Star Wars: Visions, the first project in this franchise to be done in the anime style, lives up to its title. It’s an anthology that is visionary and expands this beloved universe beyond what’s been seen before. The series does so by honoring Japanese culture, which inspired much of the imagery and lore in Star Wars in the first place.
Visions brings the franchise home to the very history it was born from and rebirths it in Japan’s image not only in the medium these short films are depicted in but in the themes chosen, the character designs, and its world-building.
This nine-episode series is diverse in its storytelling with narratives about destiny, friendship, family, betrayal, and legacy. There is something for everyone to enjoy in this anthology and the stories that viewers gravitate toward will be personal and subject to each person’s taste.
However, that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to rank the short films that make up Visions. Some episodes are better than others, whether that’s due to art style, animation, narrative structure, plotting, innovation, or all of the above.
The following ranking takes into consideration these factors and is a list ordering the episodes from worst to best. I should note that this ranking doesn’t factor in how closely Visions adheres to the franchise’s canon as the series is a non-canon addition to this vast world created by George Lucas and grown over decades by various storytellers.
Traditionalists may struggle with this anthology — they may even struggle with this list — but Visions is informed and derived from Star Wars lore, it’s not beholden to it and as such I will be treating this Star Wars project as an entity unto its own.
Now, without further ado, let’s dive into this ranking! Be aware, there are spoilers from this point forward.
9. Star Wars: Visions – Episode 9: “Akakiri”
“Akakiri” tells the story of the Jedi Tsubaki who returns to the planet he was once stationed when he hears of a coup. The king has been overthrown and his sister Masago has risen to lead in his stead after murdering him to claim the position.
Tsubaki’s arrival is due to his connection to the princess Misa, who plans to confront her aunt and take back her kingdom. “Akakiri” spends entirely too long hinting at the romantic bond between Misa and Tsubaki instead of making it clear from the beginning that they’re not only star-crossed but that their relationship is forbidden.
The trek to the palace takes up the majority of the episode and we learn very little about the two characters and their romance along the way. Not to mention, screen time is split between their guides — Senshuu and Kamahachi — and Tsubaki’s foreboding visions.
Masago is the most interesting character out of this cast of five. She’s given a point of view and a personality that’s as manipulative and alluring as it should be considering she’s on the Dark Side.
Given the premise of “Akakiri,” it should come as no surprise that there are heavy allusions to Padme and Anakin’s story from the prequel trilogy. Though the execution of the romance in this short film, which is implicit rather than explicitly stated, leaves a lot to be desired.
“Akakiri” is ranked number nine on this list because it has the weakest storytelling in the series and the art style isn’t as visually arresting or interesting as the other films.
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Animation studio: Science Saru
Runtime:14 minutes
Synopsis: When Misa’s father is killed, Tsubaki returns to her side to help overthrow her aunt Masago who has turned to the Dark Side. As a Jedi, he is to have no attachments but his bond with Misa has stood the test of time. It’s a connection that Masago has no problem exploiting to serve her own ends.
Cast:
English dub
- Henry Golding as Tsubaki
- Jamie Chung as Misa
- George Takei as Senshuu
- Keone Young as Kamahachi
- Lorraine Toussaint as Masago
Japanese cast
- Yū Miyazaki as Tsubaki
- Lynn as Misa
- Chō as Senshuu
- Wataru Takagi as Kamahachi
- Yukari Nozawa as Masago
8. Star Wars: Visions – Episode 7: “The Elder”
Like “Akakiri,” the storytelling in “The Elder” isn’t as strong as in the other short films, but it does play into a theme that’ll resonate with Star Wars fans, i.e., the passing of power from one generation to the next. Dan, a padawan who has yet to see the folly in being eager to fight, is excited when his master senses a disturbance in the Force, which brings them both to the planet Habo.
While there, the two engage in an anticlimactic fight with a former Sith. This bit of information is important because in this timeline, the Sith have been gone for hundreds of years. The old man they fight has combed the galaxy for worthy opponents.
