As Disney and Lucasfilm work towards establishing a coherent and regular theatrical schedule for Star Wars once again, the Disney Plus side of things continues to evolve the galaxy far, far away. Among the franchise’s biggest animated hits, we find the Star Wars: Visions anthology series. Volume 3 is finally here, and here’s our ranking of all the shorts from Japanese studios included in this new batch.
While 2023’s Volume 2 widened Visions’ lens to include animation studios from all over the world, this new season returns to Japan’s anime tradition, with some shorts serving as follow-ups to past hits and others exploring the Star Wars galaxy in totally different (and often shocking) ways. Needless to say, none of these shorts are canon to the Star Wars timeline, though we and many fans would be more than happy to admit some of them as part of the continuity.
Light spoilers ahead for all episodes of Star Wars: Visions Volume 3 and some previous Volume 1 shorts.
9. ‘The Bird of Paradise’ (Polygon Pictures)
It’s no secret Polygon Pictures’ 3DCG approach to anime isn’t celebrated by many animation enthusiasts, and while their stab at crafting a compelling Star Wars short makes bigger efforts than past projects to have a distinct look, the result remains odd and video game-like in a negative way. Whereas critically acclaimed movies like the Spider-Verse films have proven there’s more than enough room to wow with a mix of 3D, traditional, and experimental animation, The Bird of Paradise never manages to move past the ‘3D anime’ uncanny valley that plagues many animated shows and flicks.
Even if you can get past the jarring presentation, there’s not much to the story being told here. With most shorts running under 20 minutes, a brisk pacing and very clear structure are important to say something and leave a mark. Instead, The Bird of Paradise feels like the late-act-two dramatic beat of an actual tale, which is why it’s hard to connect with its lead Jedi Padawan’s struggle or the tired philosophy it relentlessly throws at the viewer in hopes of making an emotional impact.
