The appeal and evaluation of "Final Fantasy": In search of the ultimate RPG experience

Final Fantasy: An epic journey from games to OVAs

The Final Fantasy series is a classic RPG series that has been loved by gamers around the world since the first title was released in 1987. Among them, "Final Fantasy", released as an OVA in 1994, attracted attention as a work that expressed the worldview of the game in the new medium of animation. In this article, we will introduce detailed information and reviews of the OVA "Final Fantasy", as well as its appeal from various angles.

Overview

The OVA "Final Fantasy" was released by NTT Publishing and Nippon Columbia on March 21, 1994. It consists of 4 episodes, each 30 minutes long, directed by Rintaro and produced by Madhouse. It is based on the "Final Fantasy" video game series, particularly the story of "Final Fantasy II" (known as "Final Fantasy IV" in the North American version).

Main Staff

Production: Madhouse Director: Rintaro Screenplay: Satoru Akahori Character design: Yoshinori Kanemori Animation director: Kunihiko Sakurai

subtitle

・Volume 1 (1994/03/21)

story

The OVA "Final Fantasy" depicts the battle to save the world from the invasion of the Dark Elves. The protagonist Theodore and his friends go on a journey to defeat the evil forces using the power of the crystal. While faithfully recreating the story of the game, it also includes special effects and additional scenes that are unique to the anime.

character

Theodore: The protagonist. A brave and righteous young man.
Cecil: Theodore's best friend. Grows from a Dark Knight to a Paladin.
Rosa: Cecil's lover. She supports her companions as a white mage.
Cain: Cecil's rival. Fights as a Dragon Knight.
Rydia: Summoner. Has the ability to control powerful summoned beasts.

Evaluation and Appeal

The OVA "Final Fantasy" has been highly praised not only by game fans but also by anime fans. Its appeal can be summed up in the following points:

1. Beautiful visuals

The beautiful animation produced by Madhouse faithfully recreates the world of the Final Fantasy series. In particular, the team of character designer Yoshinori Kanemori and animation director Kunihiko Sakurai has been meticulously crafted to depict the characters' expressions and movements in great detail. The backgrounds and effects are also rendered without compromising the atmosphere of the game, making for a visually appealing production.

2. A moving story

While based on the story of the original game, the anime includes additional scenes and scenes that are unique to the anime. In particular, the story of Cecil's growth and the bond with his friends will touch the hearts of viewers. Scriptwriter Satoru Akahori has created a drama unique to the anime while firmly drawing out the essence of the game.

3. Music

The music of the Final Fantasy series can be said to be a monumental achievement in game music. The music is used effectively in the OVA, further enhancing the emotional impact of the story. The spectacular background music in the battle scenes and the beautiful melodies in the moving scenes especially grab the hearts of the viewers.

4. Fan service

For fans of the game, the OVA "Final Fantasy" is packed with a lot of fan service. Famous scenes and character lines from the game are reproduced, giving a sense of nostalgia and freshness at the same time. Episodes that were not depicted in the game have also been added, so fans will surely find something new to discover.

Recommended points

The OVA "Final Fantasy" is especially recommended for the following people:

1. Fans of the Final Fantasy series

A must-see for anyone who wants to relive the game story in anime form. You can enjoy the world and characters of the game in animation. Also, scenes and episodes that were not depicted in the game have been added, so you can enjoy the series from a new perspective.

2. Anime Fans

This is also recommended for anime fans who want beautiful visuals and a moving story. The high-quality animation produced by Madhouse will provide a visually satisfying experience, while the moving story and music will touch the hearts of anime fans.

3. RPG enthusiast

I also recommend this to anyone interested in RPG stories and characters. The Final Fantasy series is a monumental RPG, and by experiencing its worldview and storyline through anime, you can rediscover the appeal of RPGs.

Related works and information

The OVA "Final Fantasy" is an animated version of a part of the story of the Final Fantasy series. There are many other games and anime works in the series. Here are some related works:

Games

・Final Fantasy II (North American version: Final Fantasy IV)
・Final Fantasy VII
・Final Fantasy X
・Final Fantasy XIV

Anime

・Final Fantasy: Legends: Tears of the Crystal ・Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children ・Brotherhood: Final Fantasy XV

summary

The OVA "Final Fantasy" is a wonderful work that recreates the world of the game through animation. With beautiful visuals, a moving story, and plenty of fan service, this work is highly recommended not only for fans of the Final Fantasy series, but also for anime fans and RPG fans. Please experience the magnificent world of Final Fantasy once again through this OVA.