This Sith finds Dan to be lacking and cuts him down fairly easily (though didn’t deal a killing blow). However, his master Tajin is exactly the kind of fighter this ancient evil wants to face.
There’s a lot of talk about the strength one has while in their prime and the inevitable decay that each person will experience as they age. Essentially, “The Elder” is about recognizing that the sun sets in everyone’s life no matter how powerful they are and someone will rise in their place. It’s how the world works.
The short film’s placement as second to last has to do with its characterization. Dan’s eagerness can be grating. There’s also the fact that nothing much happens in this episode outside of the fight which is true of “The Duel” as well but that short film was better executed.
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Animation studio: Trigger
Runtime: 17 minutes
Synopsis: Dan, a padawan eager to see action in the field, gets his wish when he and his master Tajin land on the planet Habo in the Outer Rim. The disturbance in the force that his master felt is somewhere in Habo’s mountains. It’s ancient, strong, and waiting for an opponent. Dan is about to learn that you should be careful about what you wish for.
Cast:
English dub
- David Harbour as Tajin
- Jordan Fisher as Dan
- James Hong as The Elder
Japanese cast
- Takaya Hashi as Tajin
- Yuichi Nakamura as Dan
- Kenichi Ogata as The Elder)
7. Star Wars: Visions – Episode 2: Tatooine Rhapsody
“Tatooine Rhapsody” very much feels like a piece of media that hearkens back to the Cartoon Network shows that aired in the aughts.
The short film has a coolness to it and a laid-back vibe that sets it apart from the other episodes in the series. Not to mention, it’s less about fighting and destiny and more about music and friendship. “Tatooine Rhapsody” also has a non-conventional premise.
Jay was formerly a padawan who’d changed the course of his life when he stumbled upon Geezer, a Hutt wanted by Jabba. They met after Jay ran from a tragic battle where countless Jedi had been slaughtered. That moment set him on the path to becoming a musician and the lead singer of Star Waver.
Outside of its art style and general vibe, it’s hard to describe “Tatooine Rhapsody” other than stating the obvious. It’s weird. Not in a way that would leave viewers asking questions or scratching their heads, but rather that it doesn’t quite fit as a Star Wars project — at least not in the traditional sense.
One doesn’t think Star Wars and then pictures a rock band, so this episode takes a little getting used to, admittedly, but Star Waver’s music is good. The cameos by Boba Fett, Jabba the Hutt, and Bib Fortuna are also nice additions, and music being powerful enough to save a life is a particularly enjoyable element even if this short film feels skippable.
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Animation studio: Studio Colorido (Twin Engine)
Runtime: 13 minutes
Synopsis: Jay, Geezer, K-344, and Lan make up Star Waver, an up-and-coming band who just want to rock and roll but there’s a bounty on Gee’s head which makes that difficult. When he’s apprehended by Boba Fett, the rest of the band make a risky proposition to save his life.
Cast:
English dub
- Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Jay
- Bobby Moynihan as Geezer
- Temuera Morrison as Boba Fett
- Shelby Young as K-344
- Marc Thompson as Lan
Japanese cast
- Hiroyuki Yoshino as Jay
- Kōusuke Gotō as Geezer
- Akio Kaneda as Boba Fett
- MasayoFujita as K-344
- Anri Katsu as Lan
6. Star Wars: Visions – Episode 1: “The Duel”
As I mentioned earlier, “The Duel” — like “The Elder” — is centered on a fight. However, the action sequences in this short film are better and it does more to establish character in its 14 minutes than the latter did with 17.
The lead in this short film is Ronin, though this is likely a title (not a name) as in Japanese the word stands for wandering samurai. The premise is simple. Ronin and his droid are passing through a village that’s attacked by bandits.
Initially, he stays out of the fray as the chief’s young son handles the situation. But when the bandit leader steps in brandishing a red lightsaber and makes light work of the village guards, Ronin makes his presence known.
The biggest selling point of “The Duel,” besides its extended fight scenes that push the viewer through the village and out to the surrounding area, is the art style it’s depicted in. It’s the only short film done in black and white with the sole color being the red light from the sabers.
