After only Japanese anime studios approached the world of “Star Wars” in their own unique way in the first season of “Star Wars: Visions”, Lucasfilm has now expanded the field for a follow-up season. The nine new short films come from all over the world – and that makes for a wonderful variety. Very, very different styles emerge here – they all use the animated film genre for real visual power. There has never been such outrageous form in “Star Wars”.
I like all nine shorts in Star Wars: Visions Season 2 in their own way, but for those who aren’t sure where to start, here are three favorites.
“Sith”: art versus darkness
From the Spanish animation studio El Guiri comes Sith, an episode that perfectly underlines what an artistic approach can achieve in short film. An artist in solitude finds fulfillment, but darkness continues to trickle into her colorful paintings. The reason for this is already clear from the title, but it only really becomes clear when their old master shows up on the planet. In the ensuing battle, lightsaber duel and painting fade into an awe-inspiring visual frenzy.
“I am your mother”: Aardman style comedy
The most famous studio to have contributed a short film for the second season of “Star Wars: Visions” is that of Aardman’s kneading stop-motion artists*, who have already given us “Shaun the Sheep” or “Wallace & Gromit”. Your contribution is not only notable for its well-known style, but also because “I am your mother” is a humorous denouement between many rather dark stories.
The Polish director Magdalena Osinska succeeds in creating a certainly not innovative, but very entertaining and moving story about a daughter who has to realize that her mother is not so ashamed after all. This is presented as part of a fast-paced and visually playful and surprisingly staged race, which even – with the absolute exception of the non-canon story series – involves a “Star Wars” canon character.
“The Dance of Revenge”: The Resistance Against the Space Nazis!
A very different story is offered by “Der Rachetanz”, where real stories about the organized resistance against the Nazis in France, also from nightclubs where the occupiers party, are simply transferred to the world of “Star Wars” and the uprising against the Empire . Here, too, the visual idea of director Julien Chheng, whose feature film “Ernest & Célestine: The Journey to the Land of Music” will soon hit theaters, is first-class.
He impressively stages the main character, who whirls through the air and characterizes the original English title “The Spy Dancer”. He makes this season’s short film, which best combines visual power with a touching, suspenseful and action-packed story – and ends substantively with a note, after which I immediately wished for a sequel.
“Star Wars: Visions” now on Disney Plus: worth seeing!
Overall, I enjoyed season 2 of Star Wars: Visions, and other titles like the touching rag doll, stop-motion gem Aau’s Song earned a place in my top three highlights of the season. But In the end, the three titles that have now been chosen are not only my personal favorites, but also give a wonderful impression of how different the short films can be tonally and especially visually.
The second season of “Star Wars: Visions“Like the opening season, it’s not for people who watch ‘Star Wars’ because they want to experience a big, cohesive plot. But it’s for anyone who wants to be enchanted by the magic of this rich and diverse world and who likes a playful visual feast for the eyes.