"The Ninth Jedi" (Japanese: 九人目のジェダイ)[3] is an animated short film and episode of the web television series Star Wars: Visions. Produced by Production IG, the short premiered on Disney+ on September 22, 2021.[4]
Plot summary[]
Ethan's calling[]
The narrator explains that many generations have passed since the light of the Jedi have protected the galaxy. Since then, an era of war has arisen. Margrave Juro, ruler of the Outer Rim planet Hy Izlan, has begun mining for kyber crystals within his territory with the goal of restoring the Jedi by reforging their ancient lightsaber weapons, which have been lost to the galaxy. However, ancient dark forces conspire to subjugate the galaxy. They hatch a plan to hunt down all Jedi and bring a new era of Sith rule.
In space, a starship approaches an asteroid space station. Inside, six other figures gather around a bright portal. A human male named Ethan walks through a dark corridor into the hallway. He tells the hosts that he came after receiving an encoded transmission summoning him here. Ethan senses that the Force is strong here. He assumes that the figures are all masterless Jedi as well. The figures approach Ethan.
A human man with brown hair named Roden tells Ethan that each of them came here in response to the same call. Ethan asks if this message is an authentic before playing his hologram, where Juro tells them of his plans to restore the Jedi Order. He invites the candidates to the Aerial Temple where he will present them with a lightsaber. He urges them to join him in the fight to unite the war-torn galaxy and to restore peace.
The elusive Margrave[]
A blue tentacled alien named Hanbei disputes Margrave Juro's claim that he recreated lightsabers but confirms that there is a deposit of kyber crystals on the planet Hy Izlan below. A masked orange figure named Hen Jin says that they have also heard rumors of kyber crystals at the same planet but questions whether Juro can be trusted. Observing the hooded and masked Juro's figure, Ethan agrees that Hen Jin has a point and ponders whether Juro is a Jedi Master or if he is luring them into a trap. The brown haired man asks if anyone here has met Juro before.
Ethan during the gathering
A hooded female named Niizo asks them to ponder the risks of traveling her to obtain a lightsaber and Jedi. She removes her hood, revealing herself as a purple-skinned humanoid with blonder hair. A canine male named Homen wonders whether they are strong enough in the Force to protect themselves. A masked figure with a red cloak named Toguro says that he senses the strong presence of the dark side here.
Just then, they hear laughter and a hulking Steward Droid enters the chamber and meets the seven Jedi candidates. He says that it is true that the Margrave often frightens others because of his appearance. He reassures them that Juro is an eccentric old man who is doesn't stay cooped up in castles. While Juro doesn't show himself, he says that Juro is willing to meet them and will arrive soon. The seven candidates gather around the droid.
The sabersmith's daughter[]
On the planet below, several pulley systems harvest kyber crystals from orbit. A girl named Lah Kara and her floating droid 99-99 "Four-Nines" ride a speeder bike. Inside a workshop, the blacksmith Lah Zhima works on assembling a lightsaber. Kara tells her father Zhima that they found a big one today and asks if he managed to assemble the seven lightsabers. Zhima says this is the case. He allows Kara to try out a lightsaber. Zhima tells his daughter that he has tempered each of the lightsaber crystals to respond to the user's connection to the Force but explains that the color and length will vary depending on the Jedi using it.
Kara remarks that her connection to the Force isn't strong enough since her blade only has a dark hue. Zhima reassures his daughter that she has some natural talent with a lightsaber but that her connection will grow with proper time. He explains that the Force is present in all living beings and that only individuals who develop their connection to it will have the power to wield it. Zhima tells his daughter not to worry yet. Kara agrees and asks what color the lightsaber will turn once it is in the hands of a real Jedi. She practices with the lightsaber while Zhima is pleased that he finished the lightsabers on time.
Just then, Four-Nines notices the silhouette of a passing starship. Kara asks if this one of the Jedi starships. Zhima disagrees since the Jedi were summoned to the Aerial Temple. The starship lands its landing platforms and deploys several armored, masked Jedi hunters. Zhima gives Kara the lightsabers in a bundle of cloth and tells her to bring them to the Aerial Temple immediately. He tells her that he has to deal with their visitors. Zhima tells Kara that she has grown up. Kara senses that this is the last time they may see each other. Before leaving, he wishes that the Force be with her.
