Review: Familiar Characters Face New Challenges in ‘Star Wars: Visions’ Epic Third Volume
Ronin, Kara, and F have continuing adventures in a brilliantly animated return to a galaxy far, far away.
Star Wars: Visions returns for a third anime anthology that continues several storylines established in the first volume. Familiar characters face new challenges as deadly enemies continue to hunt the decimated Jedi after Order 66. But there's also nuance to the violence, as everyone who wields a red lightsaber isn't necessarily a murderous villain. Volume three follows the same nine-episode structure with each short running between 13 and 22 minutes. The brief runtime works for less complex narratives, but there are several where the pacing feels rushed given the subject matter's depth. That said, the animation remains spectacular, blending differing visual styles with especially impressive beginning and closing episodes.
The Sith-hunting badass, Ronin (Brian Tee), arrives on the snowy planet of Olcatz for a banner premiere. "The Duel: Payback" is a sequel of sorts with Ronin investigating a gambling den assembled out of AT-ATs on a steep mountain. He's searching for Aneé-san (Suzy Nakamura), a former Sith who now works as a cutthroat enforcer for the establishment. Their ferocious showdown is nothing compared to what happens when the Grand Master (Will Sharpe), a twisted mechanized Jedi, and his followers, the Crusaders, crash the party. The Grand Master is hellbent on destroying all rogue Force users and has a raging vendetta to settle with Ronin.
The Duel: Payback
"The Duel: Payback" dazzles with black-and-white hand-drawn animation mixed with shocking bursts of vivid color. It's akin to a detailed sketchbook come to life as wicked lightsaber duels build to a climactic battle. Production animators Kamikaze Douga and ANIMA resume the classic Japanese cinema aesthetic with deft aplomb. There is a hefty serving of fan service with the cute and cuddly Ewoks playing a pivotal part against the fearsome Crusaders. It's Return of the Jedi redux with the lovable furballs essentially serving the same purpose.
Episode three, "The Ninth Jedi: Child of Hope", picks up the story of Kara (Kimiko Glenn) from the first season. An incredible CGI space battle takes place in an asteroid field as fleeing Jedi try to escape ruthless bounty hunters in a far superior vessel. Kara (no spoilers here) finds herself stuck on another massive ship hidden among the asteroids. Lost and scared, Kara befriends the droid Teto (Freddie Highmore), who's been waiting ages for help with an important mission. Kara must try to fulfill her Jedi potential with Teto while avoiding her pursuers. Production I.G. does a great job with the ship's amazing interiors, which serve as a time capsule for a civilization long gone.
Episode six, "The Lost Ones", is a sequel to season one's "The Village Bride." We find F (Karen Fukuhara) in tough shape on a planet destroyed by a disaster. She helps locals in distress before they flee to their refugee ship in orbit. The people believe the Empire will rescue them and the lie that the Jedi attempted a coup. Their ignorance gets a rude awakening when a star destroyer drops out of hyperspace and threatens their destruction for harboring a Jedi. F shows them true compassion and selflessness while facing a completely unexpected challenge. The animation here isn't comparable to the other episodes, but has an earnest plot that speaks truth to evil power.
The Lost Ones
The last two episodes, "The Bird of Paradise" and "Black", offer existential and philosophical journeys with compelling artistry in the season's highlights. "The Bird of Paradise" introduces Nakime (Sonoya Mizuno), a padawan fighting a treacherous Sith, Aman (Victoria Grace), with her Master (James Sie). The battle's fallout puts Nakime in a harrowing position where she questions her Jedi training. Told in chapters over several days, Nakime succumbs to fear, anger, and desperation. She doesn't want to die and flirts with the Dark Side as her potential savior. Polygon Pictures gets top marks with impressive CGI and particle animation that evolves with Nakime's perspective. These scenes are stunning, beautifully crafted, and perhaps the most visually enjoyable of the shorts.
The eye-candy changes dramatically with the disturbing "Black." Star Wars: Visions third volume ends on a garish and gruesome note as we see two stormtroopers, Red and Green, pay a hideous price for their diabolical service to the Empire. There's no dialogue but moans and screams to an upbeat jazz score as the baddies face death in abject fear. The shortest episode, at a lean 13 minutes, is a rapid recap of the Empire's downfall. We see the stormtroopers, with lost limbs and cracked helmets showing their terrified eyes, facing imminent death from horrifying destruction. The visuals are nightmarish and not easily defined. I'll avoid a detailed description, but rest assured it's jarring and creepy. David Production gives the Empire's soldiers a brutal and just comeuppance as they draw their last breath.
Black
"The Duel: Payback", "The Bird of Paradise", and "Black" are clearly meant for adults. The cuter middle shorts, like "The Song of Four Wings" and "Yuko's Treasure", have a childlike sensibility for younger viewers. There's never been an overall arc binding everything together, as each anthology allows unique interpretations. Star Wars: Visions does have a thematic disconnect between the episodes. The result can best be described here as a whiplash approach with every piece being so radically different. That's the reason why "Black" is the finale. Kids would definitely be scared to keep watching.
Star Wars: Visions is a Lucasfilm production with a Disney+ premiere on October 29th.