Kenji Kamiyama, director of the animated series "Star Wars: Visions. The Ninth Jedi" and creator of "Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex," spoke with Crunchyroll about why the "Star Wars" philosophy of hope and kindness has become especially important in the modern world.
According to Kamiyama, depicting military conflicts as entertainment is easier during periods of real-world tranquility. However, today, amidst global instability, creators must be more careful about how they portray war on screen:
"I believe George Lucas included war in 'Star Wars' precisely to find and show hope to the world. The dark side, with its dynamic action, might seem superficially more appealing, while justice can be too straightforward. But in Kara's case, I really wanted to show the audience the bright side. I wanted to portray kindness and a genuine sense of justice. There is darkness within Kara, but she becomes a natural symbol of hope and kindness. I believe that creators have a responsibility not only to entertain but also to bring hope and kindness into the real world. I constantly thought about this while working on 'The Ninth Jedi' and tried to convey this idea as sincerely as possible."
"Star Wars: Visions. The Ninth Jedi" premieres on August 5th on Disney+. Kenji Kamiyama is also working on a new Gundam anime franchise, which will take place in a new timeline.