Animation
The Force goes anime as Japan’s first Star Wars series lands on Disney+
Eight-episode spin-off from acclaimed anthology lands on Disney+ this August with Production I.G.
MUMBAI: The Force is getting a fresh anime twist. Disney+ is taking its acclaimed anthology series into uncharted territory with Star Wars: Visions Presents – The Ninth Jedi, the franchise’s first long-form standalone anime series, which premieres on Disney+ and Hulu on August 5.
The eight-episode limited series launches under the new Star Wars: Visions Presents banner, marking the first time a story from Star Wars: Visions has been expanded into a full-length series. It continues the narrative introduced in the fan-favourite short The Ninth Jedi from Volume 1 (2021) and its follow-up The Ninth Jedi: Child of Hope from Volume 3 (2025).
Produced by Production I.G and created by acclaimed director Kenji Kamiyama, known for works including Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex and Kaiju No. 8, the series blends Japanese anime storytelling with one of entertainment’s most recognisable science fiction universes.
Like the wider Star Wars: Visions anthology, The Ninth Jedi exists outside the official Star Wars canon. The story unfolds generations after the fall of the Jedi Order, in a distant future where the Jedi have faded into legend, lightsabers have disappeared and dark-side marauders roam the galaxy.
Speaking about the series, Disney+ Asia Pacific senior vice-president and general manager Tony Zameczkowski said, “When Japanese anime meets a global IP like Star Wars, magic happens.”
He added that the series represents Japan’s first Star Wars animated series and brings together exceptional Japanese animation craftsmanship with one of the world’s most iconic entertainment franchises. “Looking forward to fans in Japan and around the world experiencing it,” he said.
The launch reflects Disney’s continued investment in anime and international storytelling as streaming platforms increasingly seek to expand established franchises beyond traditional formats. For Star Wars fans, The Ninth Jedi promises to turn one of Visions’ most celebrated stories into its biggest anime adventure yet.
