Jedi, Sith, Smugglers, Pilots and Bounty Hunters. May the 4th is almost upon us once
again, the time when the world comes together to celebrate another anniversary
for one of the greatest scifi sagas of all time: Star Wars. Whether you love it to your core or feel like
it’s lost its way in recent years, Star Wars is still a cornerstone of scifi
storytelling and is still used by pretty much everyone for inspiration in
various way. Back in 2021, the Anime
Community got to unleash its inner Jedi with Star Wars Vison. Last year, a second volume of 9 Animated
Shorts was released with the rest of the animation world getting in on the
action. It somehow blew away Volume One
with its incredible imagination and willingness to look beyond the Jedi vs.
Sith conflict, so much so it found a spot onto my list of the Best Titles I
Reviewed in 2023. Well since I did a
best of list for Volume One, for this forthcoming May the 4th it’s
only right that todays Top 5 Wednesday looks at the Top 5 Stories from Star
Wars Visions 2
While it’s not totally devoid of the popular and
aforementioned Jedi vs. Sith Wars, Visions 2 does explore The Force in new and
unique ways.
Aau’s Song is one such
example with the insanely adorable title lead possessing a gift I haven’t seen
from a potential Force user in the franchise.
The stop motion animation is fun as well, still feeling as fluid and
natural as any live action feature.
The
music of this short is also simply beautiful to listen too.
Seriosuly, I could listen to Aau sing all day
and feel perfectly at ease.
They say the
Force is about more than just moving rocks around and Aau’s Song is good proof
of this adage.
#4-Sith
The opening act of Visions 2 sees a former Sith
Apprentice, Lola, hiding from her former Masters and learning to use her powers
in a more positive manner than she was taught.
Sith gets the ball rolling hard on Visions 2 and is a visual onslaught
that creatively sets up empty space only to add, remove and fiddle with colors,
drawings, brushes as if you’re watching an artist animate the short bit by
bit.
The greater Lola comes into
conflict with herself and her past, the more violent the images become and the
more she moves towards true balance, the smoother everything becomes. Honestly,
you don’t even need dialogue with this one. Put it on mute and watch the
beautiful painting being made through the skill of an incredible Force Master.
#3-The Spy Dancer
For those of you who really like Andor and want to see
more of the down and dirty look at how the Rebellion is forced to fight the
Empire…well this is the much prettier and more enchating version.
Studio La Cachette steals the show with
dazzling artwork, especially with the enchanting dance performed by the stories
lead heroine, L’oie.
It’s a gorgeous
display of animation that segues nicely into intense action.
Once again, the story at the heart of the
imagery does a lot with its short amount of screentime and L’oie’s tragic tale
shows there’s more to this conflict than just Rebels trying to bring down the
Galactic Empire.
Come for the dance,
stay for one of the most beautiful Star Wars stories ever told.
#2-Screechers Reach
One thing we haven’t seen too much of in the Star Wars
Universe is horror.
Screechers Reach is
like something straight out of an 80s Children Dark Fantasy film.
This is the pit from The Empire Strikes Back
on Dagobah but on steroids.
The use of
shadows and shadings and the design of the “ghost” inhabiting the titular
Screechers Reach did something nothing in Star Wars has managed to do to me
ever, scare the living mess out of me. And that ending, oh man it does not hold
back and is right up there with the somber finale of Volume One’s Akakiri.
We definitely need a Star Wars Halloween
Special with more chilling stories like this.
#1-I Am Your Mother
It’s a match made in heaven and a genius one at that:
Star Wars plus Racing plus the Animation Studio behind Wallace and Gromit.
I was glued to this the moment I recognized
the artstyle but stayed for the story of an aspiring young Pilot and her
embarrassing but lovable Mother during a Mother/Daughter race hosted by Star
Wars favorite Wedge Antilles (Dennis Lawson even returns to voice the
role).
The action is as fast paced as
the comedy but still retains a good amount of heart as you see Anni and her Mother
reconnect and kick some serious ass on the track.
Plus that title, God I love it and honestly
if Volume 3 wants to be entirely made by Studio Aardham, bring it on.
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