George Lucas drew inspiration from Japanese storytelling for Star Wars. The original trilogy took cues from works like Seven Samurai by Akira Kurosawa, incorporating symbols and military references reminiscent of feudal Japan. This mutual influence led to a surge in sci-fi films in Japan, notably animated creations like Akira. Now, the convergence of these inspirations is on the horizon.
During Anime Expo, Disney and LucasFilm unveiled Star Wars: Visions, a series of anime shorts set in the Star Wars universe. Each short is crafted by a distinct anime studio, including renowned names like Kamikaze Douga, Geno Studio, and Studio Trigger.
Executive producer James Waugh expressed, “Japanese animation has fueled the creativity at Lucasfilm for years. It’s exciting to see Star Wars depicted in this style.”
First look at ‘Star Wars: Visions’
It is an anthology of anime short filmspic.twitter.com/BE17c9t0PK
— Culture Crave ? (@CultureCrave) July 3, 2021
The official description states, “Each “Star Wars: Visions” short embraces a distinct Japanese flair, echoing the essence of Star Wars storytelling. The Star Wars universe has always drawn from Japanese mythology and the works of Akira Kurosawa, and these new visions will delve deeper into that cultural tapestry through diverse anime styles.”
Star Wars: Visions will premiere exclusively on Disney+ on September 22, 2021.
