As part of the Anime Expo Lite event this weekend, the folks at LucasFilm had a panel that looked at their previously announced Star Wars: Visions project. The project is set for a Disney+ streaming event on September 22nd, 2021 where it does what we’ve seen before in a Hollywood studio working with Japanese production folks who have a big love of a particular property, such as Animatrix and the Batman anime anthology releases we’ve seen.
Star Wars is obviously one of the bigger influences on anime back in the 80s and many animators grew up with a huge love of the films. The new trailer comes in two forms where we get the Japanese cast and the English cast for it so you can sample which one you want to enjoy..
“The Duel” by Kamikaze Douga
- Brian Tee/Masaki Terasoma as Ronin
- Lucy Liu/Akeno Watanabe as Bandit Leader
- Jaden Waldman/Yuko Sanpei as Village Chief
Director: Takanobu Mizuno (Japan Animator Expo episode director)
Character Designer Takashi Okazaki (Afro Samurai, Batman Ninja)
“Tatooine Rhapsody” by Studio Colorido (Twin Engine)
- Joseph Gordon-Levitt/Hiroyuki Yoshino as Jay
- Bobby Moynihan/Kōsuke Gotō as Geezer
- Temuera Morrison/Akio Kaneda as Boba Fett
- Shelby Young/Masayo Fujita as K-344
- Marc Thompson/Anri Katsu as Lan
About a rock band and an unexpected friendship within, with appearances by Boba Fett and Jabba the Hutt
Director: Taku Kimura
“The Twins” by Trigger
- Neil Patrick Harris/Junya Enoki as Karre
- Alison Brie/Ryoko Shiraishi as Am
- Jonathan Lipow/Tokuyoshi Kawashima as B-20N
About twins of the Dark Side, and how far a brother will go to save a sister
Director: Hiroyuki Imaishi
Character Designer: Shigeto Koyama
Lead Animator: Sushio
“The Village Bride” by Kinema Citrus
- Karen Fukuhara/Asami Seto as F
- Nichole Sakura/Megumi Han as Haru
- Christopher Sean/Yūma Uchida as Asu
- Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa as Valco/Takaya Kamikawa as Vaan
- Andrew Kishino/Yoshimitsu Shimoyama as Izuma
- Stephanie Sheh/Mariya Ise as Saku
Featuring the traditional Japanese culture of mountains
Director: Hitoshi Haga
Music: Kevin Penkin
“The Ninth Jedi” by Production I.G
- Kimiko Glenn/Chinatsu Akasaki as Kara
- Andrew Kishino/Tetsuo Kanao as Juro
- Simu Liu/Shinichiro Miki as Zhima
- Masi Oka/Hiromu Mineta as Ethan
- Greg Chun/Kazuya Nakai as Roden
- Neil Kaplan/Akio Ohtsuka as Narrator
- Michael Sinterniklaas/Daisuke Hirakawa as Hen Jin
About Jedi who need to come back, reunite, and restore the galaxy
Director: Kenji Kamiyama
Executive producer: Mitsuhisa Ishikawa
“T0-B1” by Science SARU
- Jaden Waldman/Masako Nozawa as T0-B1
- Kyle Chandler/Tsutomu Isobe as Mitaka
About a cute droid, inspired by the works of Osamu Tezuka, particularly Astro Boy
Director: Abel Góngora
Character Designer: Takafumi Hori
“The Elder” by Trigger
- David Harbour/Takaya Hashi as Tajin
- Jordan Fisher/Yūichi Nakamura as Dan
- James Hong/Kenichi Ogata as The Elder
A homage to the relationship between a Master and a Padawan
Director: Masahiko Otsuka
“Lop & Ochō” by Geno Studio (Twin Engine)
- Anna Cathcart/Seiran Kobayashi as Lop
- Hiromi Dames/Risa Shimizu as Ocho
- Paul Nakauchi/Tadahisa Fujimura as Yasaburo
- Kyle McCarley/Taisuke Nakano as Imperial Officer
About beauty in all its imperfections
Director: Yuuki Igarashi
“Akakiri” by Science SARU
- Henry Golding/Yū Miyazaki as Tsubaki
- Jamie Chung/Lynn as Misa
- George Takei/Chō as Senshuu
- Keone Young/Wataru Takagi as Kamahachi
- Lorraine Toussaint/Yukari Nozawa as Masago
About a Jedi and a princess, but not the ones we have known
Director: Eunyoung Choi