Over the past few decades, Star Wars has become one of the most beloved properties with fans around the world. Grogu, known by many fans as Baby Yoda, first appeared in The Mandalorian, a series on Disney+ currently celebrating its third anniversary.  With his mysterious background and incredible use of the Force, the tiny and adorable character became a hit with fans around the world, quickly making him one of the most popular characters in the recent Star Wars series. World-renowned Japanese animation studio Studio Ghibli recently produced a short animation starring Grogu and Makkuro Kurosuke, also known as the Wandering Soot or, in the title for the short, Dust Bunnies. The characters first appeared in the film My Neighbor Totoro. Studio Ghibli director Hayao Miyazaki and producer Toshio Suzuki have long been friends with Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy, who readily agreed to produce the short as a symbol of their longstanding friendship. The short was directed by Katsuya Kondo.   Will you give this a watch on Disney+?   （C）2022 & TM Lucasfilm Ltd.（C）2022 Studio Ghibli.

The anime Star Wars anthology Star Wars: Visions is coming to Disney Plus on September 22, and ahead of release, a more detailed trailer has been released to excited audiences worldwide. Seven of Japan’s leading animation studios are participating in the highly-anticipated project, which will tell nine new stories from the Star Wars universe. Each studio will bring their own unique vision to the epic space opera, and fans worldwide have been blown away by the new teaser footage.    While details on the nine stories are still scarce, the global trailer does feature some of the show’s voice actors: English audiences recognized actors Joseph Gordon-Levitt and David Harbour, while the Japanese trailer featured such well-known performers as Masako Nozawa, Yuichi Nakamura, Junya Enoki, Yuma Uchida, Daisuke Hirakawa, and Hiroyuki Yoshino.    The project aims to introduce Japanese anime and pop culture to the world in a new way. The trailer contains fantastical lightsaber battles and unique characters along with memorable moments from the films, including the famous line “May the Force be with you.” Fans around the world are raising their expectations for the explosive final product.    Global Trailer (In Japanese with English Subtitles)

  English Dubbed Trailer (In English with Japanese Subtitles)

   Below is a list of the animated shorts featured in Star Wars: Visions, as well as the contributing studio:    The Duel - Kamikaze DougaLop and Ochō - Geno Studio (Twin Engine) Tatooine Rhapsody - Studio Colorido (Twin Engine) The Twins - TriggerThe Elder - TriggerThe Village Bride - Kinema CitrusAkakiri - Science SaruT0-B1 - Science Saru The Ninth Jedi - Production IG George Lucas, the creator of Star Wars, has cited Japanese director Akira Kurosawa, and Japanese culture as a whole, as a great influence on his works. The executive producer of Star Wars: Visions, James Waugh, calls the project ‘a love letter from Lucasfilm to Japan, the country that gave the world anime culture.’   ©2021 TM & c Lucasfilm Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

Lucasfilm and Disney+ have unveiled the first look at their new anime anthology series Star Wars: Visions and revealed that all nine episodes will be released on September 22, 2021.   The announcement was shared during Anime Expo Lite 2021, the digital version of the annual Anime Expo in the US, where it was revealed that the anthology of animated short films is being created by seven Japanese anime studios that will use "their signature animation and storytelling styles to realize their own visions of the galaxy far, far away."   George Lucas has publicly expressed how Japanese folktales and the films of Akira Kurosawa have had and continue to have an influence on his work, including Star Wars, which has been poured into its themes, stories, and characters. Now things are being flipped around as Japan's animation studios create their take on the franchise. Below is the list of studios and the titles of their upcoming animated shorts:

• Kamikaze Douga – The Duel
• Geno Studio (Twin Engine) – Lop and Ochō
• Studio Colorido (Twin Engine) – Tatooine Rhapsody
• Trigger – The Twins
• Trigger – The Elder
• Kinema Citrus – The Village Bride
• Science Saru – Akakiri
• Science Saru – T0-B1
• Production IG – The Ninth Jedi

  Check out a special look of the series below which was posted on the official Star Wars YouTube channel.

The video features some of the Japanese anime industry's top creators each expressing their love for Star Wars. It also looks at how the unique style of Japanese anime is a perfect lens for expressing the franchise.   Star Wars: Visions will release on Disney+ on September 22, 2021.   ©2021 TM & c Lucasfilm Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

Japanese messaging app LINE announced that their casual puzzle game LINE: Disney Tsum Tsum has broken 90 million views. The popular game launched a collaboration with the Star Wars franchise on Tuesday which is set to run until May 31.LINE: Disney Tsum Tsum is based off Disney's collectable stuffed toy series. The game launched first in Japan on January 29, 2014, before rolling out to the US, UK, Europe, Asia, and elsewhere on July 1 of the same year. Tsum Tsum and 400-or-so characters are popular around the world with the toys having appeared in Disney films, commercials, at events, and more. In celebration of the puzzle game reaching 90 million downloads, the Today's Mission feature is offering a 10x bonus. The game is also collaborating with Star Wars until the end of May where Darth Vader and a Stormtrooper are making an appearance. And for the duration of May, the game's title logo and background music has been changed into traditional Japanese styles.   

Tsum Tsum Tenka Touitsu Event

Another in-game event is also ongoing where players can receive pins and a Princess Minnie by clearing the mission.  

©Disney 

©Disney/Pixar 

©& TM Lucasfilm Ltd.

The Star Wars Book is a new publication being released in Japan that chronicles the entire Star Wars Saga, from the 1977 film A New Hope to the 2019 The Rise of Skywalker. It also includes spin off stories, information on the animated series as well as the characters, creatures, weapons, vehicles, and more.

©&TM LUCASFILM LTD.

  The book is a must-have for fans of the series whether you have full knowledge of its rich world and want to relive it in its entirety, or if there is more you want to read into.

Tokyo Disneyland® is set to open its all-new Beauty and the Beast area of the park tomorrow on September 28, 2020. It's opening in line with the new Big Hero 6 attraction, Minnie Mouse area where guests can meet Minnie, and the park's new popcorn shop.   MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON was granted early access to the news areas, so here's our review!   Check out our review of the new Beauty and the Beast area too here: https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/362152  

The Happy Ride with Baymax: The world's first Big Hero 6 attraction

The Happy Ride with Baymax ride has guests joining one of the personal healthcare companion robots on an exciting cart ride. The park is limiting the number of people allowed on the attraction at once due to the pandemic. To board the attraction, guests need to download the app after entering the park.  

Big Pop: Tokyo Disneyland's first popcorn shop

Tokyo Disneyland's first permanent popcorn shop opens in Tomorrowland. This space-themed shop serves up a whole range of flavours like cookie cream, caramel and cheese, and strawberry milk. There's also four different popcorn baskets to choose form, including Big Hero 6 and Beauty and the Beast designs.  

Minnie's Style Studio: Meet Minnie Mouse

This studio imagines Minnie Mouse as an international fashion designer who designs outfits, shoots photos, and more. Guests can meet Minnie Mouse at her studio if they book in advance.   ©Disney