The art is stark and textured. You can see the hashing done in the drawings. There’s a heaviness to the design that conveys the brushwork done. It’s intentionally old-looking and meant to invoke the past and set an almost reverent tone.
“The Duel” is an episode that is sure to be a fan favorite due to its design and the care taken in the action sequences. If you want to know more about this wandering former Sith who hunts his own kind, the novel Ronin by Emma Mieko Candon debuts Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021.
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Animation studio: Kamikaze Douga
Runtime: 14 minutes
Synopsis: When a village is attacked by bandits, the wanderer Ronin initially lets the villagers handle the situation. However, when the bandit leader proves too strong for their guards, he steps in and goes on the offensive, his red lightsaber revealing his past allegiance.
Cast:
English dub
- Brian Tee as Ronin
- Lucy Liu as Bandit Leader
- Jaden Waldman as Village Chief
Japanese cast
- Masaki Terasoma as Ronin
- Akeno Watanabe as Bandit Leader
- Yūko Sanpei as Village Chief
5. Star Wars: Visions – Episode 8: “Lop and Ochō”
In terms of design, “Lop and Ochō,” is the most innovative in the whole series when it comes to the incorporation of Japanese style of dress, decor, and building structure depicted in a futuristic setting.
If “The Duel” is a nod to what came before, then “Lop and Ochō” is a look at what’s next, which is fitting considering the short film’s story is centered on a family divide between the older and younger generation.
The planet Tao is occupied by the Empire. Initially, the people saw the regime’s presence as a means of modernizing and keeping up with the rest of the galaxy. However, that waned when it became clear that the Empire’s help came with a price and some of that cost involved the ever-increasing pollution that’s destroying the planet.
The leader of the Yasaboro clan wants to bring an end to the regime’s stranglehold on Tao, but his daughter Ochō believes he is stuck in the past and can’t see the good the Empire stands to bring to their people. Caught in the middle is Lop, who’d been a laborer bound into service as a child until she was adopted by the Yasaboros after escaping her unit.
“Lop and Ochō” is such an interesting story that blends a family’s fight for their loved one’s soul and the transfer of power from one generation to the next. It also features a lightsaber passed down from generation to generation that is a fusion of what the audience knows to be a Jedi’s weapon and an engraved katana. The Yasaboro saber is the coolest piece of tech in the series.
But while the premise of this short film rises to the level of the art (though the animation has some issues in spots), the story itself does not. There’s just not enough time to incorporate Lop’s backstory, the current day Yasaboro feud, and an epic battle in a way that’s entirely satisfying.
Had Ochō’s turn to the Dark Side been fleshed out better and not gone from point A to point Z with little to no explanation of why, this episode would be higher on the list. As it stands, however, I would love to revisit this universe. It’s stunning and the story has so much potential especially as matters were left unresolved between the Yasaboros.
Hopefully, a sequel or an entire movie will one day be in our future.
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Animation studio: Geno Studio (Twin Engine)
Runtime: 21 minutes
Synopsis: The Empire’s hold on the planet Tao splits the Yasaboro clan when the head of the family and his heir, Ochō, clash over whether they should rise against the regime that’s destroying their planet. Caught in the middle is Lop, a former laborer who was taken in by the Yasaboros as a child. Lop just wants her father and sister to come to an understanding but as her sister becomes more aligned with the Empire, it’s up to Lop to ensure their family stays intact.
Cast:
English dub
- Anna Cathcart as Lop
- Hiromi Dames as Ochō
- Paul Nakauchi as Yasaburo
- Kyle McCarley as Imperial Officer
Japanese cast
- Seiran Kobayashi as Lop
- Risa Shimizu as Ochō
- Tadahisa Fujimura as Yasaburo
- Taisuke Nakano as Imperial Officer
4. Star Wars: Visions – Episode 4: The Village Bride
Similar to “Lop and Ochō,” reverence for nature is a key theme in “The Village Bride.” However, nature isn’t an absent figure in this short film or overshadowed by industrialization. It’s all around these characters in a lush environment that serves as the episode’s setting.
