Next Club Meeting:November 21, 2026,at the Fountaindale Public Library in Bolingbrook from 11:00 am - 5:00 pm
The Animatrix Network is an anime & manga fan club located in the Southwest suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. We usually meet on the third Saturday of each month (except when holidays or conventions coincide). The meetings are free and open to the public. Join us for a day filled with anime.
This site provides news, reviews, commentaries, and previews of the world of anime and everything it inspires in today's pop culture, such as live-action films, comics, music, art, and other weird things to enjoy and contemplate.
"The Skywalkers serves as the first long-form anime episode born from the Star Wars comedy shorts I have been posting over the past couple months. Brought to you with help from loads of talented people! This fan project is intended to strictly be taken as a parody of the incredible galaxy George Lucas created."
Animated fan film based on the novel by Timothy Zahn.
The feature-length animated (made without AI) adaptation of
Star Wars: Heir to the Empire, based on the novel by Timothy Zahn.
The Rebel Alliance has destroyed the Death Star, defeated Darth Vader and the Emperor, and driven the remnants of the old Imperial Starfleet to a distant corner of the galaxy. Princess Leia and Han Solo are married and expecting Jedi twins. And Luke Skywalker has become the first in a long-awaited line of Jedi Knights. But thousands of light-years away, the last of the Emperor's warlords has taken command of the shattered Imperial fleet, readied it for war, and pointed it at the fragile heart of the New Republic....
May the 4th became a popular pun due to its similarity to the iconic Star Wars quote: "May the Force be with you".
According to gadgets.ndrv.com, the first use of the May the fourth pun was in May 4th 1979 when Margaret Thatcher became UK Prime Minister and an article in The London Evening News bore a congratulatory advert by her party, which read: "May the Fourth Be with You, Maggie. Congratulations."
May 4th became dedicated to Star Wars and was started organically by its fans, but is now celebrated around the world.
After over a decade of fan abuse and insultingly bad stories, the Star Wars franchise lies in ruins. Judging by the lack of excitement for the Mando and Grogu movie and Starfighter, it feels like the franchise is on its last legs. But I believe Disney still has one last chance to save Star Wars, one final opportunity coming up... but the window is closing fast.
Kathleen Kennedy is officially OUT as the head of Lucasfilm, but does that mean Star Wars will be saved? More telling according to her "exit interview" is that she regrets nothing... and, of course, blames the fans. Dave Filoni and Lynwen Brennan are replacing Kathleen Kennedy as Lucasfilm president.
Kathleen Kennedy HUMILIATED by Disney in SAD Exit
from Lucasfilm! No Celebrations, No Awards!
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What Does the Future Hold for Star Wars?
This has been a week of massive change in pop culture. Yesterday Paramount released their latest Trek release for free on YouTube to disastrous results that may prove to be Secret Hideout's Waterloo, and it was announced that this is Kennedy's final week as President of Lucasfilm, which would mean today is her last day. What does all this mean for pop culture? Here are my thoughts on these staggering developments!
Pulled back from the edge of space, Luke Skywalker survives Cloud City - but nothing feels certain anymore. The truth about Vader changes everything, and the Jedi teachings he trusted now feel incomplete. As the Rebellion regroups, Luke quietly wonders what it truly means to be a Jedi… and how to walk that path without losing himself.
Facing Darth Vader on Bespin, Luke Skywalker lost his hand, his lightsaber, and his innocence—learning the devastating truth about his father.
Haunted by those events and desperate for answers, Luke returns to Tatooine in search of ancient Jedi texts Yoda once mentioned—texts he believes will help him construct a new lightsaber and complete his training before facing Vader again.
The writings lead Luke on a dangerous journey close to home: a map to a Force “well,” a rare place where the Force gathers to protect objects of immense power. In this case, a long-hidden Kyber crystal—one Obi-Wan Kenobi secretly left behind for him.
To reach it, Luke must survive the treacherous Beggar’s Canyon—a labyrinth of deadly valleys, jagged formations, and sheer canyon walls deep within the Jundland Wastes. Once part of the legendary Boonta Eve Podracing Classic, the canyon now presents a different kind of trial.
Hunted by the dangers of the desert and forced to scale an immense canyon wall, Luke ventures toward a cave that holds not only the crystal he seeks—but truths about the Jedi, the Force, and himself.
Set between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, Beggar’s Canyon is a Star Wars fan film exploring Luke Skywalker’s transformation into the Jedi Knight he must become.
(This is a non-commercial fan film made for creative and educational purposes. Star Wars and all related characters are the property of Lucasfilm Ltd.)
*This project makes use of AI tools as part of an experimental filmmaking process. It is not a replacement for artists, performers, or craftspeople, whose work and rights are deeply respected. This film exists in support of artists, not in opposition to them.
What happened at Cloud City BEFORE the Millennium Falcon arrived?
While Han, Leia, and Chewie flee Hoth in the damaged Millennium Falcon, Darth Vader arrives at Cloud City first to set the ultimate trap. Watch as the Empire systematically takes over Bespin, Lando Calrissian is forced into an impossible choice, and Vader prepares to capture the rebels… and lure Luke Skywalker into his grasp. Set during The Empire Strikes Back, this Star Wars fan film explores these unseen events at Cloud City.