Escaping the hunters[]
The masked hunters force their way into Lah Zhima's workshop and demand to know if he is Zhima. After Zhima confirms this is so, the bandits say that he has illicitly manufactured several lightsabers for masterless Jedi. Zhima asks how they got hold of this information. The bandits reply that they got it from the one who enlisted his services to make them. The lead hunter demands that he hand over the lightsabers but Zhima refuses. As Kara races away, one of the hunters fires his blaster at her but Zhima deflects the blast with his hand into the furnace, which explodes. Kara witnesses the explosion and calls out to her father. Zhima tells her to go before a hunter knocks him out. The lead hunter sends his subordinates after her.
Back at the Aerial Temple, Roden demands evidence of the Margrave's plan from the Sentinel droid. Handai questions whether the Margrave actually construct any lightsabers. The droid shows them a case with a lightsaber and asks if this is what they desire. The Jedi candidates are awed. Ethan asks to hold it, saying that by the time he was born, lightsabers were already lost from the galaxy. He ignites the lightsaber, which has a blue blade. Ethan is awed by the weapon.
The Sentinel droid says the remaining sabers should be arriving soon. Meanwhile, the second hunter pursues Kara through a snowy forest, firing his blaster at her. Kara and Four-Nines avoid fallen branches. During the pursuit, Kara turns her speeder around and flies it backward while deflecting the hunter's blasts with one of the lightsabers. The hunter senses that the Force is strong with the girl. Kara flies her speeder over a frozen lake but dismounts from her speeder bike. She stands her ground and damages the hunter's bike, causing him to fall off his bike. She then climbs back on her bike with Four-Nines. The hunter survives and hoists his pistol.
Kara reaches the spaceport where she meets a Boatman droid, who is drinking hot oil from tea cups. She pleads with him to take her to the Aerial Temple immediately. The droid says that he is on his break and tells her to find another pilot. Kara points out that he is the only one functioning and gives him a coin. The Boatman Droid reluctantly agrees to ferry Kara and Four-Nines to the Aerial Temple.
The Sith acolytes[]
Meanwhile, the Jedi candidates tell the Sentinel droid they are growing impatient waiting for the lightsabers. The female grey humanoid says she senses something coming. The Boatman droid ferries Kara and Four-Nines to the orbiting Aerial Temple. He drops her off at the hangar where she is greeted by the Jedi candidates. Ethan asks Kara who she is. Kara introduces herself as the daughter of the sabersmith Lah Zhima. Roden deduces that she is the one with the lightsabers then. Kara tells the Jedi candidates that her father was taken away by the Jedi hunters and begs them to help her, presenting them with the lightsabers.
Kara asks where is the Margrave, prompting Ethan to ask if she knows Juro. Kara explains that she has known Juro since she was a baby. The other candidates look at her darkly. Hanbei asks if she knows his whereabouts. Roden says that something doesn't feel right and that they will have to wait until the Margrave arrives. Ethan, Kara and Four-Nines find themselves surrounded by the other six candidates, who ignite their lightsabers which turn red. Kara and Ethan realize that the others are Sith.
The Sentinel droid witnesses the situation and reveals himself as Margrave Juro, who was hiding inside the droid. The Margrave says that he has been here the entire time. Roden mock Juro for disguising himself as a droid to spy on them. Hanbei declares that they are acolytes of the Sith and sworn to the dark side and vow to stop his plan to restore the Jedi Order. Hanbei lunges at Juro with his lightsaber but Juro easily snatches the lightsaber out of his hand with the Force, causing it to turn green. He then promptly slays Hanbei, bisecting him; much to the shock of his fellow Sith.
Roden and a second Sith parry with Juro. Hen Jin tells Kara that their hunters have taken her father to a distant star system where she will never see him again. Ethan and Kara draw their lightsabers. Kara, in a fit of panic, ends up striking Ethan's saber knocking him down. She then fights with three of the Sith acolytes, later joined by Ethan. Meanwhile, Juro fights with Roden and cuts down Toguro; much to Roden's frustration. Niizo calls to Roden and attempts to aid him. Juro effortlessly kills Hen Jin and fatally wounds Niizo.
