Samurais and lightsabers! Star Wars meets Japanese anime in 'Star Wars: Visions'

What kind of stories would Star Wars inspire Japanese filmmakers, specifically producers of anime, to make? – Photo: Disney+ Hotstar

Any Star Wars fan worth his Craitian salt would know that one of George Lucas' biggest inspirations for the film was legendary Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa’s iconic 1958 film The Hidden Fortress.

That’s not the only time the Star Wars franchise has drawn from Japan though. From the samurai-influenced elements of Darth Vader’s helmet and the Jedi code of honour, to Obi-Wan Kenobi’s one-stroke final duel with Darth Maul in Star Wars Rebels, the entire Star Wars franchise is peppered with influences from Japanese culture and films.