Exploring the Final Fantasy Film Universe: How Many Movies are There?

Hello, fellow gaming enthusiasts and Final Fantasy fans! Today, we're diving into the magical world of Final Fantasy to answer a question that's been on many of our minds: how many Final Fantasy films are there? Guys, explore more in Guides And Explainers and how many final fantasy films are there.

The Final Fantasy Film Franchise: A Brief Overview

Before we get into the numbers, let's quickly recap the Final Fantasy film franchise. Final Fantasy is a popular role-playing video game series created by Hironobu Sakaguchi and developed by Square Enix. The first game was released in 1987, and since then, it has spawned a vast multimedia franchise, including animated films, live-action movies, and TV series.

How Many Final Fantasy Films are There?

Now, let's get down to business. As of 2021, there are five feature-length Final Fantasy films. These movies are part of the Final Fantasy: Theatrical Series, which is a separate continuity from the games. Here they are, in chronological order:

1. 1. Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within (2001)
2. 2. Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children (2005)
3. 3. Final Fantasy VII: Last Order (2005) - A prequel short film to Advent Children
4. 4. Final Fantasy XV: Kingsglaive (2016)
5. 5. Final Fantasy XV: Brotherhood (2016) - A series of anime shorts that accompany Kingsglaive

Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within (2001)

Kicking off the Final Fantasy film universe is Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within, a CGI-animated film directed by Hironobu Sakaguchi himself. Set in a post-apocalyptic world, the story follows Dr. Aki Ross and her allies as they fight to save humanity from an alien threat known as the Phantoms. This film is a visual masterpiece, pushing the boundaries of CGI animation at the time. However, it didn't perform well at the box office, and its production was riddled with challenges, including a budget of over $137 million, making it one of the most expensive animated films ever made.

Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children (2005) & Last Order (2005)

Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children is a direct sequel to the popular video game Final Fantasy VII. The story takes place two years after the events of the game and follows Cloud Strife as he battles a new threat to the planet, led by the enigmatic Kadaj. This film is a visual spectacle, featuring stunning CG graphics and action-packed sequences. It also introduced the Compilation of Final Fantasy VII, a multimedia project that expanded the story of Final Fantasy VII across various films and games.

Before Advent Children, a short film titled Final Fantasy VII: Last Order was released, which serves as a prequel to the main film, detailing the events leading up to the story of Advent Children.

Final Fantasy XV: Kingsglaive (2016) & Brotherhood (2016)

Final Fantasy XV: Kingsglaive is an animated film set in the world of Final Fantasy XV, the latest mainline entry in the video game series. The story follows the Kingsglaive, an elite force of soldiers tasked with protecting the kingdom of Lucis. This film serves as a prequel to the game, providing additional context and backstory for the characters and world of Final Fantasy XV.

Accompanying Kingsglaive is Final Fantasy XV: Brotherhood, a series of five anime shorts that focus on the bonds between the main characters of Final Fantasy XV, Noctis, Gladiolus, Ignis, and Prompto.

Beyond the Feature-Length Films

While the above list covers the feature-length Final Fantasy films, there are other animated projects and movies worth mentioning:

1. 1. Final Fantasy: Legend of the Crystals (1993) - A three-part OVA (Original Video Animation) series that predates the feature-length films.
2. 2. Final Fantasy: Unlimited (2001) - A 25-episode anime series that shares some elements with the video games but has a separate continuity.
3. 3. Final Fantasy: The First Soldier (2021) - An upcoming live-action film based on the Final Fantasy series, with no release date or further details announced yet.

The Future of Final Fantasy Films

As of now, there are no official announcements regarding new Final Fantasy films. However, with the success of the video game series and the increasing demand for anime and live-action adaptations, it's safe to assume that we'll see more Final Fantasy films in the future.

So, there you have it, folks! A comprehensive look at the Final Fantasy film universe, answering the question: how many Final Fantasy films are there? We hope this article has provided you with the information you were looking for, and maybe even introduced you to some films you hadn't heard of before. Until next time, keep exploring the magical world of Final Fantasy!