Anime NYC ’25! The Stunning Surreal and Violent Star Wars: Visions, Volume 3

In an industry stacked with IP properties vying for exposure through fan service, some good and some bad, the Star Wars: Visions anthology series is a Force of fresh air. Unbound by canonical restrictions, each Star Wars: Visions animated short interprets the Star Wars lore according to the uncompromising vision of the artist and studio. There’s a sense of artistic freedom rarely seen in anime spin-offs of known properties.

The upcoming Volume 3 returns the Star Wars: Vision anthology to projects penned by exclusively Japanese-based studios, after Volume 2 delivered a batch of international contributions. Not only that, returning studios from season 1 will continue storylines and universes introduced and created in season 1. Kamikaze Douga and Kinema Citrus have sequels for their shorts “The Duel” and “The Village Bride,” respectively. The largest extension of season 1 content is Production I.G’s “The Ninth Jedi,” which will have a sequel short before its 2026 miniseries. And let’s face it, I’m excited that Kimiko Glenn, the English dub voice for novice Jedi Kara, will lead a Star Wars project.

The Anime NYC panel’s biggest conversation-stirrer was the premiere of a Season 3 short, “Black,” directed by the expressionistic Shinya Ohira. It would even be difficult to drop major spoilers because of the dialogue-free abstract nature of the short, but needless to say, it is stunning in its anarchic violence from the POV of a stormtrooper. Ohira said he left the visuals up to the viewers’ interpretation, embedding some hidden imagery. But the real M.O. is setting the animation to a song sung by singer Sakura Fujiwara. The cool sway and sweetness of Fujiwara’s jazzy voice and score give “Black” its beating heart. As the short played before hundreds of fans, the room sat mesmerized.

Star Wars: Visions will premiere its third volume on October 29 on Disney+.

Photo credit: Lucasfilm/Disney+

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