Lucasfilm and Studio Ghibli’s surprise collaboration is now even more surprising because it’s available to stream Saturday, Nov. 12, on Disney Plus. The new animated short, titled Star Wars Zen: Grogu and Dust Bunnies, focuses on the breakout star of Lucasfilm’s The Mandalorian, the adorable quinquagenarian youngling Grogu — more commonly known as Baby Yoda.
Grogu and Dust Bunnies is described as “a hand-drawn animated Original short by Studio Ghibli,” so don’t expect a sweeping Star Wars epic on par with Studio Ghibli animated features like Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, and Grave of the Fireflies. But the animation studio’s flirtation with a galaxy far, far away is still a pleasant surprise, not just for its nearly out-of-nowhere drop on Disney Plus, but for its perfect match of talent and subject. Grogu is adorable (and a prominent food-enjoyer), and the folks Ghibli are experts in cute, kid-friendly fare.
Plus, it’ll give fans of My Neighbor Totoro and Spirited Away’s soot sprites (aka Susuwatari) a chance to see how the titular dust bunnies fare against a Force user (and unquenchable snacker) like Grogu.
Studio Ghibli started teasing its team-up with Lucasfilm earlier this week, sending fans of both studios’ work into a tizzy with very little information to go on. But they didn’t keep Star Wars fans waiting long for the payoff — no holding on until spring 2023 for the second season of Star Wars: Visions after all.
Grogu and his dad Din Djarin will reunite for a third season of The Mandalorian in 2023.
