Lucasfilm has revealed exciting new details about the highly anticipated third volume of the acclaimed animated anthology series, Star Wars: Visions, set to premiere on Disney+ on October 29, 2025. Announced via the official Star Wars Japan X account, the series returns to its Japanese anime roots with nine brand-new shorts crafted by some of Japan’s most renowned animation studios. A striking key visual, showcasing the diverse and vibrant storytelling of the upcoming volume, was unveiled at Lucasfilm’s inaugural panel at Anime NYC, offering a glimpse into the galaxy far, far away through unique cultural lenses.
The third volume of Star Wars: Visions builds on the success of its predecessors, which debuted in 2021 and 2023, respectively. Unlike the second volume, which featured global animation studios from countries like India, Ireland, and South Korea, Volume 3 focuses exclusively on Japanese studios, celebrating the rich tradition of anime artistry. The anthology will feature contributions from both returning studios—Kamikaze Douga, Kinema Citrus Co., Production I.G, and TRIGGER—and new participants, including ANIMA (in co-production with Kamikaze Douga), David Production, Polygon Pictures, Project Studio Q, and WIT Studio. This lineup promises a diverse array of visual styles and narrative approaches, each offering a fresh interpretation of the Star Wars universe.
A highlight of the Anime NYC panel was an advance screening of the short Black, produced by David Production and written, directed, designed, and key-animated by veteran animator Shinya Ohira, known for his work on iconic films like Akira and Spirited Away. Described by Lucasfilm’s Senior Vice President of Franchise Content and Strategy, James Waugh, as the anthology’s most experimental entry yet, Black is set during the final moments of the Death Star’s destruction. The dialogue-free short relies on vivid visuals and a powerful score, emphasizing the human struggle amidst chaos. Ohira, in a pre-recorded Q&A, explained that the short uses red and green hues to symbolize opposing facets of humanity, akin to the Jedi and Sith, leaving the narrative open to audience interpretation. The three-year production, blending veteran and young animators, incorporates jazz-infused visuals inspired by anime studio Pierrot and animator Masahito Yamashita, creating an explosive and euphoric experience.
The panel also revealed that Volume 3 will continue storylines from three beloved shorts from Volume 1: The Duel, The Village Bride, and The Ninth Jedi. These continuations will provide connective tissue to their original narratives, deepening the anthology’s mythology. Notably, director Takanobu Mizuno confirmed the return of the Ronin in The Duel: Payback, a follow-up to the fan-favorite short from Volume 1.
Additionally, a significant announcement was made regarding The Ninth Jedi. Production I.G is developing a miniseries titled Star Wars: Visions Presents - The Ninth Jedi, set to release on Disney+ in 2026. Directed by Kenji Kamiyama, the series will expand the story of Kara and Juro from The Ninth Jedi and its Volume 3 continuation, The Ninth Jedi: Child of Hope, into a longer-form narrative under the new Star Wars: Visions Presents banner.
The newly unveiled key visual highlights the anthology’s diverse storytelling, featuring elements like the broken armor of nightmarish stormtroopers from Black and characters from returning shorts, such as the Ronin, F from The Village Bride, and Lah Kara from The Ninth Jedi. The visual also teases new stories, including The Smuggler, The Bounty Hunters, and The Bird of Paradise, each showcasing distinct artistic styles that reflect the creativity of the participating studios.
The nine shorts featured in Star Wars: Visions Volume 3 are:
The Duel: Payback (Kamikaze Douga/ANIMA)
The Lost Ones (Kinema Citrus Co.)
The Ninth Jedi: Child of Hope (Production I.G)
Yuko’s Treasure (Kinema Citrus Co.)
The Smuggler (Studio TRIGGER)
The Bounty Hunters (WIT Studio)
The Song of Four Wings (Project Studio Q)
The Bird of Paradise (Polygon Pictures)
Black (David Production)
The first volume of Star Wars: Visions, released in September 2021, introduced the anthology format with nine shorts, all produced by Japanese anime studios. It featured iconic stories like The Duel, which introduced the Ronin and a Sith-inspired antagonist, and The Ninth Jedi, which explored a post-Jedi Order galaxy through the lens of a lightsaber-smith’s daughter. Other notable entries included Tatooine Rhapsody by Studio Colorido and Lop & Ochō by Geno Studio, blending Star Wars mythology with Japanese cultural influences. Volume 1 was celebrated for its bold visuals and non-canonical storytelling, allowing studios to explore the Star Wars universe without the constraints of the main saga’s timeline.
Volume 2, released in May 2023, expanded the anthology’s scope by incorporating international studios, resulting in a culturally diverse set of nine shorts. Highlights included Sith by Spain’s El Guiri Studios, which combined painterly visuals with a tale of redemption, and Aau’s Song by South Africa’s Triggerfish Animation, which brought an African-inspired perspective to the Force. While Volume 2 embraced global storytelling, it maintained the anthology’s commitment to innovative animation and unique interpretations of the Star Wars galaxy.
Star Wars: Visions Volume 3 promises to deliver a captivating blend of innovative animation and compelling storytelling when it debuts on Disney+ on October 29, 2025. Fans can revisit the galaxy’s unique cultural perspectives by streaming all episodes of Star Wars: Visions Volume 1 and Volume 2 now on Disney+.
