Animated Star Wars shows are responsible for some of the franchise’s best stories and characters. That tradition looks like it will continue with the galaxy far, far away’s next adventure. The first trailer for Star Wars: Visions, an original anime series that will re-imagine George Lucas’s space saga, promises an epic new way to explore the story. And the series has an epic voice cast to tell it.
Disney’s debut trailer for Star Wars: Visions, a new series featuring nine stories from seven Japanese anime studios, features battles between Jedi and Sith, beautiful animation styles, Japanese storytelling traditions, and John Williams’ music. This is Star Wars, but in a way fans have never seen.
“Lucasfilm is partnering with seven of the most talented anime studios in Japan to bring their signature style and unique vision of the Star Wars galaxy to this inspired new series,” said James Waugh, executive producer and Lucasfilm Vice President, Franchise Content & Strategy, in a statement. “Their stories showcase the full spectrum of bold storytelling found across Japanese animation; each told with a freshness and voice that expands our understanding of what a Star Wars story can be, and celebrates a galaxy that has been such an inspiration to so many visionary storytellers.”
Lucasfilm
Disney also shared both the English and Japanese casts for each short, along with their characters. The series features some big names and some of our favorite stars. The cast lists also provide our best idea yet about what we can expect from each short.
“The Duel”
English cast: Brian Tee (Ronin), Lucy Liu (Bandit Leader), Jaden Waldman (Village Chief)
Japanese cast: Masaki Terasoma (Ronin), Akeno Watanabe (Bandit Leader), Yūko Sanpei (VillageChief)
“Tatooine Rhapsody”
English cast: Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Jay), Bobby Moynihan (Geezer), Temuera Morrison (BobaFett), Shelby Young (K-344), Marc Thompson (Lan)
Japanese cast: Hiroyuki Yoshino (Jay), Kōusuke Gotō (Geezer), Akio Kaneda (Boba Fett), MasayoFujita (K-344), Anri Katsu (Lan)
“The Twins”
English cast: Neil Patrick Harris (Karre), Alison Brie (Am), Jonathan Lipow (B-20N)
Japanese cast: Junya Enoki (Karre), Ryoko Shiraishi (Am), Tokuyoshi Kawashima (B-20N)
“The Village Bride”
English cast: Karen Fukuhara (F), Nichole Sakura (Haru), Christopher Sean (Asu), Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa (Valco), Andrew Kishino (Izuma), Stephanie Sheh (Saku)
Japanese cast: Asami Seto (F), Megumi Han (Haru), Yūma Uchida (Asu), Takaya Kamikawa(Vaan), Yoshimitsu Shimoyama (Izuma), Mariya Ise (Saku)
“The Ninth Jedi”
English cast: Kimiko Glenn (Kara), Andrew Kishino (Juro), Simu Liu (Zhima), Masi Oka (Ethan), Greg Chun (Roden), Neil Kaplan (Narrator), Michael Sinterniklaas (Hen Jin)
Japanese cast: Chinatsu Akasaki(Kara), Tetsuo Kanao (Juro), Shin-ichiro Miki (Zhima), Hiromu Mineta (Ethan), Kazuya Nakai (Roden), Akio Ōtsuka, (Narrator), Daisuke Hirakawa (Hen Jin)
“T0-B1”
English cast: Jaden Waldman (T0-B1), Kyle Chandler (Mitaka)
Japanese cast: Masako Nozawa (T0-B1), Tsutomu Isobe (Mitaka)
“The Elder”
English cast: David Harbour (Tajin), Jordan Fisher (Dan), James Hong (The Elder)
Japanese cast: Takaya Hashi (Tajin), Kenichi Ogata (The Elder), Yuichi Nakamura (Dan)
“Lop & Ocho”
English cast: Anna Cathcart (Lop), Hiromi Dames (Ocho), Paul Nakauchi (Yasaburo), Kyle McCarley (Imperial Officer)
Japanese cast: Seiran Kobayashi (Lop), Risa Shimizu (Ocho), Tadahisa Fujimura (Yasaburo),Taisuke Nakano (Imperial Officer)
“Akakiri”
English cast: Henry Golding (Tsubaki), Jamie Chung (Misa), George Takei (Senshuu), Keone Young (Kamahachi), Lorraine Toussaint (Masago)
Japanese cast: Yū Miyazaki (Tsubaki), Lynn (Misa), Chō (Senshuu), Wataru Takagi (Kamahachi),Yukari Nozawa (Masago)
Lucasfilm
You can’t debut a trailer that epic and not have a cast just as impressive. Especially when you’re trying to live up to the legacies of both Star Wars animation and Japanese anime. Clearly, someone at Lucasfilm had the vision to know that.
Star Wars: Visions debuts at Disney+ on September 22.
