The Ninth Jedi, an eight-episode limited anime series expanding the 2021 short, premieres on August 5 on Disney+ and Hulu. Early impressions of the first episode cite compressed pacing and recycled plot elements, though Production I.G's animation is praised.
Lucasfilm and Production I.G are expanding the 2021 Star Wars: Visions short "The Ninth Jedi" into an eight-episode limited series under the new Visions Presents banner. The series follows Kara, the daughter of lightsaber smith Juro, as the Jedi attempt to rebuild after the Order's fall. Kenji Kamiyama, who wrote and directed the original short, returns as supervising director and series script supervisor. Shunsuke Tada directs the new series. Hitoshi Itō produces, and Lucasfilm's Jacqui Lopez and Josh Rimes are executive producers. The project was first announced at Star Wars Celebration Japan 2025. A sequel short titled "The Ninth Jedi: Child of Hope" debuted as part of Star Wars: Visions Volume 3, which premiered on October 29, 2025.
The series premieres on August 5 on Disney+ and Hulu. Anime Expo hosted a special screening of the first episode on July 2, with a panel featuring Tada, Itō, Kamiyama, and Lucasfilm executives. The first full trailer was released during an Anime Expo panel on July 3, confirming the premiere date. Early impressions of the first episode cite recycled plot elements from The Phantom Menace and compressed pacing that feels more suited to a short. Production I.G's animation is praised, but the use of 3D CGI against 2D backgrounds is described as distracting.
The series tests whether the anthology's short-form stories can sustain longer narratives. Its mixed early reception raises questions about the format's viability for future expansions. All eight episodes stream on Disney+ and Hulu from August 5.
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Director Toshihisa Tada revealed that Nawam, the new villain in Star Wars: Visions: The Ninth Jedi, wields a blue lightsaber to create surprise, breaking the Sith red convention. The character's design, including a Japanese-style helmet, was developed with Naruto character designer Tetsuya Nishio, who produced seven or eight helmet designs.
The official YouTube channels for Star Wars and Disney+ began streaming the final trailer for Star Wars: Visions Presents - The Ninth Jedi on Monday, August 3, 2026. The limited anime series expands the story from the original Star Wars: Visions short, and all eight episodes will premiere at once on Wednesday, August 5, on Disney+ and Hulu. The trailer is available in both English dub and Japanese dub with English subtitles. Kenji Kamiyama, who wrote and directed the original short, returns as supervising director and series script supervisor. Shunsuke Tada directs the new series, with Hitoshi Ito producing and Lucasfilm's Jacqui Lopez and Josh Rimes as executive producers. Production I.G handles the animation. The Japanese cast includes Chinatsu Akasaki as Lah Kara, Nao Omori as Nawaam, Tetsuo Kanao as Juro, Hiroshi Naka as Dunbay, Maaya Sakamoto as Tahoola, Nobuyuki Hiyama as Kwana, and Shinichiro Miki as Lah Zhima, with several reprisals from the original short. The series was first announced at Star Wars Celebration Japan 2025 as part of the Star Wars: Visions Presents initiative.
The staff of Star Wars: Visions Presents - The Ninth Jedi revealed the Japanese voice cast on Friday. The limited series spinoff from the Star Wars: Visions project will premiere on August 5 on Disney+ and Hulu. The cast includes Chinatsu Akasaki reprising her role as Lah Kara, along with new cast members Nao Ōmori, Tetsuo Kanao, Hiroshi Naka, Maaya Sakamoto, Nobuyuki Hiyama, Shinichirō Miki, and others. Kenji Kamiyama returns as supervising director and series script supervisor, with Shunsuke Tada directing.
The first series under the Star Wars: Visions Presents banner, The Ninth Jedi, continues Lah Kara's story across eight episodes. Early impressions of the first episode cite recycled plot elements from The Phantom Menace and compressed pacing that feels more suited to a short. Production I.G's animation is praised, but the use of 3D CGI against 2D backgrounds is distracting. All episodes stream on Disney+ and Hulu from August 5.
Lucasfilm and Production I.G released the first full trailer for Star Wars: Visions Presents - The Ninth Jedi during a panel at Anime Expo on Thursday. The trailer confirms the limited anime series will premiere on August 5 on Disney+ and Hulu. The panel also screened the first episode in Japanese with English subtitles. The series expands the story of "The Ninth Jedi," a short from the first Star Wars: Visions anthology volume in 2021. Kenji Kamiyama, who wrote and directed the original short, returns as supervising director and series script supervisor. Shunsuke Tada directs the new series. Hitoshi Itō produces, and Lucasfilm's Jacqui Lopez and Josh Rimes are executive producers. The project was first announced at Star Wars Celebration Japan 2025. A sequel short titled "The Ninth Jedi: Child of Hope" debuted as part of Star Wars: Visions Volume 3, which premiered on October 29, 2025. The new series follows Kara, the daughter of lightsaber smith Juro, as the Jedi attempt to rebuild after the Order's fall.
Anime Expo announced a special screening of the first episode of the limited anime series Star Wars: Visions Presents - The Ninth Jedi on July 2, with a panel featuring director Shunsuke Tada, producer Hitoshi Itō, supervising director Kenji Kamiyama, and Lucasfilm executives. The series premieres this summer on Disney+.