After two days of speculation about the mysterious project between thelegendary Studio Ghibli and Lucasfilm, it has been revealed that the rumored Grogu-centric Disney+ short is in fact the project in question, and it’s coming out tomorrow! Disney+ revealed this evening thatZen -Grogu and the Dust Bunniesis set to stream exclusively on the platform. The short film is launching in honor ofThe Mandalorian’s third anniversary, and was meant as a surprise for fans! The project unites the legendary Japanese animation studio with Lucasfilm for the very first time, which is monumental in its own right! The hand-drawn, animated short was directed byKatsuya Kondowith music byThe Mandalorian’s composerLudwig Göransson.
When news first broke earlier this week,by way of an ominous video shared by Studio Ghibli on Twitter, speculation quickly turned to questioning if the project might have been connected by the critically acclaimed seriesStar Wars: Visions, which saw the franchise partnering with animation studios from around the world for the very first time. While this collaboration between Studio Ghibli and Lucasfilm might not be forVisions, it is a landmark union of two massive creative groups.
The Mandalorianwas the very first Disney+ series from a galaxy far, far away, and it took the world by storm when the titular, and helmet-clad gunslinger first strolled onto the screen. Created byJon Favreau, the series starsPedro Pascalas the voice (and sometimes helmet-free face) of “Mando” (a.k.a Din Djarin) who unexpectedly takes in Grogu as his foundling after being hired to snatch him for someone. It will be intriguing to see if Studio Ghibli’s short takes place during the events ofThe Mandalorianor if it’s a stand-alone story about Grogu getting up to mischief.
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Over the course of its two seasons,The Mandalorianhas sparked two spin-off series,The Book of Boba Fett(which starsTemuera MorrisonandMing Na Wen) and the upcomingAhsokaseries (which starsRosario Dawson).Jon WattsandChristopher Ford’s upcoming seriesStar Wars: Skeleton Crewis also said to be part of the same timeframe, though it’s unclear if it will be a direct tie-in with the events ofThe Mandalorian.
No release date has been set forThe Mandalorian, but you may streamZen -Grogu and the Dust Bunniestomorrow, exclusively on Disney+. While you wait for the new short, watch the trailer for Season 3 ofThe Mandalorianbelow:
