Kenji Kamiyama spoke about how Lucasfilm reacted to the unusual lightsaber mechanics in the short anime "The Ninth Jedi." In an interview with Crunchyroll, the director admitted that he expected possible intervention from the studio due to changing the rules of one of Star Wars' main symbols.
In Kamiyama's story, the color and shape of a lightsaber can change, revealing the nature of its owner. This feature plays an important role in the plot and helps determine which characters have succumbed to the dark side. The director did not seek separate permission from Lucasfilm for this idea, but he assumed the studio might reject it. However, the opposite happened:
"I didn't ask the question, 'Am I allowed to do this?' However, part of me expected someone to stop me and not allow me to change the rules associated with such an iconic item. They saw in this idea an opportunity to create something interesting and open new directions. So Lucasfilm and the team said, 'Let's try it.' I am incredibly grateful to them for the opportunity to undertake such a fascinating experiment."
The new lightsaber concept will be further developed in the series "Star Wars: Visions. The Ninth Jedi," which premieres on Disney+ on August 5, 2026.