More Final Fantasy: Unlimited details

[09.10.01] » First pictures of the characters of the new Final Fantasy TV series released; key staff members announced.

   Advertisements for Final Fantasy: Unlimited, the forthcoming animated TV series bearing the Final Fantasy name, have begun running in Japan, and in them has come more information on the series.

   The series' story begins when a black pillar appears in the water near Japan and began calling Summoned Beasts from another world. A geologist, Dr. Hayakawa, and his wife Marie venture travel through the gate to the other world and eventually return to Earth, where they write a book chronicling their experiences. The couple returns to the other world for a second adventure, but this time they vanish and fail to return.

   The Hayakawas' children, Ai and Yuu, decide to look for their missing parents. Following clues left in the original travelogue, the two venture to an abandoned subway station, where a nighttime train supposedly runs to the other world. The train arrives at 12:13 and 13 seconds. Ai and Yuu board it, where they encounter the show's heroine, Lisa. (Presumably, the show's alien protagonist, Wind, is introduced soon after the group arrives in the other world.)

   The primary staff members working on the project were also revealed:

Base Concept: Akitoshi Kawazu (SaGa series)
General Director: Mahiro Maeda (Blue Submarine No. 6)
Conductor: Yoshitomo Yonetani (GaoGaiGar, Betterman, Brigadoon, etc.)
Series Planning: Atsuhiro Tomioka (Pokemon, Vandread)
Digital Director: Tomohiro Hirata
Assistant Director: Ken'ichi Takeshita (Devilman)
Character Design: Carmel-7
Mechanical Design: Makoto Kobayashi (Gundam)
Animation Production: GONZO/DIGIMATION (studios)

   The ad for the show, posted online by euea, also reveals the appearance of all the main characters. Lisa wears an orange dress and - in true Final Fantasy style - several belts. Ai and Yuu wear school uniforms: Ai's is pink and red, while Yuu's is green and white. Wind is the most unusual of the bunch: a lanky gunner in a brown jumpsuit and a black cape. (The other two characters depicted in the ad are Dr. Hayakawa and Marie Hayakawa.)

   A big thanks again to tennin for the pointer and translation.