There’s an awesome new Star Wars series on the way, and it isn’t just leaning on familiar lore to grab attention. Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord is stepping into the spotlight with a visual style that looks genuinely different from anything the franchise has done before.
This new Disney+ animated series is embracing a hybrid animation approach that mixes CG with hand-crafted techniques, giving it a textured, artistic feel that instantly sets it apart.
The show taps into a growing movement in animation where studios are blending digital tools with traditional artistry. You’ve seen it in projects like Arcane, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, and of course Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.
Instead of chasing hyper-realism, these projects lean into stylization, letting brush strokes, imperfections, and painterly details breathe life into every frame. Maul – Shadow Lord is taking that same philosophy and applying it to the galaxy far, far away.
Supervising director Brad Rau pulled talked about how far they pushed that idea, explaining:
“Dave Filoni wanted us to put the hand of the artist in every frame. So you see more brush strokes in the skin tones, in the buildings and in the [background] matte paintings.
“Joel Aron, our director of lighting, photography and effects, had this really cool idea, where his team would paint on glass with actual brushes, and then scan those brush strokes into the computer.
“In the pilot there’s this great hero shot of Maul as his lightsaber turns on, and if you look at the smoke next to him, there’s actual brush strokes in the smoke.”
It’s not about making things look perfect, it’s about making them feel crafted and creating some stunning visuals.
Then there’s Maul himself. The latest footage shows him moving with the same aggressive, acrobatic energy that made his duel in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace so memorable.
His use of Form IV combat is pushed even further here, with fast, fluid lightsaber choreography that feels tailor-made for this expressive animation style. It looks intense, sharp, and honestly pretty badass.
Beyond the visuals, the show seems ready to explore Maul’s darker journey in a way that animation can uniquely support. That stylized look isn’t just for show, it adds mood, weight, and personality to the story.
Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord premieres on Disney+ on April 6, and this is sure to end up being another freakin’ cool Star Wars project!
