Star Wars: Visions Volume Two Early Review

The animated side of Star Wars has arguably given fans some of the best Star Wars content ever. The likes of The Clone Wars, Rebels and The Bad Batch each tell phenomenal stories, introducing awesome characters as well as further fleshing out fan favorites and strengthening our connections with them. In 2021, the animated side of the Star Wars universe grew with Star Wars: Visions. Visions was an anthology series of short films showcasing various animation styles from many different Japanese animation studios. It’s fair to say that audiences quickly fell in love with the series and the several ‘anime’ inspired animation styles used over the course of its nine enthralling offerings. Suffice it to say that Star Wars: Visions Volume Two has a lot to live up to.

Star Wars: Visions Volume Two promised more stunning animation and much of the same emotionally impactful storytelling that had viewers of the previous volume hooked. Thankfully, this latest volume lives up to those promises and so much more. Volume Two’s various animation styles this time around are much more accessible to audiences than just those who are fans of anime. Likewise, this volume also tells some of the deepest and most emotional stories in Star Wars history. This is certainly not something to be missed.

Star Wars: Visions Volume Two tells nine uniquely different stories in an anthology format, showcasing the impressive skills from some of the best animation studios from around the world (see below). First off, the animation is flawless. Featuring some of the most prevalent animation styles of today, Volume Two is much more accessible to potential new viewers. Animation styles such as 2D, stop-motion, 3D, and anime all get chances to shine in some of the best examples of each in recent memory. Many of the most prominent animation studios working today each present some truly sensational animation that will certainly have audiences falling head over heels for these latest shorts. 

Meanwhile, Volume Two also allows for much more cultural diversity as it saw studios from different countries and cultures putting their unique spin on Star Wars and what it means to them. Whether it’s full-on lightsaber battles, destiny, family or the Empire’s segregation of the galaxy, Visions Volume Two delves into it all. On top of that, the animation studios portray the Star Wars universe and its planets as a representation of their beautiful cultures. For example, 88 Pictures, a studio from Mumbai, India, animate some of the best, authentic and stunning world design in any animated Star Wars project. The costumes, buildings, vehicles and music exemplify Indian culture to gorgeous effect, making us wish the Star Wars universe did this more.

As gorgeous as Star Wars: Visions is, it would be nothing without equally beautiful storytelling. Each story is intricately crafted, fully engrossed viewers with its characters and worlds. They will inherently be invested as each animation studio hook fans in emotionally and occasionally making many tear up. Each short is without a doubt some of the best storytelling in all Star Wars. Episodes like “The Spy Dancer”, “Screechers Reach”, “Sith”, and “I am Your Mother” are easily among the best, but even the less compelling episodes are still Star Wars gold.

In the end, Star Wars: Visions remains to be one of the best pieces of Star Wars content in years. Its beautiful storytelling and compelling characters in some of the best animation in a long time. Star Wars: Visions fans will adore Volume Two, and new audiences will undoubtedly find more than one thing to love about the show.

The shorts included in “Star Wars: Visions” Volume 2 were created by the following international animation studios: El Guiri (Spain), Cartoon Saloon (Ireland), Punkrobot (Chile), Aardman (United Kingdom), Studio Mir (South Korea) Studio La Cachette (France), 88 Pictures (India), D’art Shtajio (Japan), and Triggerfish (South Africa). D’Art Shtajio’s short was created in collaboration with Lucasfilm Ltd. (United States). 

*still courtesy of Lucasfilm*

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Olly Dyche

Journalist, Writer, Film Critic and Professional Nerd. You will probably find Olly at the cinema chomping down on some popcorn and taking in the glorious visuals of the latest theatrical release.