It is a dark time for Star Wars. The Mandalorian and Grogu was a box office flop, earning less than the low-budget horror films Obsession and Backrooms – a failure that puts the franchise’s cinematic future in jeopardy. Ahsokaseason 2 was postponed until 2027 and The Acolytewas canceled. Yet there is a new hope. The Ninth Jedi, an anime first developed by Production I.G. for the Star Wars: Visions anthology series, is exactly the sort of refresh Lucasfilm needed. The stylish, heartfelt series remixes the most iconic elements of Star Wars to create something that feels vital after decades of iterating on the Skywalker Saga.