Since its debut in 1977, Star Wars has spent years asking what it means to be a Jedi. Iconic characters like Luke Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi have solved the case in turn, but every generation needs its own answer. In Star Wars: Visions Presents - The Ninth Jedi , supervising director Kenji Kamiyama (who anime fans may recognize from Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex or the recently announced Mobile Suit Gundam RG XARX-ZERO ) ushers in the franchise's new era with an answer of his own, and it's one that harkens back to the hopeful vision George Lucas originally crafted for Star Wars .  For the veteran animator, his answer begins with Lah Kara, a young Force user whose journey to power defies the rigid traditions that famously restricted the Jedi Order. The character's introduction in Star Wars: Visions sparked global interest among fans in 2021. Her unorthodox journey proved that there is another path to becoming a Jedi, one that makes room for both darkness and light.  This August, Kara's journey will continue in Star Wars: Visions Presents - The Ninth Jedi , a brand-new original series on Disney+. Crunchyroll spoke with Kamiyama ahead of their appearance at Anime Expo 2026 to unpack the power of Kara's unconventional Jedi journey, the challenge of legacy, and the real reason why hope matters more to Star Wars now than ever before.