4/5
先見の明
9 Episodes. Animators: Kamikaze Douga, Studio Colorido, Geno Studio, Trigger, Kinema Citrus, Production I.G. & Science Saru.
力があなたと共にありますように. Now that's a message not lost in translation. Disney + in this post (almost...we hope) pandemic world gave the massive, everything connected, world building 'Star Wars' franchise a small-screen universe and a new hope of redemption after some of those movies ('The Last Jedi'. Sorry. It's good, but in the words of Mando, Pedro Pascal in another movie, "but it could be better"). And all it took was the Baby Yoda, new Buzz Lightyear, Christmas stealing like the Grinch toy that everyone wanted, even when the massive 'Mandalorian' wasn't even out to stream in some terriories yet (like that's going to stop some people). Now Grogu (Baby Yoda to us, The Child still is) has gone home to a galaxy far, far away, Lucasfilm is offering up even more running shows than they have novels, comics, video and trading card games that are all actually canon connected in story. The latest before things like Rosario Dawson's 'Ahsoka', Ewan McGregor's 'Obi Wan' and even 'The Book Of Boba Fett' for a turn, is the animated 'Bad Batch' (that is anything but) and the new anime 'Star Wars-Visions' from six legendary Japanese studios (sorry people, no Ghibli like your neighbour Totoro). Kamikaze Douga, Studio Colorido Geno Studio, Trigger, Kinema Citrus, Production I.G. and Science Saru all have the force and the force is with them...and how about that for a reference. I'm not talking about mine. Spoiler police this is fine (*waves a hand like Liam Neeson*). I know you'll love this one.
Q like Murakami rewriting George Orwell's '1984', because the number nine is unlucky in Japanese culture, signifying death (and whilst we're at it never leave your chopsticks sticking out of your bowl like incense at a funeral). But there are this many episodes from the six sensational studios given free-reign to do with George Lucas' world as they see fit with their own inspired interpretations of his influence. Cue Samurai lightsabers with more blades than Darth Maul getting more "WOW'S" out of a hushed 'Phantom Menace' theatre than a series of Owen Wilson memes and more "kawhi" (no, not the laughing "fun guy" of a basketball player) anime than you can shake two fingers together like BTS (I know they're Korean, but they're big in Japan too). Cheering on some pod racing, Jabba performing rock stars gets their 'Tatooine Rhapsody' on in this world as Bohemian as Freddie singing "EH, OH" to a packed Live Aid crowd and the whole world watching Wembley in the 80's like it was coming home. The first time this writer teaching in Tokyo came to the land of the rising sun, amongst all the Avengers collectible, lifelike models (that you would really love to collect, but have you seen the price-tag? Plus one is cool, but after that you're basically paying out the ass for a lifetime of guaranteed celibacy) that adorn Forbidden Planet like stores, I was captivated by an iconic Darth Vader regaled in Samurai armour. "BUT IT'S NOT CANON!" I hear you scream. But who cares?! And this show is (although sadly no Samurai Vader like a royal 'Rogue One' cameo to stay for). And why should he not be (again not me, but Darth in the historic armour)? Because 'Star Wars' traditions are deep-rooted in the earth of Samurai history like a wood-block painting from the Hokusai wave. "But it's based on westerns" I hear you reply. Yes, of course it is. A fact that makes the last amazing 'Akakiri' epic and emotional episode even more meaningful. But you do remember what movie 'The Magnificent Seven' remade right?
Operatically outstanding, but still emotionally invested in the source. Lovingly rendered on the canvas of these cells like forging Kyber crystals into sabres and then presenting their hilts in a wooden box like a sacred honour. This is art. From the charcoal and white sketched scrawls to the black rain that envelopes the last duels of neon swords. All for the seperate stories in this amazing anime anthology akin to Batman's 'Gotham Knight' of darks designs and Netflix's 'Love, Death + Robots' cult hit now in a second batch that we hope we get to see bailing out of this 'Star Wars' ship. Produced by Kanako Shirasakai these stories feature a lone Ronin (or is he?) wandering like Wolverine through ancient script, a dark knight and the hero you need. Not to mention a you know what that flips open like an umbrella for this reign of Jedi's and Sith's. That pod cute band we talked about performing for Jabba, because Princess Leia in a gold bikini just doesn't cut it in these woke times. Even for Ross from 'Friends'. He'd probably picture it all wrong anyway. Twin ambitions that used to run parallel but now divert like X-Wing wings or the light and dark of awakening forces. 'The Village Bride' and how it takes more than a bandits blaster to divorce her from her home for the best looking and perhaps most awe-inspiring moment of all these 'Visions'. Nine Jedi's, forget a magnificent seven Samurai for the real art of war. A droid that dreams of being more than a boy for the most classically animated anime of them all taking us bubblegum back to pop culture artistic beginnings. 'The Elder' in all its jagged lines, electric blades and aggravated animation that serves as so much character to this coming of age and father time story for all you young Padawan and apprentices. A sister and her keeper, no matter how much she rabbits and the sins of a father for the most emotional episode of the set. Until you get right to the end of the end and the forlorn finale that really takes you away in the name of sacrifice and what's right. Because in the end that's what these war of the stars are all about. And with a Japanese voice cast that features stars like Masaki Terasoma, Hiroyuki Yoshino and Seiran Kobayashi, translated to Hollywood by the likes of Henry Golding, Alison Brie and 'Shang-Chi' himself Simu Liu, the force is strong with all that star power. But for all that, that comes at you in hyperspace, it's the nuanced story and the storyboard of animation from concept art to finished picture perfect product that is truly, compellingly out of this world. Visionary. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Further Filming: 'Love, Death + Robots', 'Batman: Gotham Knight', 'Star Wars-The Bad Batch'.
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