10 best performances in Star Wars Animation of 2023
2023 was another strong year for Star Wars animation with three entries. The Bad Batch, Star Wars: Visions, and Young Jedi Adventures took fans of all ages on adventures across a galaxy far, far away. This year brought some memorable moments from the talented voice actors behind the roles.
Here are the top 10 animated performances of 2023.
10. Wanda Sykes – The Bad Batch
It took a couple of episodes for Phee Genoa to settle in, but Wanda Sykes’ character became one of the best new additions in Season 2 of The Bad Batch. She gave Phee such a range, making the role hers. Phee could be bombastic and adventurous, kind with Omega, sassy with Hunter, and subtly fall in love with Tech. Sykes shined in the part, and I hope she’s back for Season 3.
9. Haley Joel Osment – Young Jedi Adventures
Raxlo from Young Jedi Adventures is the best character you probably haven’t seen, and Haley Joel Osment clearly has the best time playing him. Osment has become a prominent voice actor, bringing his talent to the role (give me a Raxlo and Sora from Kingdom Hearts crossover, please). Raxlo is campy, dramatic, and sarcastic and has no right to be this funny in a preschool series. A bird character wanting to deforest worlds? Hilarious! Osment is perfect.
8. Camille Cottin – Star Wars: Visions “The Spy Dancer”
Season 2 of Star Wars: Visions brought nine new episodes, and “The Spy Dancer” was a stellar entry. Camille Cottin as Loi’e by far stole the show in her episode as a mother scorned and seeking revenge against the Empire. Cottin balanced the showmanship of Loi’e’s role as a spy so well with the raw pain of losing her son. Cottin was fantastic, making for an unforgettable performance.
7. Rhea Perlman – The Bad Batch
Rhea Perlman is very much playing a Rhea Perlman character, but that in no way lessens the work she did in Season 2 of The Bad Batch. This season put Cid through all the motions of her scoundrel life, caught between actually liking the Batch and having to protect her wellbeing. We got bits of her backstory and also saw her guilt in the finale. Perlman shined, giving Cid much-needed depth.
6. Jennifer Hale – The Bad Batch
Jennifer Hale made a triumphant return as Riyo Chuchi in Season 2 of The Bad Batch. Gone is the timid young woman in The Clone Wars. Chuchi commands her place in the show, taking down one of the series’s villains. She’s walking the path of Padmé Amidala, picking up where her friend left off. Hale was stellar in returning a fan favorite from The Bad Batch’s predecessor.
5. Daveed Diggs – Star Wars: Visions “The Pit”
Daveed Diggs returns to Star Wars after his time in Star Wars Resistance, stepping into the impactful role of Crux from “The Pit” in Star Wars: Visions. One of the more powerful stories from Season 2, Diggs shows why he’s one of the most talented people in the business. From the warm scenes of Crux talking to Livy to his desperate pleas to people in the city to help him, Diggs is easily the star of this short.
4. Eva Whittaker – Star Wars: Visions “Screecher’s Reach”
While I was tempted to add Anjelica Huston as the Sith Mother to this list because that is Morticia Addams in a Star Wars, Eva Whittaker is by far the star of “Screecher’s Reach.” Daal is such a sympathetic character as her lot in life drives her to extremes. Whittaker is almost too subtle at times, but it makes her desperation hit harder. “Screecher’s Reech” was an instant Star Wars classic, and Whittaker’s performance was a big reason for it.
3. Piotr Michael – Young Jedi Adventures
Stepping into the shoes of legends can’t be easy. Frank Oz brought Yoda to life in the Star Wars films, while Tom Kane established the role in animation for over a decade. However, after Kane suffered a devastating stroke in 2020, someone needed to take over the part of the Jedi Master. Piotr Michael so effortlessly made Yoda his own in Young Jedi Adventures. He’s not doing an impression of Oz or Kane. This is his take on the character, and it’s stellar. It feels like classic Yoda while still bringing something new to the part. Michael tackled the challenge with grace and skill, and I hope he gets to continue Yoda’s role in other projects.
2. Michelle Ang – The Bad Batch
Omega grew so much in Season 2 of The Bad Batch. Capturing her development was done so effortlessly by Michelle Ang. Ang has truly left her mark on Star Wars through Omega. The more childlike moments are a joy to watch. When Omega has to deliver powerful moments, it never feels too over the top. The heartbreaking finale was an extra gut punch thanks to Ang’s delivery from the young member of the Batch. She is phenomenal as Omega, and I can’t wait to see what Ang brings in the third and final season.
1. Dee Bradley Baker – The Bad Batch, Young Jedi Adventure
How could #1 be anyone else other than Dee Bradley Baker? He’s not just every member of the Bad Batch and all the clones. He’s also Nubs in Young Jedi Adventures, who has become so beloved in the fandom. Baker’s performance was some of the year’s most memorable, regardless of whether it was animation or live action. “The Outpost” gave us Crosshair’s turn along with the charming Mayday, making this one of the best episodes of Star Wars ever created. Toss in Nubs as well as the creature work he did in all the shows, and this was the year of Dee Bradley Baker.