“The Village Bride” is a slow-burning episode that may take too long to get to its point for some viewers but is a unique addition to the Star Wars franchise. For instance, instead of the Force being cast in the forefront as the element that binds all life forms and balances the cosmic scales, the people of this planet believe in Magina.
It’s likely the two are the very same thing but their belief ties this power directly to nature from the sky to the river. Their faith is unwavering even in the face of their resources being depleted by raiders and the happy occasion of a wedding having to bear the weight of the bride’s impending loss.
While not much happens in “The Village Bride,” it’s still a compelling and breathtaking film in terms of its artistry. It’s also the only other episode that features a romance. Asu and Haru have better chemistry than Tsubaki and Misa from “Akakiri” and their love for one another has some emotional weight to it as well.
Also, there’s a bit of mystery concerning the character F. Aloof, but intrigued by the world around her and the young couple she encounters, F’s purpose isn’t revealed until she must intervene with the raiders. We’re given little information on her past, but she does relinquish the burden she’d been carrying and steps back into the shoes of a Jedi.
My desire to know more about F kept this short film out of the top three, but this quieter and more contemplative entry into the anthology was still rather good.
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Animation studio: Kinema Citrus
Runtime: 18 minutes
Synopsis: On a planet whose resources have been stolen by the Separatists and a band of raiders, a young couple prepares for marriage. Despite the hardships they and their people have faced, they continue their traditions, giving honor to the land and the Magina within them all. It’s enough to inspire a mysterious figure to intervene when the raiders arrive to take the bride away.
Cast:
English dub
- Karen Fukuhara as F
- Nichole Sakura as Haru
- Christopher Sean as Asu
- Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa as Valco
- Andrew Kishino as Izuma
- Stephanie Sheh as Saku
Japanese cast
- Asami Seto as F
- Megumi Han as Haru
- Yūma Uchida as Asu
- Takaya Kamikawa as Vaan
- Yoshimitsu Shimoyama as Izuma
- Mariya Ise as Saku
3. Star Wars: Visions – Episode 3: The Twins
“The Twins” is a riot of color with a plot that’ll leave viewers wanting more of this story. The premise? Two siblings clash over the direction of their lives in an epic duel on their spaceship. Oh, and these twins were raised by the Dark Side!
Yes, this short film like “The Elder” and “The Duel,” is primarily centered on a fight, but like “Lop and Ochō,” it’s also about legacy, choices, and two siblings on opposing sides. However, in “Twins,” Karre and Am aren’t in a struggle over good and evil, they’re in a struggle over the freedom to decide their own fate.
Karre is indifferent to the Empire and the Resistance, he could care less about their fight. All he wants is for himself and his sister, Am, to be free of the choices others have made for them both, so he steals their Kyber crystal to prevent her death. Cue a grandiose confrontation involving a lightsaber and a weaponized battle suit.
“The Twins” exudes cool. From the character designs to the fight sequence, it is a non-stop ride of a short film that uses every minute of its runtime to its advantage. And its conclusion leaves room for more story in this universe. One where Karre goes on a search to find Am who he believes to be the key to figuring out their purpose.
This is another episode I hope we see more from in the future.
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Animation studio: Trigger
Runtime: 17 minutes
Synopsis: Twins raised by the Dark Side clash when their differing views on how to move forward toward their destiny puts them on disparate sides. In an epic battle, the two fight for control not only of the direction of their lives but also of a power source that could destroy them both.
Cast:
English dub
- Neil Patrick Harris as Karre
- Alison Brie as Am
- Jonathan Lipow as B-20N
Japanese cast
- Junya Enoki as Karre
- Ryoko Shiraishi as Am
- Tokuyoshi Kawashima as B-20N
2. Star Wars: Visions – Episode 6: T0-B1
Pure and simple, “T0-B1” is going to be a favorite for Disney fans. It’s odd and magical with a youthful spirit that’s a joy to watch.
