The first episode of Star Wars: Forces of Destiny has landed and it features a bunch of your favourite characters from The Force Awakens.
The animated short – the first of a new series that will showcase some of the most kickass women in the Star Wars universe – has been uploaded by the official Disney YouTube channel, giving you the chance to travel to a two-dimensional version of that galaxy far, far away.
Titled “Sands of Jakku,” this three-minute clip sees Daisy Ridley reprising her role as Rey, alongside Lupita N’yongo narrating as Maz Kanata, and is set within the narrative of The Force Awakens. Still on her adoptive homeworld, Rey reluctantly lets BB-8 tag along with her. However, when he’s attacked by a junk-eating giant worm creature, she instantly jumps into action to rescue her new little friend.
There are a few things that fans will want to note here. For one, it shows an important bonding moment for Rey and the loveable droid and neatly slots in between Rey first encountering BB-8 and then her later meeting with Finn. Interestingly, it also sees Rey briefly and unconsciously use the Force to reclaim her staff. All in all, it’s a fun little animation for all ages that demonstrates Rey’s compassion and courage.
“Sands of Jakku” is the first of a sixteen micro-episode series that will be simultaneously posted on YouTube and broadcast on the Disney Channel. Other installments will focus on other Star Wars heroines like Princess Leia, Padme Amidala, Rogue One‘s Jyn Erso, The Clone Wars‘ Ahsoka Tano and Rebels‘ Sabine Wren. Most of the characters will be voiced by their original actresses, too.
If it’s more of Daisy Ridley you’re after, the actress will play Rey again, this time in the flesh, in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, which arrives in cinemas on December 15th.