The Television Academy has recognized character designer Takashi Okazaki with an Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation. The honor highlights his contributions to "The Duel: Payback," a standout short featured in the third volume of the Star Wars: Visions anthology series, which debuted on Disney+ in October 2025.
Directed by Takanobu Mizuno at Kamikaze Douga + ANIMA, "The Duel: Payback" serves as a direct follow-up to the original "The Duel" short from the project's inaugural volume. Okazaki's signature character design work remains a defining element of the series, which explores the Star Wars universe through the distinct lenses of various anime studios. The award will be formally presented to Okazaki on September 6 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.
This year’s Emmy recognition for the franchise extends beyond individual achievement, with the short "Black"—also from Volume 3—earning a nomination in the Outstanding Animated Program category. These accolades arrive during a busy period for the project, following the recent August 5 premiere of the spinoff limited series Star Wars: Visions Presents - The Ninth Jedi on Disney+ and Hulu.
Fans looking to catch the ceremony can watch an edited presentation of the awards airing on FXX on September 12, ahead of the main Primetime Emmy Awards broadcast on September 14.