Roden tends to the dying Niizo who expires in his arms. Meanwhile, Kara parries with Homen, whose lightsaber has turned purple while her turns pure green. The enraged Roden attacks Juro with Force lightning. Juro tries to deflect it with the Force but the Sith's Force lightning breaks through his defenses. Kara rushes to aid Juro while Ethan fights Homen that was previously fighting her. Kara duels with the Roden. Juro uses the Force to push Roden onto a giant kyber crystal, which causes him to disintegrate and burn to death.
Jedi assemble[]
Juro stops Ethan and Homen from fighting. He appeals Homen, telling him that they all know that he is not a Sith. Homen apologizes, saying that he became consumed by the others' darkness and deactivates his blade. Juro apologizes to Kara, saying that he recently learnt that several Jedi who answered his call were killed and that Sith were sent in their place. Juro explains that he hid himself from their presence in order to determine who was Sith. As a result, they also learnt about her father, Zhima. Juro apologizes for not being able to help her father.
Juro promises Kara that he will help save her father. Ethan regrets that he was not strong enough to defeat the Sith. Juro reassures Ethan that he survived the fight. When Ethan asks about the other Jedi, Juro says that he senses them wandering elsewhere in the galaxy. Juro tells Kara that she has been guided by the Force ever since the moment she was born. He invites her to join them in restoring peace to the galaxy as the ninth Jedi so they can re-establish the Jedi Order. The group depart on a starship and head into space, leaving the Aerial Temple behind.
Credits[]
| Cast | Crew |
Cast
|
Japanese Voice Cast
English Voice Cast
|
Crew
|
Appearances[]
| Characters | Creatures | Droid models | Events | Locations |
| Organizations and titles | Sentient species | Vehicles and vessels | Weapons and technology | Miscellanea |
Characters
|
Droid models
|
Events
|
Locations
|
Organizations and titles
|
Sentient species
Vehicles and vessels
|
Weapons and technology
Miscellanea
Sources[]
STAR WARS: VISIONS | SPECIAL LOOK | DISNEY+ on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link)- Anime Expo Lite: 20 Things We Learned From the Star Wars: Visions Panel on StarWars.com (backup link)
- "Launchpad" – Star Wars Insider 204
- Stunning New Star Wars: Visions Trailer Debuts on StarWars.com (backup link)
- Inside Star Wars: Visions: Meet the Heroes on StarWars.com (backup link)
- "Launchpad" – Star Wars Insider 205
- Inside Star Wars: Visions: Meet the Droids on StarWars.com (backup link)
- "It's a Love Letter": The Producers of Star Wars: Visions Celebrate the Unique Anime Collection on StarWars.com (backup link)
- Star Wars: Visions | "The Ninth Jedi" Episode Guide on StarWars.com (backup link)
- SWCA 2022: 6 Highlights from the Star Wars: Visions Panel on StarWars.com (backup link)
Notes and references[]
- ↑
STAR WARS: VISIONS | SPECIAL LOOK | DISNEY+ on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link)
- ↑ Daniel Robson: Star Wars Anime Visions Will Include What Became of the Jedi, a Rock Opera, and More. IGN. IGN. Archived from the original on September 22, 2021. establishes that the events of "The Ninth Jedi" occur after those of Star Wars: Episode IX The Rise of Skywalker, which are dated to a year after the "Starkiller Incident" by Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker: The Visual Dictionary. As Star Wars: Galactic Atlas dates the Starkiller Incident to 34 ABY, it can be deduced the events of Star Wars: Episode IX The Rise of Skywalker take place in 35 ABY. Therefore, "The Ninth Jedi" must occur during or after that year.
- ↑ スター・ウォーズ：ビジョンズ (Japanese). disneyplus.disney.co.jp. Archived from the original on July 14, 2021.
- ↑
Anime Expo Lite: 20 Things We Learned From the Star Wars: Visions Panel on StarWars.com (backup link)
