Potential minor spoilers for the various stories in Star Wars: Visions ahead.
Star Wars: Visions may shape up to be one of the most unique mainstream entries in the franchise when it finally premieres on Disney Plus later this month. As a collection of 9 animated shorts from a number of acclaimed Japanese anime studios, the very concept has already intrigued fans and newcomers alike. Now, the official Star Wars blog decided to amp up the anticipation with a little character spotlight, but it's not just the heroes who get to enjoy the focus.
The antagonists in the upcoming Star Wars: Visions are certainly going to pack a punch. For some, that refers to how deep their characters are shaping up to be. For others, it probably means literal punching. So if nothing else, there's sure to be an eclectic variety when it comes to the baddies in the newest batch of stories to grace the Star Wars universe.
First off, there's The Elder from the short helpfully titled "The Elder" by Studio Trigger (known for hits like Kill la Kill and Little Witch Academia). This villain clearly leans far more towards the deep end of the spectrum than the punchy end, as his sinister vibe and mysterious origins only scratch the surface of who he is. While he gives off a distinctly Sith-esque aura, his true goals lie elsewhere. Next up is another Studio Trigger offering with "The Twins." This short follows a pair of siblings who were raised surrounded by the Dark Side of The Force. One sibling, Karre, managed to escape from that influence and make his own way. But his sister Am still struggles and faces a dark path. Sporting an intimidating dark armor suit, she's an extremely powerful master of the Dark Side, but her brother still hasn't given up on her.
Now things get to the punchy side of things with Masago. Appearing in "Akakiri" by the studio Science Saru (who recently worked on Netflix's Japan Sinks), she's a powerful brute with charisma to match. The short sees her trying to recruit allies to her cause, proving her own dedication to the Dark Side. In a similar vein, the unnamed Sith Bandit Leader from "The Duel." Created by studio Kamikaze Douga, this story takes plenty of cues from Akira Kurosawa's classic film Seven Samurai, as a lone drifter must aid a helpless village in defending itself against a ruthless villain. The Leader herself is heavily inspired by classic cinema as well, particularly a famous Japanese female warrior from the '70s called Lady Snowblood (which itself inspired Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill).
Finally, the spotlight shifts to The Inquisitor, who appears in the short "T0-B1." Another one from Science Saru, this story sees a droid pretending to be a Jedi, only to attract the attention of a deadly Inquisitor sent by Darth Vader to hunt down any remaining Jedi after the Order 66 purge. Inspired by the classic medieval "Black Knight" character, The Inquisitor is heavily armored and fights with almost primal ferocity. Hey, it's nice when someone truly enjoys the work they do.
That's just a small glimpse at the various Star Wars characters viewers will see when Visions shows up on Disney Plus. Whether or not it's everybody's cup of tea can be debated. But either way, it's sure to be a truly unique take on a galaxy far, far away.
Star Wars: Visions premieres on September 22nd, 2021, on Disney Plus.
Source: StarWars.com