T0-B1 has a destiny that viewers wouldn’t expect from a droid; he has a dream that seems like it would be impossible to achieve. He wants to be a Jedi. However, his purpose is to help his creator Professor Mitaka develop life on their planet.
What makes “T0-B1” exceptional, beyond the smile the short film can bring to your face, is that it’s a story about change and a parent’s acceptance of their child’s calling that differs from what they’d previously conceived.
There’s also a reveal that older viewers will likely guess, but that’s still wonderful when it happens as is the fight sequence that follows as T0-B1 takes on a Sith he accidentally brought to their planet earlier in the short film.
Plus, there’s a brief transformation sequence that’ll excite viewers who grew up with cartoons with moments where the characters level up to a more powerful form.
“T0-B1” has some of the tightest storytelling in Star Wars: Visions, and though it includes a death scene, it’s full of life and a message about the younger generation continuing the work of those that came before while also being true to themselves and their wants for their lives.
Animation studio: Science Saru
Runtime: 14 minutes
Synopsis: T0-B1 is a droid who dreams of being a Jedi Knight, but his duty is to help Professor Mitaka establish life on their barren planet. With the help of the other droids, he does as the professor says, fulfilling his responsibilities but dreaming all the while of adventures in other parts of the galaxy. Seeing that his young charge is distracted by his dreams, Mitaka sends him on a mission to find a Kyber Crystal, but it’s one that will prove dangerous for T0-B1 and everyone in their lab.
Cast:
English dub
- Jaden Waldman as T0-B1
- Kyle Chandler as Mitaka
Japanese cast
- Masako Nozawa as T0-B1
- Tsutomu Isobe as Mitaka
1. Star Wars: Visions – Episode 5: The Ninth Jedi
“The Ninth Jedi” is at the top of this list because it has everything that not only makes a good short film but also a great Star Wars story.
Out of all the short films in the anthology, this one is the most traditional in its storytelling. It’s an origin story and a revival. In Kara’s episode, the Jedi are scattered across the galaxy hiding so as not to be found by the Sith but determined to overthrow their hold.
Her father, Zhima, creates lightsabers that have been out of commission in this tale for years, to the point of almost being mythical. Like “T0-B1,” there is a reveal that older viewers will likely guess, but its execution is done so well that the element of surprise isn’t necessary for the reveal to be impactful.
We, the audience, have 22 minutes with Kara to see her growth from a Force-sensitive child to one destined for greatness. “The Ninth Jedi” feels like just the beginning of her story. It feels like a whole series could be birthed from her short film as it’s about the start of a new era.
It’s exciting with a thrilling fight sequence and a heroine to root for as Kara grows into her own power and place among the Jedi. There’s more than one short film in this collection that I’d like to see an expansion of but Kara’s is the most realized story and feels the most like we could be watching it now as a series on Disney+.
Animation studio:
Runtime: 22 minutes
Synopsis: Kara is the daughter of the sabersmith tasked by Juro to forge lightsabers for the Jedi whose arrival to the Aerial Temple could change the tide of the war. When her father’s life is threatened by Jedi hunters, it’s up to Kara to transport the lightsabers to the temple. If they should fall into the Siths’ hands, they’d have an advantage the side of Light can’t afford as lightsabers were thought to be lost to time and history before these new ones were forged.
Cast:
English dub
- Kimiko Glenn as Kara
- Andrew Kishino as Juro
- Simu Liu as Zhima
- Masi Oka as Ethan
- Greg Chun as Roden
- Michael Sinterniklaas as Hen Jin
- Neil Kaplan as Narrator
Japanese cast
- Chinatsu Akasaki as Kara
- Tetsuo Kanao as Juro
- Shin-ichiro Miki as Zhima
- Hiromu Mineta as Ethan
- Kazuya Nakai as Roden)
- Daisuke Hirakawa as Hen Jin
- Akio Ōtsuka as Narrator
All nine episodes of Star Wars: Visions are available to stream now on Disney+.