Here’s the full schedule for the University Stage at Star Wars Celebration Japan, taking place between April 18th to 20th at Makuhari Messe, Tokyo.
Friday, April 18
Star Wars TV Ads Through the Years
10:30am – 11:30am
Star Wars ads on TV have been used to sell Star Wars and its merchandise since 1977 and it’s looked so different over the years. We’ll take a look at it and how it’s changed, in all of its silly glory.
Ahsoka’s Underworld: Mythology, Folklore, Fairytales and Joseph Campbell
12:00pm – 1:00pm
George Lucas has often pointed to the influence of Joseph Campbell in crafting Star Wars: A New Hope. Campbell’s work continued to be influential throughout the creation of the rest of the Star Wars universe and still drives motifs in the latest expressions of the saga. Join hosts John Bucher, Executive Director of the Joseph Campbell Foundation and Marie-Claire Gould of What the Force? podcast, in conversation with some of the most interesting thinkers in the galaxy, as they identify and discuss mythology, folklore, fairy tales and the ideas of Joseph Campbell in the Ahsoka series.
Star Wars Origami Workshop
1:30pm – 2:30pm
Combine your love of Star Wars with the traditional Japanese art of Paper Folding. Make and take home your own origami models of a Lightsaber, Boba (or Jango) Fett’s Helmet, and BB-8! Chris Alexander, Author of Star Wars Origami books 1 and 2, will guide you step by step as you hand fold your own paper creations. Experience for yourself the creative workshop Star Wars Celebration attendees in the United States have enjoyed for 20 years. Exclusive Star Wars Celebration origami paper and instructions will be provided. No previous origami experience necessary.
Midichlorians: An Alliance of Science, Mythology, and Magic
3:00pm – 4:00pm
Join Scotty Jayro for an insightful lecture on Midichlorians, the microscopic entities that connect all living things to the Force in Star Wars. This 60-minute presentation will explore how George Lucas blended science, mythology, and philosophy to create this essential yet debated concept. Scotty will reveal how Midichlorians serve as a unifying theme throughout the saga, from The Phantom Menace to The Rise of Skywalker. He will illustrate interconnectedness using examples like the Naboo and Gungans and delve into real biological science. Additionally, he will discuss the biological implications of the Aniseya Twins from The Acolyte and their unique connection to Midichlorians. Inspired by mythologist Joseph Campbell, Scotty will highlight how Midichlorians represent universal themes of life, death, and unseen forces while discussing Anakin Skywalker’s connection to the Force and the Sith’s manipulation of Midichlorians. Written Japanese translations will be provided.
The George Lucas Super Live Adventure History
4:30pm – 5:30pm
In 1993, audiences across Japan got to see a (super) live stage show that was a magical tribute to the cinema of George Lucas. They saw Willow, Tucker, Indiana Jones, American Graffiti and Star Wars all live featuring singing, dancing and even a live tiger. Join Jason and Gabe from Blast Points Podcast as they take you a historical journey on how this happened, what it was like and why it’s such an amazing moment in Star Wars and Lucasfilm history.
Saturday, April 19
The Story of the Faithful Wookiee, Ewoks and Droids
10:30am – 11:30am
Michael Hirsh and Clive Smith, the legendary producers of The Story of the Faithful Wookiee, the 10-minute animated short that introduced the Boba Fett character during the 1978 2-hour television feature, The Star Wars Christmas Special, discuss their experiences working with George Lucas to introduce Boba Fett, the creation of The Story of the Faithful Wookiee, it’s reception after it aired, and how it became a beloved cult classic, among other topics. In addition, Michael and Clive who are also the producers of the animated TV series, Ewoks and Droids, will discuss these series’ development, the challenges they faced within the industry, as well as the worldwide success of these programs.
Science of Revenge of the Sith
12:00pm – 1:00pm
Revenge of the Sith is full of connections to real world science and technology – from droids and starfighters to the ecosystems of Mustafar and Utapau. How could we make a working lightsaber? Can you really battle over a river of lava? How would wildlife thrive on Coruscant? Are we close to making robots similar to C-3PO and R2-D2? We’ll try to tackle these questions and more with our lineup of experts in all sorts of fields, including Dr. Yukie Nagai (robotics), Dr. Takafumi Maruishi (volcanology), Dr. Kazuo Tanaka (particle physics), Sawyer Markham (ecology), and Melissa Miller (science communicator). Join host James Floyd (Star Wars author, Star Wars Insider regular contributor, Star Warsologies podcast co-host) in celebrating the 20th anniversary of Episode III with a look into its science and technology.
