Thomas Storai 
“Star Wars: Visions Presents – The Ninth Jedi is an epic adventure that balances its grand scale with a deeply character-driven story. It’s packed with thrilling action, while also delivering high stakes, mysteries, and satisfying payoffs.”
The world of Star Wars: Visions is expanding. The Ninth Jedi, which received episodes in both the first and third volumes of the series, has clearly become a fan favorite. And to our delight, Lah Kara’s story is continuing in its own series. It picks up where Star Wars: Visions left off. The series consists of 8 episodes and premieres today on Disney +.
STORY
First off, you can watch The Ninth Jedi without having seen its Star Wars: Visions episodes. The series provides enough context for newcomers to understand what’s going on. If you’ve already watched those episodes, you’ll be familiar with the story and its characters. But even if you’re simply an anime fan looking for a new series, you can jump right in.
JEDI MYSTERY
The Ninth Jedi follows Lah Kara as she trains in the ways of the Jedi under Margrave Juro and his small fellowship. At the same time, she sets out to rescue her father, Lah Zhima, from Nawaam, who seeks to seize control of the galaxy. It’s an epic journey that unfolds across eight episodes. Right from the start, the series establishes its tone. It’s an action-packed story with high stakes, but there’s more to it than initially meets the eye. Mysteries surrounding Nawaam and Zhima gradually unfold throughout the story. Kara’s father is a central figure, and the series fully explores who he is and why he is so important.
The story is epic in scale, but it’s also deeply character-driven. The series gives its characters meaningful development, and each feels fully realized with a well-defined backstory that helps the audience understand their motivations. Even Nawaam is given nuance. Whether you agree with his actions or not, you come to understand what drives him.
The mysteries and revelations all pay off. The series makes some genuinely surprising storytelling choices, and they work remarkably well. While eight episodes isn’t a typical episode count for an anime, the series still tells its story in a satisfying and complete way. It’s a compelling story with genuinely endearing characters. The pacing strikes a strong balance between spectacle and quieter moments. There are plenty of thrilling lightsaber duels and even a large-scale space battle. Yet, the series also gives its characters room to breathe, allowing their relationships and personal journeys to develop naturally.
A LOVE LETTER TO THE PREQUELS
Undoubtedly, this series is a love letter to the Prequel Trilogy. It draws a great deal of inspiration from those films, whether through its visuals, story beats, grand scale, or even certain scenes. Throughout the series, it’s clear that the Prequels and A New Hope, the original Star Wars film, were major influences. It’s a joy to watch.
However, while The Ninth Jedi takes inspiration from these beloved stories, it also creates its own identity with original lore and ideas. The color of lightsaber blades is an essential part of the series’ mythology. It uses established lore while still making something fresh and unique. That’s the best kind of tribute.
VISUALS
Moreover, Production I.G. has created a visually rich world with this series. Each planet feels distinct, with its own architecture and visual aesthetic. Some are clearly inspired by fantasy anime, which itself often draws from medieval Europe. It’s an influence that works remarkably well. Every planet still feels unmistakably like Star Wars, blending the franchise’s visual DNA with anime’s own artistic identity to create something truly beautiful.
The fight scenes in the two episodes from Star Wars: Visions were good, but here, since it’s a full series, the animation team has outdone itself. After all, it’s Production I.G.; anime fans know what they are worth. And they deliver big for this series. The lightsaber fights are absolutely intense and visually stunning. They’re definitely worthy of the Prequel Trilogy while adding an anime touch of their own. The space action is also quite impressive.
SOUNDTRACK
Nobuko Toda and Kazuma Jinnouchi composed the score. It inherently feels like Star Wars and fits the story perfectly. When talking about anime, there’s one thing fans always discuss: the OP and ED. For the standalone episodes in Visions, it made sense not to include them, but for a full series, they’re something audiences expect from an anime. Unfortunately, this series has neither. It’s a little disappointing because OPs and EDs are part of anime’s DNA. There’s no doubt it would have been incredibly cool to have them here.
VERDICT
Star Wars: Visions Presents – The Ninth Jedi is an epic adventure that balances its grand scale with a deeply character-driven story. It’s packed with thrilling action, featuring impressive lightsaber battles, while also delivering a compelling narrative filled with high stakes, mysteries, and satisfying payoffs. The characters are memorable, endearing, and given the depth and nuance. Production I.G. has crafted a visually stunning series that serves as a love letter to the Prequel Trilogy and A New Hope while still establishing its own identity. By blending familiar Star Wars elements with original lore and storytelling, The Ninth Jedi feels both refreshingly new and uniquely creative.
Giving some episodes their own series is a brilliant idea because some of these stories from Star Wars: Visions have a lot of potential for a full series. The Ninth Jedi has proven this format works. ‘The Lost Ones’/’The Village Bride’ is one storyline that would deserve the series treatment next.
Star Wars: Visions Presents – The Ninth Jedi arrives today on Disney+.
Collectables and Anime Editor for Future Of The Force.
Star Wars expert and Japan connoisseur.
