Star Wars is releasing arguably its most daring reimagining of the galaxy far, far away with Star Wars: Visions, a series of anime short films arriving Wednesday on Disney+. But when, precisely, will the nine shorts arrive on the streaming platform?
Announced in December 2020, the anthology series presents Star Wars through the lens of anime studios Kamikaze Douga, Geno Studio , Studio Colorido, Studio Trigger, Kinema Citrus, Science Saru and Production I.G. Set outside of canon, and featuring new characters, the shorts use the Jedi, the Sith and, of course, droids, as well as some outlandish lightsabers, to explore the Star Wars franchise from different perspectives.
"We really wanted to give these creators a wide creative berth to explore all the imaginative potential of the Star Wars galaxy through the unique lens of anime," said Star Wars: Visions executive producer James Waugh. "We realized we wanted these to be as authentic as possible to the studios and creators who are making them, made through their unique process, in a medium they’re such experts at. So the idea was, this is their vision riffing off all the elements of the Star Wars galaxy that inspired them — hopefully to make a really incredible anthology series, unlike anything we’ve seen before in the Star Wars galaxy."
Star Wars: Visions will release Wednesday, Sept. 22, at 12:01 a.m. PT/3:01 a.m ET on Disney+. That's in keeping with other series and films, which traditionally arrive on the streaming platform on Wednesdays or Fridays.
The first season consists of "The Duel," from Kamikaze Douga (Batman Ninja); Lop and Ochō, from Golden Kamuy; Tatooine Rhapsody, from Studio Colorido (Burn the Witch); The Twins and The Elder, from Studio Trigger (Kill la Kill); The Village Bride, from Kinema Citrus (Tokyo Magnitude 8.0); Akakiri and T0-B1, from Science Saru (Devilman Crybaby); and The Ninth Ninja, from Production I.G. (Ghost in the Shell).
Along with familiar concepts, the English-language version of Star Wars: Visions includes voices that fans will no doubt recognize: among them, Lucy Liu, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Alison Brie, Simu Liu, Masi Oka, Neil Patrick Harris, George Takei, David Harbour, and franchise veteran Temuera Morrison, reprising his role as Boba Fett.
Star Wars: Visions was announced in December 2020 as part of slate of projects that included director Patty Jenkins' Star Wars: Rogue Squadron, Taika Waititi's untitled film, Ahsoka, Lando, The Acolyte and A Droid Story.