OVERALL REVIEW:
I've been excited about this project since it was announced, and I'm very pleased that I wasn't disappointed. I enjoyed some more than others, but that's to be expected from an anthology from a variety of different creators. However, throughout all of these short episodes, you could sense the passion these people had for Star Wars. It really feels like some super talented fans were given free reign to make whatever stories they wanted, and their love and care for the franchise is on full display. Every story told is definitely deserving of its own show. Absolutely worth a watch if you're a fan of Star Wars, anime, or both.

Now, my thoughts on the individual episodes:

Episode 1: The Duel (8/10)
Right out of the gate, the unique style of The Duel is on display. I really like the grainy black-and-white movie look, which hearkens back to some of the Japanese movies that inspired the original Star Wars.

Because these stories aren't part of the canon, there's a lot more room for the artists and the animation studios to express their own unique visions of Star Wars. The traditional Japanese setting mixes surprisingly well with the Star Wars aesthetic, but I like that it leans heavier on the Japanese side of things: the lightsaber in a sheath, the clothing everyone wears, the styles of the architecture. Plus, the music is just so Star Wars. What a strong start to this anthology series!

Episode 2: Tatooine Rhapsody (7/10)
The first episode was a celebration of the inspirational roots of Star Wars, but this one feels like a love letter to how fun Star Wars can be. Seeing tropes like the Wilhelm Scream and "I've got a bad feeling about this" brings a smile to my face just as much as (I'm sure) it did to the faces of those who worked on this episode. You can feel the passion for Star Wars in every scene. Plus, the music rocks!

Episode 3: The Twins (6/10)
A really cool concept with super stylish animation! However, it feels a tad rushed and too complicated for its shorter runtime. If this were the length of a regular episode of TV, it would have given the interesting ideas some room to breathe and flesh itself out. As it stands, it's flashy and cool, but at times, it can also be confusing.

Episode 4: The Village Bride (8/10)
It's so darn peaceful. The music is soothing, and the connection the village has with nature, while mysterious, is not too dissimilar to a Jedi's connection with the Force. It does a good job of telling you what you need to know, and letting you fill in the gaps for yourself. Heck, the main character doesn't even have a name, and that's pretty cool.

Gives me Studio Ghibli vibes. Very well done!

Episode 5: The Ninth Jedi (8/10)
Being the longest episode of the anthology, The Ninth Jedi feels the closest to an actual episode of television in terms of story. I really like the characters in this one, even the one-off characters. They set the stage for this reimagining of the Star Wars universe very well, and it pays off with some excellent characterization and a great twist in the final act.

Episode 6: T0-B1 (8/10)
I was hesitant about this one when I first saw a picture of T0-B1 (because his design doesn't match the style of typical Star Wars droids), but this one might be one of my favourites! The Pinocchio/Astro Boy type premise makes it easy to connect to both the story and the characters, and it really nails a large premise on a small scale.

Episode 7: The Elder (8/10)
Apart from the mystery behind the elderly man, this story could feasibly fit into the pre-Prequel canon. That is to say, it doesn't require any suspension of disbelief; this feels like regular old Star Wars, through and through.

I especially like the relationship between the master and the padawan. It reminds me of Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan, but if Qui-Gon were a bit less hardheaded. The dialogue about Jedi wisdom was great, something we see far less frequently in the Disney-era Star Wars, so that was a welcome addition. All in all, it's a solid Star Wars story.

Episode 8: Lop & Ocho (7/10)
A traditional Japanese family adopting an alien rabbit girl gives me warm, fuzzy feeling inside, and subsequently, it breaks my heart when family drama eventually arises. But as much as I like the story, this feels very rushed. Not in terms of animation or voice acting (both of which are superb), but in the story beats. It feels like they condensed an entire season of anime into nineteen minutes. It's a good story, but there's too much of it to fit in one episode.

Episode 9: Akakiri (5/10)
It starts out interesting enough, but the middle section is just a lot of nothing. There's essentially no conflict on the way to the palace, and that's boring. The ending was good, though; I like the way the Jedi's mental instability plays into it. However, if they had explored that instability beyond a recurring nightmarish vision, it would have both deepened the character and would have bolstered the episode greatly.