Back when Star Wars Visions: Volume 1 first arrived, I admit to not watching it right as it released. It was something exciting, seeing the universe of Star Wars through new eyes, but I didn’t see. I always planned to, but never made the time. That was 2021, and it’s now 2023. Yet with Volume 2 having arrived, it gave me the perfect reason to give that first volume a watch.
This first volume contains nine short stories, all told by Japanese anime studios. Nearly all of them have some focus on the Jedi, in the era between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope. After all, if you want to tell exciting, action-packed stories that also have some heart to them, you go to the Force-users stranded throughout the galaxy. And through these unique visual styles and varied ideas on what this galaxy can give, no two stories really feel the same.
There are Japanese stylings throughout some of these episodes, with architecture and culture filtering in to show the Star Wars galaxy in a way not truly seen before. Lightsabers as samurai swords. Villages with cherry blossom trees and a temple in the mountains. Even the music is very rooted in Japanese tradition. Of my favourites from this first volume, there are two.
T0-B1 and Tatooine Rhapsody are both tales about realising dreams. Of being who you are within this world. For T0-B1, that is a droid learning to be a true Jedi. For Tatooine Rhapsody, that is a band showing what they can do at a time when one of their members is in trouble. Through the power of rock and roll! I really did love how unique Tatooine Rhapsody felt.
Where other studios chose the Jedi route, Studio Colorido presented not only a tale of regular people standing up for themselves, but some pretty awesome music, too. I mean, sure, one of the band members is a padawan who crashed into the midst of the rest of the band, but his being a Jedi has no real significance to the story being told. It’s just a means to show how he ended up with the band, and leads to a fun gag when someone thinks he’s pulling a lightsaber. But, that’s just where he likes to hook his microphone.
With Volume 2, things move away from Japan to bring in more styles of animation. And with studios from various countries bringing their culture and their visual flair to things, there’s still a lot of uniqueness involved with these new shorts. Nowhere is that more clear than the first short of Sith. It might still be about Force-users, but its core hook is paint. A watercolour-like visual style which changes depending on the immediate mood or inner thoughts happening. It’s striking to look at, and is a perfect way to start this second volume of shorts.
Aardman’s short was a lovely one, with their usual humour while still having a sweet story of family to tell. Plus, it involves a racing scenario, so I was bound to love it. Though the best jokes might have been shown in the trailer, there was still a lot to enjoy with the full thing. One of my other favourites from this second volume is The Spy Dancer. Such artistry from such simple art. There doesn’t really need to be anything else said about it. But much like Aardman’s short, it’s got a sweet story about family to tell.
I have very much enjoyed these shorts. Such unique portrayals of this galaxy far, far away that we all adore should be celebrated. There’s so much diversity that there’s going to be something for everyone across these two volumes. From never having seen any of them before today, to now wanting even more. I didn’t think these shorts would resonate with me as powerfully as they have. And that is the power of these unique visions.
Images Taken From:
Star Wars Visions | S102, S106, S204, S206
