Star Wars Visions: Lop & Ochō (2021) Review

Star Wars Visions: Lop & Ochō (2021)

Lop & Ochō follows Lop, who after being taken in by the Yasaburo clan 7 years earlier, finds herself torn between her sister and father, following her sisters defection to the Empire, who has taken full control of their planet.  

As I’ve mentioned in other reviews of this series (specifically The Twins), Star Wars has always been at it’s best when it’s about family and rebellion. The two, so importantly, go hand-in-hand because they are themes that most anyone can understand and relate to. Lop and Ochō understands that and in turn, crafts one of the most emotionally packed and sincerely heartbreaking episodes of the series. It’s so complex and the levels it goes to really tug at those heart strings is really well done. 

For starters, we get (I believe) our first alien protagonist in Lop, a furry haired young girl who was taken in by Ochō and her father, following the passing of Lop’s parents. This opening is important because while her adoption could easily be glossed over, this gave her a family and loving roots to tie back to upon jumping to ‘modern day’, where her father is now a “terrorist” and her sister, an Empire sympathizer. This familial split is reminiscent of the effect the Civil War had on families, often pitting brothers against brothers, one fighting for a cause, that while efficient, is morally awful. Of course, this leads to some tense but revealing exposition that gives Lop the legacy and the destiny her sister passed up, that of a Jedi, thus pitting sister against sister in a fight to not only save their planet but their family. 

I was also pretty impressed with the animation in this, visually appearing like a 90s cell shaded, hand drawn anime (a style I love) of old that I felt paired well with the world and tone Geno Studio was trying to convey. It’s bright colors, slight over exposure, but dark shadows all complement in each other well, and more than most, bring out the real Japanese style of setting of Lop and Ochō’s Empire torn planet. 

Lop & Ochō, created by Geno Studios, was a very fleshed out and complex story that used a deep emotional connection to provide for an inspiringly dense short, and though it follows the whole lightsaber duel, third act trend to a T, always feels fresh and relatable. 

9/10