Star Wars: Visions Presents – The Ninth Jedi is almost here! Here’s what you need to know before watching this new Star Wars animated series.
What is Star Wars: Visions
Star Wars: Visions is a project that lets animation studios create a Star Wars story with their unique visual and storytelling styles.
For the first Volume, we got nine shorts made by seven Japanese studios infusing their own style into Star Wars stories. The result was a mesmerizing compilation of brief but extremely fun and compelling shorts.
Volume 2 was made by studios from South Africa, the United States, Chile, France, Japan, India, UK, Ireland, Spain, and South Korea. The result was something very different but equally interesting, with something good for all tastes.
For Volume 3, Japanese anime studios returned to create new Star Wars-inspired stories combined with the artistic approach of their respective studios. This Volume has some of the best episodes of the entire series.
Additionally, it also has sequel episodes of three stories that began in Volume 1. One of those is The Ninth Jedi.
Some months ago, it was announced that two stories would receive their own standalone series: The Ninth Jedi and The Village Bride.
Star Wars: Visions Presents – The Ninth Jedi is releasing in a few hours, while The Village Bride is yet to have an official release date.
Details about the series
Length
The Ninth Jedi will have a total of 8 episodes released at once. It will pick up not long after the Volume 3 short. Kara continues to train under the Margrave while continuing their quest to find and save her father.
Cast
Star Wars: Visions Presents – The Ninth Jedi is directed by Shunsuke Tada and written by Mitsuyasu Sakai. Kenji Kamiyama serves as supervising director. Executive producers are James Waugh, Jacqui Lopez, Josh Rimes, Justin Leach, and Mitsuhisa Ishikawa; the producers are Hitoshi Ito and Kanako Shirasaki, and the co-producer is Caroline Keller.
The English dub voice talent includes returning voice cast Kimiko Glenn (Lah Kara), Andrew Kishino (Juro), Masi Oka (Ethan), Patrick Seitz (Homen), JP Karliak (Gramps), and Simu Liu (Lah Zhima). Neil Kaplan returns to voice The Narrator. The new English voice talent includes Feodor Chin (Gennoh), Young Mazino (Nawaam), Chase Sui Wonders (Tafflah), and Keone Young (Kwana).
The returning original language voice talent includes Chinatsu Akasaki (Lah Kara), Tetsuo Kanao (Juro), Hiromu Mineta (Ethan), Hinata Tadokoro (Homen), Cho (Gramps), and Shinichiro Miki (Lah Zhima). Akio Otsuka returns to voice The Narrator.
Lore
Since we have explored this universe in just a few shorts, the knowledge we have is limited. Nonetheless, these are some important facts about The Ninth Jedi.
- Jedi are a rare sight in the galaxy; many believe them to be extinct.
- The current Sith are actively hunting down what remains of the Jedi Order.
- In this series, the color and length of a lightsaber change depending on the user and their alignment to the light or dark side.
- Nothing that happens in Star Wars: Visions is part of the current canon timeline.
Recommendations
This is a collaboration between Lucasfilm and Production I.G. (Kaiju No.8, Psycho Pass, Haikyu!!). Don’t expect it to be a copy of what already exists. There are likely many similarities, while there’s also the possibility that some topics or ideas are presented in a very different way.
I suggest that you watch the previous shorts to have a better understanding of the story. “The Ninth Jedi” is Episode 5 of the first season. Its sequel, “The Ninth Jedi: Child of Hope”, is Episode 3 of the third season.
Character Guide
Lah Kara
Kara is the main protagonist of the story. She is a young girl who lives with her father, a sabersmith, on Hy Izlan. Her father is captured by Jedi Hunters, so Kara decides to ask Margrave Juro.
She began the story with a colorless lightsaber, but as she progressed, it turned into a bright green blade. Kara continues the search for her father while also encountering new and more powerful enemies.
Lah Zhima
Kara’s father, Zhima, was once a renowned Jedi Knight. He built the eight lightsabers that Margrave Juro requested right before being captured by the Jedi Hunters.
Ethan
Ethan was one of the seven people who attended Margrave Juro’s secret meeting, and the only one who didn’t show an immediate allegiance to the dark side of the Force. He is one of Kara’s companions.
Margrave Juro
A former Jedi Knight who also trained alongside Lah Zhima. His current mission is to restore the Jedi Order. Hopefully, with Kara being one of the most promising members.
99-99 (Four-Nines)
Like every Star Wars series, we have the loyal droid who is always supporting the main protagonist. Four-Nines might not look like much, but he’s just as reliable as any other iconic droid.
Homen
This strange humanoid creature also attended the Margrave’s meeting. However, he was first aligned to the dark side. After removing the darkness’ influence, his lightsaber turned purple and is now an ally of Margrave, Ethan, Kara, and Four-Nines.
Jedi Hunter Anda
Jedi Hunters are a group of merciless mercenaries who are always hunting down any potential Jedi. With Anda being one of the most dangerous ones. He is proficient with the Electrostaff, one of the best weapons to fight Jedi.
General Nawaam
This intimidating, dark figure is the enemy to defeat. His main goal is to bring chaos to the galaxy, which also includes eliminating every single Jedi. However, there’s a very interesting twist about him: he wields a blue lightsaber.
Gennoh
This Sith embodies many of the Sith’s traits: arrogant, powerful, skillful, and aggressive. Despite this, he still follows Nawaam’s orders.
Dunbai
A former Jedi Knight who is now the leader of Makoma Ko. He has been able to protect his people not with violence, but with politics and commerce.
