Star Wars Visions reviews the first three episodes: Imagination in power

The Disney firm continues the development of the Star Wars universe on its streaming platform. After the excellent series The Mandalorian, it is the Star Wars visions project that was proposed on Disney + on September 22. The firm with big ears has entrusted 7 Japanese animation studios with the production of 9 short films (between 12 and 20 minutes). They were given carte blanche to offer original, personal visions of the mythology created by Georges Lucas. An intriguing idea but far from absurd. Indeed, this saga was inspired enormously by Japan.  Episode IV, A New Espoir, thus took up the plot of The Hidden Fortress of Kurosawa. The figure of the samurai inspired both Darth Vader's helmet and the Jedi figure. Finally, strength owes much to Eastern mysticism, especially Zen philosophy. At the helm of these first three episodes, we find the studios Kamikaze Douga, Colorido and Trigger. Very heavy for an explosive and exciting result.

Episode 1 The Duel : Kamikaze Douga, the Jedi and the Chanbara

This is not the first time that this studio transposes American pop-culture in the Japanese universe (see the review of Batman Ninja). In this first episode, he chose a strong and bold aesthetic bias. Paying homage to Japanese sword films in black and white (the 7 samurai for example), he delivers a short film based on a nervous pencil, simple colors revolving around gray / black / white. All this brings out the red of the lightsabers whose episode explores all the mystique of the story. While insisting on the beauty, the nobility of these weapons of a past time. The extremely simple story is further constructed as a double tribute. To the 7 Samurai and also to Revenge of the Sith. A ronin comes to the aid of peasants ransomed by mercenaries and a Sith. The opportunity to offer a creative and epic sword fight. This one is inspired on the one hand by the face to face Anakin / Obi wan whether in the unfolding (the waterfall) as in the music. But it is enriched by very Japanese passages: positioning, sword / umbrella, iconization of warriors. And as the animation is extraordinary and the inventiveness permanent, the episode is full of eyes and ideally inaugurates Star Wars Visions

Episode 2  Tatooine Rhapsody : Jedi Rock's

The Colorido studio certainly offers the most surprising and destabilizing story of this beginning of anthology. In the middle of the Clone Wars, a young Jedi apprentice escapes death by falling from the top of a ledge. He is cared for by a Hutt named Geezer. Some time later, the Jedi became a member of the J-pop rock band led by his savior. Until Boba Fett arrives and seizes Geezer to deliver him to Boba Fett.  The sequel is a zany story carried by the chi-bi look of the protagonists and the frenzied rhythm of the songs. Against the tide of the first episode, this second opus is all colorful, funny, cute. The hopeful final moral may make Star Wars fans tick. But let's thank Colorido for being at the end of its approach and offering a moment of sweet madness.

Episode 3, The Twins. Trigger defies gravity

With the Trigger studio at the helm (Kill la Kill, Promare), you know that you will be amazed in terms of color and action. This third episode does not disappoint on this aspect because it offers us an epic duel between two twins raised in the dark side. Obviously, this face-to-face pushes the boundaries of logic: gravity, breathing in a vacuum. Everything is sacrificed for the benefit of an extraordinary, beautiful, lively and creative visual spectacle. At the same time, the episode does not forget to enrich the Star Wars mythology. Two children created by force, raised as clones, a mysterious weapon, the power of Kyber crystals. The best of Episode II Attack of the Clones meets the few good ideas of Episode IX The Rise of Skywalker. A Dantesque show enriched with a deeper story than it seems. This first third of the Star Visions anthology ideally launches the series. Inspired, bold, beautiful, referenced, these episodes will delight both Star Wars fans and animation lovers. Let's bet that Disney will continue on this path by giving creatives greater latitude.