Disney’s about to follow Sony’s example and take all your anime. And yes, you’ll definitely want your tinfoil hat for this one.
So, you probably already know that Disney owns the popular, sometimes misguided, Star Wars franchise. Now, Disney has commissioned several prominent anime studios to produce original anime works set in the world of Jedi, sith lords, and thinly-veiled Japanese samurai references. It’s called Star Wars: Visions and it’ll blow your mind… unless you’re wearing that darn hat.
Star Wars: Visions will air on September 22nd, and will include nine episodes produced by Kamikaze Douga, Geno Studio, Studio Colorido, Trigger (Kill la Kill), Kinema Citrus (Made in Abyss, Rising of the Shield Hero), Science SARU, and Production IG. A bunch of those names are probably familiar to you.
Anyone here old enough to remember the Animatrix? Because I’m getting strong Animatrix vibes from this. Making a bunch of shorts to launch a streaming service, to test out an audience’s receptiveness to an idea, and give fans of an IP something unique to enjoy seems like a great move. Blade Runner did it. Such projects don’t usually embed themselves in the public psyche for very long though, because there’s just not enough there to sink your teeth into. Maybe that’s the point. Star Wars: Visions looks like a great, refreshing idea from our Mouse Overlord, and I’m on board for that. Especially if no gungans are involved.
But does this mean Disney is trying to get a slice of the anime pie?
Maybe. If you had all those Disney Dollars lying around, wouldn’t you try to boost your global media monopoly? Monopolies gonna monopolize! Of course, any real power move on Disney’s part might be years in the making, but I’m not taking my tinfoil hat off just yet.
Source: Wookieepedia, Wikipedia
