It was easy to be enthralled by Star Wars Visions Volume 1, the previous anthology of shorts done by renowned Japanese animation studios. But in contrast, Star Wars Visions Volume 2, which was done by animation studios around the world felt lacking.

Star Wars Visions Volume 2 is dripping with self-inserts. It feels like each short was looked at by the studios as an opportunity to represent their country, culture, and characteristics instead of a chance to tell a story.

Some shorts try to expand the Star Wars universe, but most of the efforts are no better than trying to ram a square peg into a mismatched triangular hole.

To be fair, the Japanese animation studios of the first collection had many advantages. The Star Wars universe was inspired by and built on Japanese culture. They also understood that substance comes before form.

The contrast between the two anthologies makes me appreciate how an animation studio and, to an extent, an animator, needs to be more than just good at making things move on the screen. To create magic, they also need to know how to tell a story, have a deeper understanding of their medium, and know when to kill their darlings.

I did enjoy my time watching Star Wars Visions Volume 2, but only because my friend and I were riffing on it constantly, an opposite experience from when we watched Star Wars Visions Volume 1where we would watch in awe and point out all the cool things we saw only once an episode ends.

Star Wars Visions Volume 2 is currently streaming on Disney+.