Star Wars: Visions—the anthology series that reimagines the Star Wars universe through the unique visions of animation studios around the world—continues its evolution with Volume 3, which will debut globally on October 29, 2025 via Disney+. The announcement was made during a dedicated panel at Star Wars Celebration Japan 2025, where participating Japanese studios shared insights into their upcoming contributions.

Following the presentations, James Waugh of Lucasfilm took the stage to confirm the official release date for Volume 3. But the biggest surprise came next.

Kenji Kamiyama (神山 健治), who wrote and directed the acclaimed short The Ninth Jedi in Visions Volume 1, made a special appearance to reveal that a new longform series titled Star Wars: Visions Presents – The Ninth Jedi is in development. Set to premiere exclusively on Disney+ in 2026, the project will build upon the original short’s storyline.

Kamiyama addressed fans with heartfelt gratitude:

“I’m truly honored to return. Volume 1 ended with Kara setting off on a journey to find her father. One of the key concepts was a lightsaber that changes color depending on the Force of its wielder, a unique weapon invented by her father, who was abducted. The new series will delve deeper into that mystery and Kara’s journey, exploring the secret behind the creation of these lightsabers in a full-length story.”

Titles and Studios in Star Wars: Visions Volume 3

▼ The Duel Payback
Studio: Kamikaze Douga (神風動画) + ANIMA
Director: Takanobu Mizuno (水野 貴信)
Character Design: Takashi Okazaki (岡崎 能士)

The ronin continues his battles following the events of the previous installment. A new character appears—a half-cyborg being known as the Grand Master, who bears a grudge against the ronin. To confront this powerful foe, the ronin joins forces with a woman known as “Ane-san.”

The concept art revealed during the event included a yakuza parent-child duo of the Anzellan species, the same race as Babu Frik from The Rise of Skywalker. Due to their small size, they rely on a Wookiee to help them get around. Also introduced were Huk, a mantis-like species inspired by aliens seen in the A New Hope cantina, and AK-BK, a new type of walker reminiscent of an AT-AT.

▼ Wandering Souls (JP: 彷徨う者たち)
Studio: Kinema Citrus (キネマシトラス)
Director: Hitoshi Haga (垪和 等)

A sequel to The Village Bride (JP: 村の花嫁).
The story follows what happens to F afterward, focusing on children who will shape the future.

▼ The Ninth Jedi: Child of Hope
Studio: Production I.G
Director/Screenwriter: Naoyoshi Shiotani (塩谷 直義)

A sequel to The Ninth Jedi.

While Kenji Kamiyama is focusing on the full-length series version, this installment is directed by Naoyoshi Shiotani (塩谷 直義) of Production I.G, who also wrote the script. The story continues to follow Kara on her journey to find her father. It portrays people caught in the midst of war, and during her travels, Kara encounters someone significant.

Shiotani shared that the theme centers on “a story she will never forget,” adding that “rather than fighting, the focus is on protecting.”

▼ Yuko’s Treasure (JP: ユコの宝物)
Studio: Kinema Citrus (キネマシトラス)
Director: Masaki Tachibana (橘 正紀)

Yuko, a spoiled child, and Billy, a bear-like caretaker droid she lives with, become entangled in an unexpected incident.

Billy is a warm and lovable presence—designed to be a source of comfort for the lonely protagonist, who is an orphan. When concept art was revealed, it sparked a huge reaction from the audience, with many exclaiming “Kawaii!”

A special clip from the main episode showed a scene in Mos Eisley on Tatooine, where Billy rescues Yuko after she crashes while riding a speeder.

▼ The Smuggler
Studio: TRIGGER (トリガー)
Director: Masahiko Otsuka (大塚 雅彦)

A brand-new story, separate from the previous work The Elder. The protagonist is a smuggler named Shita, whose costume design is inspired by Han Solo. Set on a newly created planet, the culture and cityscapes featured in the story have been entirely reimagined.

▼ The Bounty Hunters
Studio: WIT STUDIO (ウィットスタジオ)
Director: Junichi Yamamoto (山元 隼一)

The story follows Seven, a bounty hunter, and IV-A4, a transforming droid who serves as her partner.After receiving a job from a suspicious businessman, the duo gets caught up in a mysterious incident in this action-packed adventure.

▼ The Song of Four Wing (JP: 四枚羽の詩)
Studio: Project Studio Q (プロジェクトスタジオQ)
Director: Hiroyasu Kobayashi (小林 浩康)
Music: TOWA TE (テイ・トウワ)

As the title suggests, the story features elements related to X-Wings. The protagonist is a princess, accompanied by a droid hiding a secret, reminiscent of an R2 unit.

The episode also includes a variety of mechanical designs inspired by the essence of Joe Johnston, who was responsible for special effects in the original Star Wars trilogy.

▼ The Bird of Paradise (JP: 極楽鳥の花)
Studio: Polygon Pictures (ポリゴン・ピクチュアズ)
Director: Tadahiro Yoshihira (吉平 直弘)

This work aims to present a vision of Star Wars like no one has ever seen before. Just as George Lucas drew inspiration from Joseph Campbell’s mythology, this story is rooted in ancient Japanese myths.

Its core themes are prayer and dialogue with one’s inner self.

The protagonist is Nakime, who was also shown in a Dark Side version in the concept art. During the story, she becomes blind and travels between the physical world, the spiritual world, and the world of blindness.

Elements of traditional Japanese spirituality—such as sacred trees (shinboku)—are portrayed throughout the narrative.

▼ BLACK
Studio: David Production
Director: Shinya Ohira (大平 晋也)
Co-Producer: Jacob Ayer

Jacob Ayer took the stage and delivered a presentation in Japanese. The story focuses on Stormtroopers, with the concept centered around questions like:

“What kind of lives do these so-called ‘mob characters’—the troopers—lead?”
and
“I wanted to portray people who don’t have the Force.”

The footage shown featured a visually distinctive portrayal of TIE fighter pilots in what appeared to be the Trench Run from A New Hope.

With Visions Volume 3, Lucasfilm continues to expand the horizons of the Star Wars galaxy by fostering creative diversity and bold new narratives. The announcement of The Ninth Jedi series signals a growing commitment to original storytelling that resonates with longtime fans and newcomers alike.

Source : ORICON NEWS