From “Star Wars: Visions”, a project in which seven Japanese animation studios will create a new “Star Wars” work, the scene photos and story of “The Ninth Jedi” by Production I.G have been announced.

“Star Wars: Visions” is an animation project by Kamikaze Doga, Kinema Citrus, Science SARU, Geno Studio, Studio Colorido, TRIGGER, and Production I.G. The project will be streamed exclusively on Disney+ from 4:00 pm on September 22.

“The Ninth Jedi” is a story about the rebirth of the Jedi Knights directed by Kamiyama Kenji, who has worked on “Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex”, “Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit”, and “Higashi no Eden”.

Juro, a frontier count who plans to revive the Jedi Order, calls upon the Jedi to present him with an ancient weapon, a lightsaber, and seven Jedi gather at the aerial temple on the frontier planet of Hi-Izuran.
At the same time, Zhima, a Saber Smith, is perfecting his lightsaber at Juro’s behest. However, Zhima is captured by Jedi hunters who plan to resurrect the Sith. Zhima’s daughter, Kara, who was entrusted with the lightsaber, escapes her pursuers and heads for the aerial temple ……

The scene shows Kara, a girl running away from her pursuers on a speeder-like vehicle with a green lightsaber in her hand. The film is set in a time period after “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker”. After finally perfecting the lightsaber, her father suddenly entrusts her with the task of delivering it to the Jedi, and Kara heads to the aerial temple. What fate awaits her?

Along with the information announcement, director Kamiyama’s comments were also released, in which he talks about his encounter with “Star Wars: A New Hope (Episode IV)” released in 1978, and his aim for the film.

＜The following is the full text of his comments＞

[Director Kenji Kamiyama of “The Ninth Jedi”]
Director Kamiyama said, “When ‘Star Wars: A New Hope (Episode IV)’ was first released in Japan in 1978, there was a lot of talk about it before it came out, and I went to see it in theaters as soon as it came out, which was really wonderful. I would say it was rather than watching a single movie, but I felt like I had entered the world of Star Wars. At the same time, for some reason, I thought to myself, ‘I want to be the person who makes this.” He is such a big fan of “Star Wars”.

This film depicts the story of the rebirth of the iconic Star Wars lightsaber and the Jedi Knights. He said, “I understood the purpose of the project as a short film, but I wanted to be a part of the true history of Star Wars that has been woven. My first idea was to create a story that was not about the Skywalker family, but a fragment of a story that could have been told in many other ways. I wanted to depict the story in the future rather than “The Rise of Skywalker” with the theme of lightsabers and Jedi, which symbolize “Star Wars,” he revealed his first idea of the work.

As for the parts that reflect Japanese culture and Japanese sensibilities, he said, “Rather than the culture itself, I incorporated details such as the kimono and lightsaber design. ‘Parent and child’ is one of the major themes of the film, but the relationship between fathers and daughters in Japan these days is closer to that of friends than ever before, and they are not as conservative about their children becoming independent as they were in the past. As for the relationship between Kara and Zhima, I put in my own thoughts that this is the kind of parent-child relationship that exists these days,” he revealed.

The film features experienced voice actors such as Miki Shinichiro as Zhima and Otsuka Akio as the narrator. Director Kamiyama said, “I think the experienced voice actors added a lot of depth to the work. When explaining the purpose of the actors’ roles, I told them that the characters are aware of Kurosawa’s films, which are mostly inspired by “Star Wars,” and I think the voice actors were able to feel something ambitious. I asked Otsuka-san to narrate the beginning of the film as an alternative to the opening of Star Wars, and I’m sure that his voice will be convincing enough to make the audience feel comfortable,” he commented, which made us have high hopes for the voice actors.

“Star Wars: Visions”
Streaming description: Exclusive streaming on Disney+ from 4:00 pm on September 22 (Wed)

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