Four years ago,Star Wars: Visionsgave us one of the most imaginative lightsaber duels the franchise has ever seen, and it looks like we’re about to get a sequel.Star Wars: Visionsis one ofStar Wars’most innovative productions. By selectingnotable animation studios from across the globe to create and produce their unique takes onStar Wars, the galaxy’s possibilities have truly become infinite. The universe is vast, after all. No one world is the same, and no two people are the same, either.
What’s most interesting aboutStar Wars: Visionsis how this diverse array of creatives has interpreted the Force, what it means to be a Jedi or a Sith, and how lightsabers function and differ per wielder. This is perhaps most apparent inStar Wars: Visions’first-ever episode, “The Duel,” produced by Japanese animation studio Kamikaze Douga. This episode was so well-received that it inspired a full novel,Ronin: A Visions Novel, by Emma Mieko Candon, and two one-shot comics by Kamikaze Douga’s very own Takashi Okazaki, both published by Marvel.
Quick Links
Star Wars: Visions Kicked Off With An Incredible Lightsaber Duel
The titular duel in thisStar Wars: Visionsepisode is unparalleled. Yes, the story in the short was more than interesting enough, given the spinoffs produced as a result. Yetthe lightsaber duel between the Ronin and the Sith Bandit Leader, Kouru, is the undeniable highlight of the episode.Not just because of the surprise reveal that the Ronin is, in fact, not a Jedi, but because of how the duel is choreographed and animated.
Both wielders have unusual lightsabers – the Sith bandit wields a rotating, umbrella-like lightsaber that functions similarly to the Inquisitors’ helicopter lightsabers but is even more deadly. The Ronin stops her first attack using only the Force, his hands surrounding the lethal blade. The sound the blades make when they meet is sometimes that of two metal swords, and the way the two characters are completely immersed in their environment, using the objects around them as weapons, makes the whole thing feel much more threatening and visceral.
Animation Provides The Best Medium For Lightsaber Fights
I am not saying thatStar Wars’ live-action lightsaber duels cannot be immersive or impactful. Of course, they can – there’s a reason the duels of the prequel trilogy are so beloved. Yet there’s no denyingthat animation, as a medium, is the superior way to depict lightsaber fights inStar Wars.Force users are supposed to be capable of doing the impossible. High jumps, lightning-quick reflexes, flexibility, speed, and strength, are all enhanced. Live-action restricts that kind of movement, however.
“The Duel,” otherStar Wars: Visionsstories like “Journey to the Dark Head,” or “The Bandits of Golak,” and the lightsaber duels seen inStar Wars: The Clone WarsandStar Wars Rebelsare often much more dynamic and fast-paced. They allow the magic and mystery ofStar Warsto be brought to life without compromising creativity and imagination. Those who have only watchedStar Wars’live-action stories have no idea what Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ahsoka Tano, and other belovedStar Warscharacters are genuinely capable of. Anakin’s power as the Chosen One, in particular, is more apparent in animatedStar Warsthan in live-action.
Those who have only watched Star Wars’ live-action stories have no idea what Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ahsoka Tano, and other beloved Star Wars characters are genuinely capable of.
The only one who comes close to showcasing what the Jedi can do in live-action is Yoda, inStar Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith. That’s only because the character was essentially animated, despite being introduced as a puppet in the originalStar Warstrilogy. Live-actionStar Warshas so much to offer, but for some of the galaxy’s stories, the choice of medium is clear.
It Looks As Though We’re Getting A Sequel This Year
Luckily, there’s a solid chance we’ll get another lightsaber battle sequence just as exciting as the one in “The Duel” soon, asStar Wars: Visionsvolume 3is set to be released this year. The animation studio behindVisions’first episode is returning to the fray this year. They will be collaborating with a new studio, ANIMA. While this particular short may or may not be a direct sequel to “The Duel” or the Ronin’s story, artistically, at the very least, there’s a chance we’ll be able to spot similar techniques and creative choices. (The Ronin’s English voice actorhas, however, hinted that the character will return, perhaps in volume 3).
All 9 Star Wars: Visions Season 2 Episodes Ranked From Worst To Best
Star Wars: Visions season 2 has dropped on Disney Plus, so in honor of May the Fourth, here are all 9 episodes ranked from worst to best.
The beauty ofStar Warsis that it can be anything. Within this vast world, there are thousands of options to choose from. Genres, environments, characters, combat styles, ship designs, narrative tropes – anything is possible. That’s the advantage ofStar Wars: Visions, and the advantage of animation in general. What kind of lightsaber duels will we see next? What kind ofinnovative lightsaber designswill tickle our imaginations this time? Hopefully, we’ll learn Wars: Visionsvolume 3 at this year’sStar WarsCelebration in Japan.
2025