The Secret Miniatures of the Star Wars Prequels
1:30pm – 2:30pm
Episodes I, II, and III revolutionized the use of computer graphics in film but did you know that the ILM model shop was still in full swing during production? There are more miniatures in each of the prequels than the original trilogy combined! Fon Davis, an ILM model maker during the Special Edition and prequels era, takes us through his favorite behind the scenes photos and stories – many of which involve explosions. From the podracing arena on Tatooine to the lava flows of Mustafar, a surprising number of miniatures were created and used in tandem with other visual effects. Take a deep dive into the movie magic!
Star Wars, Art + Design, Education & More
3:00pm – 4:00pm
Troy Alders, art director at Lucasfilm/Disney Consumer Products, will present a visual overview of his 30 years of work at Lucasfilm and more. Focusing on creating work for the ever-expanding STAR WARS galaxy. Also as a part-time Graphic Design instructor at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco for over 20 years, he will talk about the future of art and design, and new ideas, including Artificial Intelligence in the fields of graphic design and illustration, as a thought starter and a powerful conceptual tool.
Young Indy to Young Ani — How the Young Indiana Jones Chronicles Paved the Way for the Star Wars Prequels
4:30pm – 5:30pm
The Young Indy Chroniclers podcast takes you back to where the Star Wars Prequels all began — with Indiana Jones. Before George Lucas returned to the Galaxy Far, Far Away, he turned back the clock on the Indiana Jones franchise to tell the tales of the fedora-wearing hero’s early years. What transpired was truly a labor of love for George Lucas and Lucasfilm, and also a proving ground for many of the techniques and themes that would be utilized in the Star Wars Prequels. Names such as Rick McCallum, David Tattersall, Gavin Bocquet, Trisha Biggar, Jonathan Hales, and more, who’s work would be a defining feature of the Prequel films, started out on the Young Indiana Jones TV series. The Young Indy Chroniclers podcast now trace the origins of the Star Wars Prequels to its earliest days in Young Indiana Jones, from the development and implementation of cutting edge technology, to how the themes and characters explored in Young Indiana Jones would find their way to the Galaxy Far Far Away.
Sunday, April 20
History in a Galaxy Far, Far Away
9:45am – 10:45am
What is ‘history’? Presented by Daughters of Ferrix and featuring historian Dr. Chris Kempshall (author, The Rise and Fall of the Galactic Empire; The History and Politics of Star Wars: Death Stars and Democracy), this panel is a breakdown of what our favourite space fantasy can teach us about retellings of the past. From Andor’s Karis Nemik to The Rise of Skywalker’s Beaumont Kin, how is historical context used to make political arguments? How do academics tackle unreliable or contradictory sources, like Imperial propaganda? And how does a galaxy remember?
Kurosawa and Star Wars
11:15am – 12:15am
From the very beginning, George Lucas relied on the work of Akira Kurosawa to help tell the stories of Star Wars. This will be a look at that cultural exchange between Japan and the united States.
Droids, Artificial Intelligence, and Sentience
12:45pm – 1:45pm
R2-D2 and C-3PO. BB-8. Battle droids. Star Wars isn’t Star Wars without its lovable droids. We’ll examine the science of robots, the programming of personality and the ethics of sentient mechanicals in society, plus go behind the scenes on designing droids for the movies. Why do droids in Star Wars look the way they do? Why do we all love R2-D2? How close are we to having droid intelligence and personality in our own world? Let’s go inside the gears and processing units to explore all the possibilities. Our team of experts includes Yukie Nagai (Project Professor, International Research Center for Neurointelligence, University of Tokyo), Fon Davis (ILM Model Maker – Star Wars), Chris Kempshall (author, Star Wars: The Rise and Fall of the Galactic Empire and The History and Politics of Star Wars) and Joel Welch (PhD Law candidate at Western University, Emerging Technology Policies & SciFi). Moderated by James Floyd (Star Wars Insider; Star Warsologies, Star Wars Crossword Puzzles).
An Ode to Starlight: A High Republic Panel
2:15pm – 3:15pm
Love the High Republic? So do we! From the page to the screen, the High Republic is one of the most innovative and unique eras of Star Wars. Come talk fandom, cosplay, reading, listening, watching, and all things about the centuries before The Phantom Menace. Everyone is welcome, even if you’re new to the High Republic, but be warned; there will be spoilers. Celebrate Starlight Beacon, the beloved heroes, the loathed villains, and everyone in between. For light and life!
Check out all the schedules for Star Wars Celebration Japan here.
The post Star Wars Celebration Japan 2025: University Stage Schedule appeared first on Jedi News.
