Is Star Wars: Visions canon?
The new anime series unleashes a horde of new characters on the galaxy.
Another group of esteemed animation studios is stepping up for Star Wars: Visions season 2.
The first edition of the anthology format, which dropped on Disney Plus back in September 2021, concentrated solely on Japanese animators, who brought anime sensibilities to the long-running space opera.
However, season 2 features talent from around the world, including the UK's own Aardman Animation, which is best known for such family favourites as Chicken Run, Wallace & Gromit, and Flushed Away.
The action-packed trailer teases a number of intriguing new characters, some of whom can be seen marching into epic lightsaber duels.
Naturally, that has piqued the interest of fans, who are keen to learn more about these mysterious additions as well as their place in the franchise canon.
Fortunately, Lucasfilm has cleared up any confusion surrounding whether Star Wars: Visions shares the same continuity as main entries in the Star Wars series. Read on for everything you need to know.
Is Star Wars: Visions canon?
Back in summer 2021, Star Wars: Visions executive producer James Waugh spoke on a panel about the new series at Anime Expo Lite, where he revealed that writers and animators were not required to tie into existing continuity (via StarWars.com).
"We really wanted to give these creators a wide creative berth to explore all the imaginative potential of the Star Wars galaxy through the unique lens of anime," he said.
"We realised we wanted these to be as authentic as possible to the studios and creators who are making them, made through their unique process, in a medium they’re such experts at."
Waugh added: "So the idea was, this is their vision riffing off all the elements of the Star Wars galaxy that inspired them — hopefully to make a really incredible anthology series, unlike anything we’ve seen before in the Star Wars galaxy.”
This free rein can be taken as confirmation that the stories of Star Wars: Visions aren't intended as firm additions to the franchise canon, but dedicated fans are free to imagine them a place on the timeline.
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When is Star Wars: Visions set?
While Star Wars: Visions is evidently not a canon entry in the sci-fi saga, some anime creators working on the series clearly considered the franchise timeline during the writing process.
For instance, Lop and Ochō is imagined as taking place between the events of Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope, while fans have also been promised an episode set after 2019's divisive The Rise of Skywalker.
In addition, The Elder takes place sometime before the events of The Phantom Menace, featuring a Jedi and Padawan at a time when the Sith have been vanquished for hundreds of years.
So, while not strictly canon, fans could choose to drop the stories of Visions into their own personal understanding of the Star Wars universe if they so desire.
Which Star Wars characters appear in Visions?
Star Wars: Visions mostly features original creations, allowing some of anime's brightest talents to explore bold new heroes and villains within their 15-minute short films.
However, fans can expect cameos from some established figures in the Star Wars universe, with bounty hunter Boba Fett and crime lord Jabba The Hutt popping up in a season 1 episode titled Tatooine Rhapsody.
Star Wars: Visions drops on Disney Plus on Wednesday 22nd September. Sign up to Disney Plus for £7.99 a month or £79.90 a year now
Check out more of our Sci-Fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on.
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