Each episode is a different director's fever dream of what Star Wars could be in their hands. The animation styles clash so hard they feel like nine different universes got zipped together, and half of them work so well you forget you're watching someone else's fan fiction. Some episodes burn out before they land; others hit with the force of a saber through a chest. What makes it essential isn't consistency, it's watching world-class anime creators treat Star Wars like it's theirs to break.

Nine anime directors bring their own sensibilities to the Star Wars universe, each making a standalone short that offers a new take on the galaxy far, far away. The anthology gathers work from several leading Japanese studios, among them Kamikaze Douga, Studio Colorido, Trigger, Kinema Citrus, Production I.G., Science SARU and Geno Studio. Its nine entries include The Duel, Tatooine Rhapsody, The Twins, The Village Bride, The Ninth Jedi, T0-B1, The Elder, Lop and Ochou, and Akakiri. Together they form a sci-fi action and adventure collection that brings a fresh cultural perspective to the franchise.