‘The Ninth Jedi’ Directors Talk About the Creation of Their ‘Star Wars: Visions’ Series

Kenji Kamiyama and Shunsuke Tada

With the debut of Star Wars: The Ninth Jedi, the latest animated limited series from Lucasfilm and Production I.G launching on Disney+ and Hulu on August 5, enthusiasts can look forward to an intriguing return to the beloved universe first showcased in the inaugural volume of the Star Wars: Visions anthology nearly five years ago.

The new eight-episode saga follows the protagonist Lah Kara as she continues her journey to become a genuine Jedi under the mentorship of Margrave Juro. Her deadly mission is to rescue her father while thwarting the sinister schemes of an enigmatic Sith leader. Directed by Shunsuke Tada (Legend of the Galactic Heroes, Opus Colors) and penned by Mitsuyasu Sakai, with Kenji Kamiyama (LOTR: The War of the Rohirrim, Blade Runner: Black Lotus, Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045) as supervising director, the limited series is executive produced by James Waugh, Jacqui Lopez, Josh Rimes, Justin Leach, and Mitsuhisa Ishikawa, with Hitoshi Ito and Kanako Shirasaki as producers.

“When we initially received the call from Lucasfilm around seven years ago to collaborate on the Star Wars: Visions anthology, I was incredibly thrilled because the project provided us the liberty and chance to craft our own Star Wars narratives,” Kamiyama shares. “Thus, our journey commenced with the first short that premiered in 2021, and due to the global fans’ affection for the Jedi tale, we’ve returned for a second short and now this limited series.”

As per the supervising director, approximately 200 Production I.G staff collaborated on the series alongside him at the Tokyo-based studio, which is renowned for Mamoru Oshii’s Ghost in the Shell (1995) and its sequel Ghost in the Shell: Innocence (2004), in addition to Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade (1999) and The End of Evangelion (1997).

Kamiyama perceives considerable parallels between the new series’ protagonist, Lah Kara, and Luke Skywalker. “Much like Luke, Kara starts off as an unfamiliar character, but as she cultivates a meaningful rapport with Margrave Juro, a mysterious Jedi master, she uncovers her authentic path and adventure through this mentor. Besides being the chosen one, she is also exceptionally skilled, fortunate, and possesses an outgoing nature. This is why viewers appear to connect with her.”

The director notes that while George Lucas drew inspiration from ancient Japanese myths and samurai customs, anime and manga creators in Japan have also been significantly influenced by the Star Wars films and television series over the years.

“There is remarkable harmony between the realms of Star Wars and anime,” Kamiyama states. “One can find droids, spacecraft, mecha, and cosmic exploration in both domains. Numerous Japanese animators have been motivated by Star Wars since the debut film in 1976, and every following generation has also been shaped by the sequels and spin-offs. It’s such a natural connection between anime and this franchise. There are countless characters I admire in this universe. I have a fondness for Darth Vader and Obi-Wan Kenobi. My greatest inspiration was Luke Skywalker in Episode IV. I truly resonated with him and felt that his journey was akin to my own. I longed to join him on this epic quest!”

Series director Shunsuke Tada reflects on his own favorite characters within the epic saga, but he consistently gravitates back to R2-D2, the cherished droid first introduced in the 1977 film and featured in 10 of the 12 theatrical Star Wars releases to date. “I appreciate his design, but what truly captivates me is that he witnesses Anakin and Luke at different stages of their lives,” he highlights. “He has experienced all the joys and sorrows of their journeys. While I’m unsure whether a robot can genuinely experience emotions, to me, he is incredibly endearing.”

Both Tada and Kamiyama express excitement over the growing popularity of anime in the U.S. and around the globe in the past decade. “When I began my career in anime, I hoped that it would eventually gain more traction, but now we attend events like the Anime Expo in Los Angeles and realize that each year, more fans and attendees are eager for new projects,” Kamiyama observes. “Anime used to be a subculture, but it has since entered the mainstream, and experts predict continued growth. The opportunities seem vast. However, to be honest, I didn’t anticipate this. Nevertheless, we are genuinely thrilled and eager about what we can accomplish moving forward.”

Tada emphasizes that global co-productions like the Star Wars: Visions anthologies and The Ninth Jedi limited series thrive because they unite gifted artists from various parts of the world to narrate compelling and imaginative tales. “Although commercial anime originated in Japan, the teams of artists and technical personnel creating these series and projects today reflect a rich diversity,” he concludes. “We aspire to keep telling original stories, continually evolve with each new project, and elevate the standards for the animation industry worldwide.”

Star Wars: Visions Presents — The Ninth Jedi premieres on Disney+ and Hulu on August 5.