wings," directed by Hiroyasu Kobayashi at Project Studio Q, features
a princess and her R2-like droid , which can transform into a
mechanized combat suit.
- "Bird of Paradise,"
directed by Tadahiro Yoshihira at Polygon Pictures, will focus on
mythological themes within the Star Wars universe , using sacred trees as
its main motif and a setting that suggests the existence of a parallel
world or isekai.
- Finally, "Black"
will be a work entirely by animator Shinya Oohira (absent from the event),
who wrote, directed, designed and animated the short personally over three
years of production at the David Production studio.
With this
ambitious set of stories and directors, "Star Wars: Visions"
demonstrates its commitment to exploring new styles and narratives through
Japanese anime , cementing its role as a bridge between cultures and
as a creative space where the franchise can reinvent itself without limits.
