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Manga Anime

Star Wars: Visions – The Ninth Jedi Hits Disney+ on 5 August

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Star Wars just got a full-length anime series — and it is one Singapore fans can stream from day one. Star Wars: Visions Presents – The Ninth Jedi, an 8-episode limited series produced by Lucasfilm and Production I.G, arrives on Disney+ on 5 August 2026.

From Short Film to Full Series: What Is The Ninth Jedi?

The series expands a story that began as a standalone short in the first Star Wars: Visions anthology (2021) and continued in Star Wars: Visions Volume 3. Now, under the new Star Wars: Visions Presents banner — designed specifically for longer-form stories spun out of the anthology — the tale gets eight full episodes to breathe.

The story follows Lah Kara, who resumes her quest to find her missing father while evading Jedi Hunters and continuing her Jedi training under Margrave Juro. It is a coming-of-age adventure set in an original corner of the galaxy far, far away, and unlike the live-action Star Wars productions, it leans fully into the aesthetic language of anime.

Watch the Official Trailer

Star Wars: Visions Presents – The Ninth Jedi | Official Trailer — via Star Wars on YouTube

Production I.G and Kenji Kamiyama Lead the Creative Team

The pedigree here is serious. Production I.G — the studio behind Ghost in the Shell, Haikyuu!!, and Vinland Saga — handles animation, directed by Shunsuke Tada with Kenji Kamiyama serving as supervising director. Kamiyama is best known for Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, and his involvement signals that this is not a lightweight side project. The script is by Mitsuyasu Sakai.

Lah Zhima with a lightsaber in Star Wars: Visions Presents – The Ninth Jedi
Image courtesy of Lucasfilm

The series was announced at Anime Expo 2026 in Los Angeles, where Kamiyama, Tada, and producer Hitoshi Ito presented the first trailer and teaser artwork to a packed hall. The Anime Expo reveal underlines how deliberately Lucasfilm is positioning this as an anime property — not just a Star Wars spin-off that happens to be animated, but a work made by, and for, anime fans.

Cast: Familiar Voices and New Arrivals

The English dub brings back the full original cast: Kimiko Glenn as Lah Kara, Andrew Kishino as Margrave Juro, Masi Oka, Patrick Seitz, and Simu Liu as Lah Zhima. New additions include Young Mazino and Chase Sui Wonders, among others.

Nawaam and Lah Kara in Star Wars: Visions Presents – The Ninth Jedi
Image courtesy of Lucasfilm

When and Where to Watch in Singapore

All 8 episodes drop simultaneously on 5 August 2026 on Disney+. Singapore subscribers can catch it from day one — no Hulu required (Hulu remains US-only). If you have not seen the original The Ninth Jedi short, it is worth a quick rewatch on Disney+ before the premiere; the new series picks up directly from where it left off.

For more anime and animation news, see our Manga & Anime coverage.

99-99 and Ethan in Star Wars: Visions Presents – The Ninth Jedi
Image courtesy of Lucasfilm
Star Wars: Visions Presents – The Ninth Jedi character poster
Image courtesy of Lucasfilm

Manga Anime

Rilakkuma Anime Season 2 Reveals “Tekuteku World Travel” — Stream It Now on Crunchyroll

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Rilakkuma fans, your bears are going somewhere new. Aniplex today unveiled a fresh promotional video for the short TV anime, confirming that it is moving into a second season with an all-new subtitle: Tekuteku World Travel (てくてく世界旅行 — “Steadily Traveling the World”). The new key visual, released alongside the PV, shows Rilakkuma, Korilakkuma, and Kiiroitori dressed in travel gear and ready to hit the road.

From Dreamy Getaway to Full World Tour

The Rilakkuma short anime premiered on 4 April 2026 on TBS, with its first season carrying the subtitle Goyurori Yume no Tabi (Leisure Trip of Dreams). If Season 1 felt like a slow, cosy holiday, Season 2 turns the dial up to a proper globe-trot: the iconic San-X trio will be exploring different corners of the world, sampling regional food and soaking in local culture along the way. The vibe stays firmly in Rilakkuma territory — gentle, warm, and easy to watch — but now with a travel-diary frame to hang each episode on.

Rilakkuma anime Season 2 Tekuteku World Travel key visual showing Rilakkuma, Korilakkuma and Kiiroitori in travel attire
Image courtesy of Aniplex
アニメ「リラックマ」第2弾PV (Season 2 PV) — via アニプレックス チャンネル on YouTube

The Production Team Behind It

Production I.G — the studio behind Ghost in the Shell, Haikyuu!!, and Vinland Saga — is handling animation, giving the show a noticeably polished look even in short-form. Yoshimi Itazu and Yumi Kamakura share directing duties, with character design by Chiyo Morita. Narration is provided by Lilas Ikuta, the vocalist behind YOASOBI, who also performs the series theme song “stay with me.” If you are already a YOASOBI fan, her voice lends the show an immediately familiar warmth.

How Singapore Fans Can Watch

Crunchyroll is streaming the series internationally, so Singapore viewers can dive straight into Season 1 right now — no waiting for a local release. In Japan, new episodes air every Saturday at 9:25 AM on TBS, and a library of past episodes is also available on platforms including Prime Video and ABEMA Premium for Japanese subscribers. With Season 2 episodes starting to roll out, now is a good time to catch up before the travel adventure gets into full swing.

Rilakkuma, Korilakkuma, and Kiiroitori in travel attire from the Season 2 PV
Image courtesy of Aniplex

Last words

Rilakkuma has had a long, quiet presence in Singapore’s pop culture — from the plushie claw machines at Bugis+ and Orchard to the Rilakkuma Cafe pop-up at Kumoya that drew long queues. A full TV anime backed by Production I.G and narrated by a YOASOBI vocalist feels like a serious step up for the franchise. Whether you are in it for the chill vibes, the travel scenery, or just to hear Lilas Ikuta’s voice over gentle bear adventures, Crunchyroll has you covered. Check out more anime news on GameTrader.SG.