To this day, Star Wars has been a big influence on pop culture as we know it. One of those major influences that inspired George Lucas to make franchise was Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa. Even fan-favorite series The Mandalorian was heavily inspired by Kurosawa’s samurai films. As Disney and Lucasfilm continue to develop different projects within the canon Star Wars universe, they will soon chart the unknown world of the anime community in the form of the all new anthology short series, Star Wars: Visions!
Comprised of 9 shorts done by 7 of Japan’s leading anime studios such as TRIGGER and Productions I.G., Star Wars: Visions will present fans to all-new, creative takes on the galaxy far, far away. All shorts are set to premiere on Disney+ next week. Today, the first reactions have made their way online via Twitter and the general consensus is unanimously positive! Critics have praised the storytelling, animation, and the scope of each short! Right down below is a collection of what each critic has to say.
Star Wars: Visions Social Media Reactions
Erik Davis- Fandango
I’ve watched all of #StarWarsVisions & I absolutely loved it. Each short brings its own unique, inventive interpretation of STAR WARS that enhances & expands upon everything we already know. The visuals are gorgeous & the storytelling is top notch. SO MANY crazy lightsaber fights pic.twitter.com/4tfNDsWoZc
— Erik Davis (@ErikDavis) September 15, 2021
If you are a fan of Jedi and Sith stories, you’ll love #StarWarsVisions as many of the shorts involve the two doing battle. Some are perfect as is, and some you will want to see more (I hope they continue to play with the ideas introduced in THE NINTH JEDI, personally). pic.twitter.com/i5p0GtNHms
— Erik Davis (@ErikDavis) September 15, 2021
Anya Stanley- SlashFilm
The animation styles of STAR WARS: VISIONS vary and carry like Mariah, but the first short, Takanobu Mizuno’s “The Duel” is the strongest, pitting a steel-swinging Ronin against Sith bandits. Lucy Liu, naturally, commands the screen with barely a whisper. https://t.co/EDj0ZDt8CI pic.twitter.com/2YF3nOCcIZ
— Anya Stanley (@BookishPlinko) September 15, 2021
Bryan Young- SYFY
#StarWarsVisions was nothing short of fantastic. The animation was gorgeous across the board. I loved how varied the breadth of stories were and there are so many I fell in love with. I hope they continue more of these stories and keep this program up.
We need more of this. pic.twitter.com/6udJRZukvb
— Bryan Young (@swankmotron) September 15, 2021
Jordan Maison- Cinelinx
Happy to say that #StarWarsVisions is pretty damn great. It does, indeed, whip ass. While I enjoyed some shorts more than others (a couple I wasn't expecting to like as much as I did), there isn't a single one I disliked, or didn't immediately want to watch again. pic.twitter.com/jgquAeA17m
— Jordan Maison (@JordanMaison) September 15, 2021
#StarWarsVisions is DEFINITELY different (think alt-history), but they all capture that unique FEEL of #StarWars. Never once did it seem like I wasn't watching something set in a galaxy far, far away. The tone, the themes, the vibe…It's all very much Star Wars. pic.twitter.com/lGmLgXUyRI
— Jordan Maison (@JordanMaison) September 15, 2021
Seriously, I need a book/series/whatever, all about her. Village Bride is just *clenches fist* so good! #StarWarsVisions pic.twitter.com/QknoKJk28l
— Jordan Maison (@JordanMaison) September 15, 2021
James Whitbrook- io9
#StarWarsVisions is a triumph—a gorgeous, kinetic celebration of the ideas that make Star Wars what it is. Yes, its full of bonkers imagery unconstrained by what you know came before, but these shorts understand the thematic heart of the saga.
My full review hits @io9 next week! pic.twitter.com/7ITJvmc6Ge
— James Whitbrook (@Jwhitbrook) September 15, 2021
Maggie Lovitt- Collider
"The Village Bride," "Lop & Ocho," "T0-B1," and "The Ninth Jedi" are definitely my top picks among the shorts. They hit in real sweet spots for me, both in animation style and in storytelling.
There is something for everyone among the nine stories presented!
— Maggie Lovitt @ #TIFF21 (@maggieofthetown) September 15, 2021
Ashley Saunders- CBR
These ARE the stories you’re looking for.#StarWarsVisions boasts eye-catching animation which blends various anime styles, incredible action, dynamic storytelling, & some of the most EPIC lightsabers in the galaxy.
It's sure to be an instant hit with fans of all ages! pic.twitter.com/ZJIZQ53ShY
— Ashley Saunders (@ThatAshleyErin) September 15, 2021
Tessa Smith- Mama’s Geeky
Star Wars: Visions features 9 incredible and VISUALLY STUNNING anime shorts that offer a unique take on the world of Star Wars! They are so much fun, fans will be unable to wipe the smile off their faces as they watch. Super CREATIVE stories & animation styles!#StarWarsVisions pic.twitter.com/fER3JIVE1m
— Tessa Smith – Mama's Geeky (@MamasGeeky) September 15, 2021
David Opie- Digital Spy
#StarWarsVisions is incredible. The animation is god-tier and it’s fascinating to see each studio explore the far reaches of this universe in their own unique way. Everyone will have a different favourite chapter. To me, this is the future of #StarWars.pic.twitter.com/pLIsYTNtlC
— David Opie (@DavidOpie) September 15, 2021
Awhile back, Disney+ and StarWars.com revealed that Star Wars: Visions will have a subbed and dubbed voice cast.
For the English dub:
The Duel: Brian Tee (Ronin), Lucy Liu (Bandit Leader), Jaden Waldman (Village Chief)
Tatooine Rhapsody: Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Jay), Bobby Moynihan (Geezer), Temuera Morrison (Boba Fett), 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 & Ochō: 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)
For the English sub:
The Duel: Masaki Terasoma (Ronin), Akeno Watanabe (Bandit Leader), Yūko Sanpei (Village Chief)
Tatooine Rhapsody: Hiroyuki Yoshino (Jay), Kōsuke Gotō (Geezer), Akio Kaneda (Boba Fett), Masayo Fujita (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 & Ochō: 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)
Do you plan on binge watching the anthology series? Let us know in the comments below!
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