Disney are counting their lucky stars that families and furries came out in full force for Zootopia 2, and they are biting their proverbial fingernails in the hopes that the same audience will come out in droves and make Avatar Fire and Ash a hit as well – because they don’t have much else going for them. Hype for Avengers Doomsday is virtually non-existent, and that may be the most expensive movie ever made … behind the scenes though, they are even more worried about Star Wars, and we’ve got an exclusive WDW Pro scoop breaking down that they are already prepping contingencies in case the next batch of Star Wars movies currently in the works should fail, those being Mando & Grogu, as well as Star Wars Star Fighter, you know the Ryan Gosling movie.
Nine celebrated anime studios join forces to create an anthology of Star Wars short stories. Watch the trailer for Star Wars: Visions Volume 3, premiering October 29 on @DisneyPlus.
Take a look at the Official Trailer for Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu, the theatrical continuation of the Disney+ series The Mandalorian distributed by Lucasfilm. Fans will embark on a brand-new journey with Din Djarin and Grogu with Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu, in theaters in May 2026.
In theaters in May 2026
The movie stars Pedro Pascal, Sigourney Weaver, Jeremy Allen White, and more. The film is directed by Jon Favreau and written by Jon Favreau, Dave Filoni, and George Lucas.
Star Wars Episode VII-A: The Force Reborn imagines a bold new chapter in the galaxy far, far away. Set nearly 30 years after the fall of the Empire, the New Republic thrives in peace and prosperity.
Admiral Han Solo and Former President Leia Organa Solo prepare to step back from public life; Luke and Mara Jade Skywalker oversee a flourishing New Jedi Order, and Lando Calrissian, now the galaxy’s wealthiest man, is transforming the planet, Xanidia, into the galaxy’s ultimate vacation destination—with six artificial resort moons.
At the same time, a new generation of heroes are emerging. Jedi Padawan Ben Skywalker grows stronger in the force with each passing day. Jedi Knight Jaina Solo perfects her skills as she aspires to live in harmony with the force. Ex-Jedi Knight Jacen Solo has left the order to seek adventures. Aramis Calrissian is a rising young executive in his father’s intergalactic megacorporation. And Lieutenant Ariana Calrissian serves on board a New Republic Star Explorer.
But peace is fragile.
When massive bio-engineered ships bearing the ancient and fanatical Yuuzhan Vong suddenly emerge from beyond the galaxy, the fragile balance is shattered.
As thousands of worlds fall and fleets rally, two generations of heroes—old and new—must rise to tip the scales… Or the galaxy will be lost forever.
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FEATURING:
• Admiral Han Solo & Former New Republic President Leia Organa Solo
• Jedi Masters Luke & Mara Jade Skywalker
• Lando Calrissian
• Ben Skywalker
• Jacen Solo & Jaina Solo
• Aramis Calrissian & Ariana Calrissian
• Chewbacca, R2-D2 & C-3PO
• The Yuuzhan Vong
This fan-made “Alternate Universe” trailer reimagines Star Wars Episode VII with fresh characters, high-stakes conflict, and familiar faces. No official Star Wars footage is used; all visuals and audio are original creations inspired by the Original and Expanded Universes.
A LITTLE BACKGROUND: While there were a number of things about the sequel trilogy that I did enjoy (mainly the cast and some of the designs), it wasn’t really what I was expecting. I always found it somewhat odd that the New Republic would be so inept that they’d fumble away the galactic government in roughly 30 years… Luke would become a disillusioned hermit… Han and Leia would become estranged… The First Order would turn former leaders back into rebels… And that somehow Emperor Palpatine would return. After everything they’d fought and sacrificed for, there was no happy ending.
Although I’ve never read any of the Expanded Universe novels, I did become familiar with some of the characters and storylines (mostly through Wookiepedia and Google searches). When the sequels were originally announced I figured that Disney/Star Wars would pull some of the more popular elements from the EU, streamlining it into a tight and exciting new cannon trilogy of stories. But I suppose that might have involved paying various writers and creators.
A couple of years ago I wrote a very short outline for what I thought might have made a nice sequel trilogy that felt more like Star Wars. Some elements were pulled from the EU, some things were remixes, and several elements were completely new creations. Back then I was able to loosely visualize characters and designs using AI—primarily for my own curiosity and satisfaction—before setting the idea aside.
Fast forward to three weeks ago when I got the idea to see if I could write and produce a trailer for what would be the first entry in an alternate universe sequel trilogy. Here’s the result.
This first trailer was a fun creative experiment imagining a different path for the Star Wars saga. Sound off below! I’d love to hear your reactions, ideas, or even your own Alternate Universe takes. Also, let me know if you’d like to see an Alternate Universe trailer for Star Wars Episode VIII-A, tentatively titled “A Darkness Rises”
If you enjoyed Star Wars Episode VII-A: The Force Reborn, be sure to check out more videos on my channel."
Star Wars: Heir to the Empire is one of, if not the most popular story from the Star Wars EU. Brought to us by author Timothy Zahn, I and others have long dreamed of seeing this story, and others from the EU, adapted into a visual medium.
This is first episode of Heir to the Empire, brought to you in a 90's animation/anime style. This ~18 min cut is what I originally intended to be the first episode. The 7 min cut has now been retitled as a teaser.
