In a galaxy full of Skywalkers, Mandalorians, and Force-wielding humans, one of the most interesting potential leading Star Wars protagonists came from a one-off anime short.
Star Wars: Visions Season 1 introduced us to Lop — a Lepi, rabbit-like alien, who stood out not just for her design, but for her compelling character arc.
The dedicated one-off episode “Lop & Ochō” wasn’t just visually stunning — it carried weight. Lop, a young orphan, enslaved by the Empire and later adopted into a traditional family on the planet Tao, finds herself torn between her sister and her ideals. Her story ends not with triumph, but with a cliffhanger — a final moment begging for continuation.
And yet… that was it. One episode. One story. No sequel, no series, not even a cameo!
It’s baffling. At a time when Star Wars fans are growing weary of recycled legacies and diminishing returns, Lop offers something different — not just a new face, but a new feel. She’s not connected to the Jedi Council. She’s not a Skywalker or a Palpatine. She’s a survivor, shaped by love, loyalty, and resistance. And in that, she’s as “Star Wars” as it gets.
So, why hasn’t Lucasfilm embraced her? Is it because she’s not human? Because she isn’t connected to legacy characters? If that’s the case, they’ve forgotten what made Star Wars work in the first place — the willingness to explore new galaxies and perspectives.
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We’ve also seen what non-human leads can do. Ahsoka Tano, once a measly sidekick in animation, is now a leading lady in live-action. So why not Lop?
With a new Rey Skywalker movie in the works and dwindling excitement around familiar faces, now would be the perfect time to shift gears. Lop’s story — whether in anime, live-action, or even animation again — could offer a compelling new anchor for the franchise.
It’s time for Star Wars to be bold again. And Lop might be the fresh hero we didn’t know we were waiting for.
Would you like to see Lop from “Lop and Ocho” return to Star Wars? Let us know in the comments down below!
