Visions’ Season 3 Puts a Stormtrooper on Death’s Door

Over its currently two-season run, Star Wars: Visions has shown audiences the adventures of Force users, droids, and rebels. One viewpoint we’ve not seen much of is the Imperial forces, despite their repeatedly turning up in the show’s various shorts—but that’s changing with the new season, and things will get pretty cerebral.

During this weekend’s Anime NYC, panelists got a look at “Black,” a short for the next set of episodes dropping in October. Developed by david production (Fire Force), the episode centers on an Imperial Stormtrooper on the verge of losing a battle and what’s going on in their head during their final moments. According to the Star Wars description, “Black” will be something special and ” present a psychedelic battle between past and present, light and dark, and life and death.”

“Black” is directed by Shinya Ohira, who’s previously directed and done animation work for One Piece and The Boy and the Heron. In a pre-recorded video, he talked about the short’s “fine details,” such as “super detailed” Death Star and extending action in the battle scenes to convey the stormtrooper’s “haunted psyche.” Visually, the film was also inspired by Ohira’s want to put “intense battles” against the vocals of Japanese singer/songwriter Sakura Fujiawara.

Ohira went on to describe “Black” as something “nobody’s ever seen before,” and an “arduous task” for the animators that he hopes is worth all the trouble. The article on the Star Wars website doesn’t provide any clips or further story info, but Ohira promised the short “really speaks for itself”—and we’ll see how well it talks when the third season of Star Wars: Visions hits Disney+ on October 29.

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