Lucasfilm ventured into uncharted waters with Star Wars: Visions. The idea was to hand the keys to the galaxy far, far away over to some of Japan’s best animation studios, freeing them from continuity restraints and letting each tell the stories they wanted. The shorts, done in anime style and often incorporating Japanese cultural influences — see “The Ronin,” a gorgeous blend of samurai folklore and iconography with Star Wars — were unlike anything the company had ever produced. It proved to be a critical hit and resonated with fans, yet for Volume 2, Lucasfilm decided to do something different.
“Volume 1 was incredibly successful for us, and incredibly validating because I think we all felt we had something special. We all worked so hard to try to bring it