Star Wars: Visions – Volume 2 – Disney+ Original Review
Following the success of the first volume of animated shorts, “Star Wars: Visions” has returned with another batch of nine new shorts that offer a dynamic new perspective on the storied mythos of Star Wars. But unlike the first volume, which Japanese anime studios created, this next batch has been created by nine studios around the world, offering much more variety.
While I enjoyed the first volume of “Star Wars: Visions”, it was a bit hit and miss, whereas the second volume of “Star Wars: Visions” seems much more fun and more connected to the Star Wars we know. They feel like they could be stories from within the Star Wars Universe, but just told in a different animation medium, whereas the first volume sometimes felt more like they existed in a parallel or multi-verse, disconnected from what we know and love.
“Sith”
A former Sith apprentice, leading a peaceful, but isolated life, is confronted by the past when her old master tracks her down. “Sith” is probably one of my favourite shorts from this second volume for a few different reasons, the animation style is fantastic, as the use of paint and colours makes it stand out from the others, while also delivering a more traditional storyline of a master and an apprentice at odds, resulting in lots of fantastic Star Wars action.
Rating 5 out of 5
“Screecher’s Reach”
A young girl, seeking reprieve from her days in a rural workhouse, discovers a legendary haunted cave with her friends. The cave’s dark pull will change the trajectory of her life forever. This short has a lovely classic vibe to it, with traditional animation and some “Irish” feel. It’s another highlight in this collection of shorts.
Rating – 4.5 out of 5
“In the Stars”
Two sisters, the last of their kind who live in hiding on their ravaged land, squabble about how to survive with the Empire encroaching. On a water run, the sisters must fight back when they are discovered. This stop-motion short is another fantastic addition to the collection, with the art style different to the other stop-motion, a little more grown-up and it deals once again, with the effects of what the Empire does to its citizens.
Rating – 4 out of 5
“I Am Your Mother”
Young pilot Anni, who is embarrassed by her sweet, but clingy mum, must team with her for a madcap family race at the academy. Along the way, their relationship is tested by the elements, their old ship, other racers…and each other! As a long-time fan of Aardman animation, since the very first “Wallace and Gromit” short (there’s a cool Easter Egg reference to this too), “I Am Your Mother” is a really fun short, that has fun with the Star Wars universe, similar to how LEGO video games do.
Rating – 4 Out Of 5
“Journey to the Dark Head”
A hopeful mechanic and disillusioned young Jedi team up for a risky and unlikely quest to turn the tide of the galactic war, but dark forces tail them. This is inline with what we’ve seen in the previous volume of “Visions”, its another high-quality short and it’s great to see anime still being represented in this collection.
Rating – 4 out of 5
“The Spy Dancer”
The premier dancer at a famous, Imperial-frequented cabaret uses her unique skill-set to spy for the Rebellion, but the presence of a mysterious officer threatens to derail her mission. This is a fun and interesting short, which could easily have been a story used in “Rebels” or “The Bad Batch”. It’s based on something that used to happen in the Second World War, where entertainers would spy on soldiers, reporting back what they would overhear while the oppressors were enjoying themselves. It looks beautiful and has an interesting side subplot, really worth checking out.
Rating – 4.5 out of 5.
“The Bandits of Golak”
Fleeing from their village by train and pursued by ferocious Imperial forces, a boy and his force-sensitive younger sister seek refuge in a vibrant and dangerous dhaba. This is one of the most interesting shorts in the collection, as it gives Star Wars an Indian style, which as with many of these shorts, just feels fresh and different. The animation isn’t quite on the same level as you’d see in “The Bad Batch”, but again, this feels like a story that could have easily been featured in one of the canon animated shows.
Rating – 4 out of 5
“The Pit”
A fearless young prisoner, forced to dig for kyber by the Empire, plans a risky escape for himself and his people. This short highlights the oppression of the Empire in such a basic form of slavery, but also shows how people will often stand up for what’s right, but often only when its something they can see and hear happening in front of them.
Rating 4 out of 5.
“Aau’s Song”
An alien child who longs to sing is raised by her loving, but stern father to stay quiet because of the calamitous effect her voice has on the crystals in the nearby mines. Don’t let the soft and fluffy art style of this short put you off, as it deals with the lure of the force in a fascinating way, something we’ve not really got to see portrayed before, though it does give off some “Frozen 2” vibes!
Rating – 4 out of 5
Overall, personally, “Sith” was one of the stand-out shorts from the second volume, but all of them are well worth checking out, and if you don’t like one, you can always check out another, and it’s totally different. I really love how the “Visions” format allows for some creativity, and I can’t help but wonder how this could benefit the core team at Lucasfilm, to allow some of them a bit of flexibility or to try out new talent, in a similar way to how Pixar has its “Sparkshorts” program.
“Visions” Volume 2 is another great addition to Disney+, and I really hope we get to see more of these in the future, because its great to see something fresh and original, especially with a large franchise.
“Star Wars: Visions” Volume 2 is coming to Disney+ on May 4th 2023.
Roger Palmer
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