‘Star Wars: Visions’ Volume 2 Review – Phenomenal Force-Sensitive Storytelling

Synopsis: “Star Wars: Visions” is an animated anthology series featuring celebratory expressions of Star Wars storytelling. Seven Japanese anime studios brought their unique talents and perspective to “Star Wars: Visions – Volume 1.” Launching in 2023, Volume 2 will feature stories from creative teams from Chile, France, Japan, India, Ireland, Spain, South Africa, South Korea, the U.K. and the U.S. to showcase the incredible animation happening across each country and culture, through the mythos of Star Wars.

What makes the universes like Marvel and Star Wars so great and so much fun is how expansive they can be. What began with a focus on a handful of characters is now ever-growing and increasingly intricate in the best way. Those of us who were here from the beginning, or close to it, could never have imagined how far it has all become. It’s an amazing, exciting, and sometimes frustrating journey. Now that we have ventured into the realm of creating new characters or giving unknown ones some well-deserved shine, like that of Din Djarin, The Guardians of the Galaxy, and Boba Fett, we are all better for it.

“Light and dark will always coexist.”

Just as you begin to wonder what else is happening in the galaxy, the timing couldn’t be more perfect. Star Wars: Visions Volume 2 is phenomenal force-sensitive storytelling. Using Volume 1 as a launch pad, this installment hyperspace jumps its stories to new heights. Featuring filmmakers and studios from Chile, France, Japan, India, Ireland, Spain, South Africa, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States, these animated shorts feature a wide variety of animation styles, points of view, and cultural impact.

From easygoing and delightful tales to dark and grim, there is something that everyone can enjoy. Just as the first season did, Volume 2 is a fantastic way to bridge the gap between the Stars Wars franchise and those who avoid or are hesitant to have a good time. Not only are these stories unique and highly entertaining, but they offer glimpses into what the main theatrical timelines have to offer.

“Everyone has an inner light.”

Academy races, master versus apprentice lightsaber fights, avenging the death of a parent, and performing for the enemy in order to set traps, these a just a taste of what this season presents. With various animation styles such as stop-motion, CG, anime, claymation, 3D, and 2D, every distinctive episode feels refreshing. In classic Star Wars fashion, each of the stories is more than meets the eye and on many occasions tells you outright.

Volume 2 is fun, and philosophical and has themes of family, righteousness, perseverance, and the classic, good versus evil. Starring names such as Eva Whittaker, Maxine Peake, Charithra Chandran, Ashley Park, Eugene Lee Yang, Suraj Sharma, Daveed Diggs, and Cynthia Erivo, the shorts are as well voice-acted as they are well-crafted. Star Wars: Visions Volume 2 is action-packed, thought-provoking, heartfelt, amusing, and most of all, inspiring. Easily watchable in one sitting, I enjoyed this installment a great deal. Its rewatchability is high.

Elite Episodes

While I tend to pick the top 3 episodes of a season, since this is a series of shorts, I’m going to pick my top 5 of the 9 episodes. All five were chosen as objectively as possible with a hint of reliability.

Episode 8: The Pit – Following disgraceful acts by the Empire, a teenager named Crux makes a huge sacrifice to save his community. This short is heroic, inspirational, and moving. The animation resembles Attack on Titan.

Episode 5: Journey to the Dark Head – When an apprenticing record keeper, Ara questions their inactive role in the war between light and dark, she takes matters into her own hands and devises a plan to turn the tides with the help of a young Jedi named Toul. This short is intense, action-packed, and philosophical. This one is done in more of a traditional anime style with subtitles to match.

Episode 1: Sith – As a former Sith apprentice along with her droid has found solace on a distant, deserted, and peaceful planet to escape her dark past, she now fills her days doing what she loves, painting. Now, surrounded by white light and bright colors, things begin to go awry as her paint and her life begin to get as dark as her past. This short features my favorite animation of Volume 2. It’s like CG brushstroke animation. This short is philosophical and suspenseful.

Episode 4: I Am Your Mother – When Anni, a young Twi’lek aspiring pilot finds out that the annual family race at the academy is quickly approaching, she does not want her mother to know. not that she doesn’t love her mom, she’s just a tad embarrassed about her home life. She soon learns that her upbringing has its advantages. This is one that we can all relate to. It’s fun and lighthearted, and the animation resembles the stop-motion of Chicken Run.

Episode 7: The Bandits of Golak – This episode might feel the most connected to the Star Wars universe. Two siblings are on the run after their village was burned down by the Empire. As they head to a safer location one of them must keep their abilities under wraps so they are not hunted down. In the end, a difficult decision must be made. This one is thrilling with great action and heart. The animation is similar to that of The Bad Batch.

Impact & Final Thoughts

As I mentioned previously, this series is a fantastic way to slowly convert your friends to the light or dark side. Once they’ve watched a few episodes, they won’t be able to resist the curiosity to discover why the Empire is so aggressive and what being a Jedi is all about. Visions is one of the best things in recent years to happen to the Star Wars universe. It’s highly creative, expansive and creates new characters that can and should be further developed for future installments in the franchise. I’d love to see a season where the stories overlap in the final episode.

Star Wars: Visions Volume 2 premieres on Disney+ on May 4, 2023. Remain safe and may the force be with you.

Rated: TV-PG

Runtimes: 11m-18m

Directors: Rodrigo Blaas, Paul Young, Gabriel Osorio, Magdalena Osinska, Hyeong-Geun Park, Julien Chheng, Milind Shinde, LeAndre Thomas, Nadia Darries and Daniel Clarke

Executive Producers: Josh Rimes, James Waugh, Jacqui Lopez

Animation Studios: El Guiri, Cartoon Saloon, Punkrobot, Aardman, Studio Mir, Studio La Cachette, 88 Pictures, D’art Shtajio and Lucasfilm Ltd., Triggerfish