The Star Wars franchise is set to revisit one of its most iconic moments—the destruction of the Death Star—in a bold and innovative way with the upcoming release of Star Wars: Visions Volume 3. A new episode titled BLACK, written and directed by acclaimed anime filmmaker Shinya Ohira, promises to deliver a fresh perspective on this pivotal event, presenting it through the eyes of a Stormtrooper in a visually striking and emotionally complex narrative. Revealed during a special preview at Anime NYC, the episode is poised to redefine how fans experience this legendary moment in the Star Wars universe.
The Star Wars: Visions anthology series is renowned for inviting animation studios from around the globe to bring their unique artistic visions to the franchise through standalone episodes. For Volume 3, the focus returns to Japanese animation studios, continuing the tradition established in the first season. Ohira, a veteran animator known for his contributions to seminal works like Akira and Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away, has crafted BLACK with an experimental, psychedelic style that sets it apart from previous depictions of the Death Star’s destruction.
In a pre-recorded Q&A screened at Anime NYC, Ohira elaborated on the creative vision behind the episode:
We wanted to offer a film that was mainly based on Sakura Fujiawara’s singing voice set against these visuals of intense battles. That was our vision as we made the film. As for the interpretation of the story, the viewers, the people watching it, we kind of wanted to leave it up to them… so that’s how we made it. We really got down into some fine details for this film. There’s the Death Star… The setting is really super detailed, and the stormtroopers, drawing out the action in the battle scenes, it was really quite an arduous task for the animators. So that was painful, but it was worth it, and the end result really speaks for itself… It’s really kind of something nobody’s ever seen before.
BLACK centers on a single Stormtrooper amidst the chaos of the Death Star’s final moments, offering a deeply personal perspective on the galactic conflict. The episode doesn’t shy away from exploring the broader themes of the Star Wars saga, particularly the eternal struggle between light and dark. By delving into the psyche of an Imperial soldier, the story underscores the pervasive nature of this conflict, presenting it in a way that resonates on both an intimate and cosmic scale.
The production of BLACK pushed the boundaries of animation, with Ohira’s team meticulously crafting the intricate details of the Death Star’s environment and the frenetic energy of the battle sequences. The psychedelic aesthetic, paired with Fujiawara’s haunting vocals, creates a sensory experience that aims to immerse viewers in the emotional and visual intensity of the moment. Ohira’s reputation for groundbreaking animation techniques suggests that BLACK will offer a visually stunning and thought-provoking addition to the Visions anthology.
Star Wars: Visions Volume 3 continues the series’ tradition of blending the Star Wars universe with diverse animation styles, bringing fresh perspectives to familiar stories. With Ohira at the helm of BLACK, alongside other animation veterans contributing to the season, the anthology promises to deliver a collection of episodes that honor the franchise’s legacy while pushing its creative boundaries.
Star Wars: Visions Volume 3 is set to premiere on Disney+ on October 29, 2025. Fans can also stream the first two seasons of the anthology, along with the entire Star Wars catalog, on the platform now.
You can watch the first look at Star Wars: Visions Volume 3 below:
Source: Anime NYC (via Comicbook.com)
