By George Bate and Julie Catherine
Celebrate this year’s May the 4th with the release of Star Wars: Visions Volume 2. The animated anthology series that debuted in 2021 will continue, this time with nine new shorts from nine studios from around the world.
The shorts that will comprise Visions Volume 2 are made by: El Guiri (Spain), Cartoon Saloon (Ireland), Punkrobot (Chile), Aardman (United Kingdom), Studio Mir (South Korea) Studio La Cachette (France), 88 Pictures (India), D’art Shtajio (Japan), and Triggerfish (South Africa). D’Art Shtajio’s short was created in collaboration with Lucasfilm Ltd. (United States).
Details on each of the new shorts can be found below.
“Sith”
The Spanish studio El Guiri will oversee this new short from writer-director Rodrigo Blaas. Blaas co has worked on a number of iconic animated films, including The Incredibles, Ratatouille, and Wall-E.
“Screecher’s Reach”
Paul Young directs this new short from the Irish studio he co-founded Cartoon Saloon. Young previously produced animated features and shows, including My Father’s Dragon, WolfWalkers, The Secret of Kells, Song of the Sea,The Breadwinner, Puffin Rock, Dorg Van Dango, and Viking Skool.
“In the Stars”
Punkrobot and founder Gabriel Osorio from Chile will contribute to the new volume of Star Wars: Visions. His 2016 short film Bear Story was the first Latin American project to win an Academy Award in the animated shorts category.
“I Am Your Mother”
The iconic studio behind Wallace & Gromit are crafting a new Star Wars short for Visions Volume 2. Magdalena Osinska, who has an extensive background with stop-motion, will direct this short.
“Journey to the Dark Head”
The South Korean studio Studio Mir and rising star Hyeong Geun Park will deliver a new short this season, following experience in animating countless video game trailers.
“The Spy Dancer”
From the French studio Studio La Cachette, writer/director Julien Chheng will lead this new short, sporting one of the series’ most intriguing titles. Julien Chheng previously worked with Genndy Tartakovsky, the director and executive producer of the beloved Clone Wars animated series.
“The Bandits of Golak”
Ishan Shukla and the Indian studio 88 Pictures will contribute a short this season.
“The Pit”
A collaboration between the Japanese studio D’art Shtajio and Lucasfilm Ltd., this short comes from writer/director/executive producer LeAndre Thomas and co-director Justin Ridge. Thomas has worked on Lucasfilm projects for over 11 years, including Light & Magic, The Mandalorian, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi. Ridge meanwhile executive produced Star Wars Resistance.
“Aau’s Song”
South African studio Triggerfish are behind a new short from writer-directors Nadia Darries and Daniel Clarke.