STAR WARS: VISIONS Producer Explains STAR WARS: VISIONS Isn’t Bound by the Rules and That's Why It's Awesome
Star Wars: Visions might take place in a galaxy far, far away, but when it comes to its storytelling, the series is carving out its own path apart from the main Star Wars canon. According to executive producer James Waugh, that creative freedom is exactly what makes Visions so cool and so special.
With Volume 3 now streaming on Disney+, fans are once again treated to a collection of standalone stories that celebrate the Star Wars universe through different cultural lenses, and I’ve been loving it!
Each episode is crafted by a unique studio with its own animation style, tone, and interpretation of what Star Wars means to them. Waugh explained:
“Well honestly I think the nice thing about Visions is that we're not trying to make this part of the ongoing canonical narrative. Some of these stories fit perfectly within canon.
“I mean that's the thing, we're not saying don't do that. I don't think we'd ever get things like The Duel if we tried to fit it into that.”
“The Duel,” one of the standout shorts from the first volume released in 2021, reimagined the Star Wars galaxy through a samurai-inspired lens, pulling heavily from Japanese folklore and the films of Akira Kurosawa, whose work deeply influenced Star Wars creator George Lucas.
That story now continues with Volume 3’s sequel, “The Duel: Payback”, expanding on that striking blend of feudal Japan and galaxy-spanning myth. Waugh continued:
“We wanted people to celebrate what they love about Star Wars and so you know that was very clearly a love letter to Kurosawa and George Lucas.
“I'm open to bringing in things from the expanded universe into Visions because it meant something to that person from that cultural perspective.”
For Waugh, Visions isn’t about connecting dots within the official timeline, it’s about embracing creativity and diversity within the Star Wars spirit itself.
“I think it's liberating and where we really try to hold the line is in Star Wars. Like if I think Star Wars still speaks at a very universal mythic level and I think it should always do that.
“And so that's where we try to find and steer our stories too. But I'm less worried about something directly contradicting something in this space, if the story warrants it within the unique expression of Star Wars Visions.”
For me, that approach has made Star Wars: Visions one of the most refreshing and imaginative projects to come from Lucasfilm in recent years because it’s one where creators from around the world get to play in the sandbox without worrying about continuity.
I love that aspect about the series, and the stories that have been told in this way are pretty awesome! I know not everyone embraces this series because they fell like the franchise should be confined to a little box, but I love that these animated shorts are allowed to break free from that box and get wild and crazy!
Star Wars: Visions Volume 3 is now streaming on Disney+.