Star Wars: Visions Presents– The Ninth Jedi does something many projects have failed to accomplish, it not only reinvigorates the galaxy but delivers something surprising and fascinating.
The Ninth Jedi Review
It should come as no surprise that I’m an anime fan. From the grandfather of the Big 3 to Demon Slayer, I’ve been an anime/manga loving girl most of my life. When Star Wars Visions was originally announced, it felt like the stars had aligned for me. Two of my favorite nerdy things were merging together. Season 1 was phenomenal. Season 2 was great as well although it did get away from Japanese only animation studios. And then Season 3 came, more like Season 1, and also brought about the announcement of the first “Presents.” Which short was getting the “season” treatment? After 2 short stories, Production IG was set to return with The Ninth Jedi. These 8 episodes reinvigorate the galaxy and deliver something fresh, fascinating, and surprising.
This story picks up after the Star Wars Visions shorts The Ninth Jedi and The Ninth Jedi: Child of Hope. Lah Kara (Chinatsu Akasaki in Japanese, Kimiko Glenn in English) is training under Margrave Juro as she searches the galaxy for her missing father, sabersmith Lah Zhima (Shin-ichiro Miki, Simu Liu). He has been captured by the warlord Nawaam (Nao Omori, Young Mazino). As young Kara tries to find and free her father, she finds herself dealing with heavy guilt, despair, and anger. The path to peace is also one that would lead her to the Dark Side.
One of the things that intrigued me the most about the original short was this idea that lightsaber colors could fluctuate, showing the user’s true heart. The concept made the saber almost a visual cue to the morals and mental space of the wielder. This isn’t lightsaber bleeding, it was a laser sword mood ring. Another aspect of this story I really enjoyed is that it managed to actually execute the idea of an egalitarian universe. Here, strength in the Force is still a thing but you don’t have to be Luke Skywalker strong to draw a saber. It’s a refreshing concept, something touched on at the end of The Last Jedi but abandoned by The Rise of Skywalker.
One of the greatest things about The Ninth Jedi, and the Star Wars Visions stories in general, is that they are not beholden to canon. They are allowed the freedom to play with the concepts, designs, and world without having to be tied to easter eggs, callbacks, or all the complicated lore. The result is an amazing blend of familiarity and fascinating new experiences from director Shunsuke Tada, writer Mitsuyasu Sakai, and supervisor Kenji Kamiyama– the original Ninth Jedi creator and the genius behind Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex. Sure there are similarities to draw between some of the more infamous inhabitants of the galaxy but there is no escaping that. The hero’s journey isn’t anything new and Star Wars wasn’t the first to craft it. This story approaches that framework with the same smarts and imagination that George Lucas deployed when he first constructed this world that has captivated generations of fans.
Before I talk about Kara’s journey, I was drawn to the duality represented by Zhima and Nawaam. Both of them bore witness to the same horrific event and each walked away learning different lessons. Zhima dedicated himself to crafting a new type of lightsaber, ones with blades that would expose the heart of those who use them. After what he saw, he didn’t trust himself or his fellow man/creature to behave with morals or reason. Nawaam on the other hand, came away with the knowledge that history is written by the victor and peace is simply the result of being too scared to keep fighting. The great thing here is that he’s not wrong about the state of the galaxy, he’s just wrong about how to handle it. Some of the greatest villains in fiction are ones that aren’t wholly wrong. You see their point, you can even come to their defense a little, but ultimately you side with the light because of that moral compass we all have inside us.
Our protagonist Kara waivers between the pull of both sides of the Force. It’s hard to remain in the light when you watch as people die around you knowing something could have prevented it. Each loss weighs her down and breaks through her hearty Jedi walls allowing Nawaam’s logic to take root. His promise of indifference (peace) is tempting. Why carry the burden of guilt when you could be free of its chains? When she finally makes her choice, the series does something that is absolutely shocking in the galaxy far, far away and it’s a million times better for it. I won’t spoil it here but I couldn’t wait to discuss its implications with my other Star Wars nerdy friends. And after all, the best Star Wars are the ones that cause us to happily debate and geek out over them with our mutuals.
Again, I might be biased but, anime really is the ideal way to show-off not only layered character arcs but also the bombastic, eye-popping lightsaber duels. In a lot of anime, including this one, fighting isn’t just to wow, it’s meant to tell a story. Kara’s mental state can be traced through each battle not only with her move sets but also with the changing color of the blade. The duels are fast-paced, with each character moving in specific ways akin to their personality and where they are in their story arc. Each move is rendered with the real world implications behind it- exhaustion, weight, injuries, etc. Emotions run high as they battle on various stages. And all of that is told with striking detail in the animation.
Verdict
It’s no surprise to me that anime managed to elevate Star Wars in a way that only it can. When Kara made her choice I was just as locked into the screen as I was when I watched Kanan sacrifice for the Ghost crew or when the inmates broke out of Narkina 5. The Ninth Jedi is as surprising as it is fascinating punctuated with striking visuals and compelling characters. I’m looking forward to more of these Star Wars Visions Presents titles because there are several others I cannot wait to see more of– The Duel and The Twins are at the top of that list.
Star Wars: Visions Presents – The Ninth Jedi is streaming now on Disney+.
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