Final Fantasy: Unlimited

Final Fantasy: Unlimited
～ファイナルファンタジー:アンリミテッド～ (~Fainaru Fantajī: Anrimiteddo~)
Genre	Adventure, Fantasy, Romance
TV anime
Directed by	Mahiro Maeda
Studio	Gonzo
Network	TV Tokyo
English network	Anime Network Animax
Original run	2 October 2001 – 26 March 2002
Episodes	25
Anime and Manga Portal

Final Fantasy: Unlimited (FF:U ～ファイナルファンタジー:アンリミテッド～, FF:U ~Fainaru Fantajī: Anrimiteddo~^?) was an anime television series based on Square Enix's popular Final Fantasy role-playing game franchise.

Final Fantasy: Unlimited incorporates both 2D animation and 3D graphics, and takes elements from the Final Fantasy games with quite a few easter eggs, some obvious, others obscure. It was licensed for North America and the United Kingdom by ADV Films, and 7 volumes of videos were released on DVD. In 2003, the series soundtrack Final Fantasy: Unlimited After 2 was released. The continuation of the story has also been released in a variety of other media.

Story

The original Final Fantasy: Unlimited follows the story of Ai and Yu Hayakawa, two twelve year-old twins who travel into Wonderland, a mysterious parallel dimension, in search of their missing parents. Along the way they meet Lisa Pacifist, a member of the C2 Organization, Kaze, a being of incredible power, and a variety of other characters.

The series is divided into two major sections, defined by the main mention of transport the protagonists are utilizing. The first half of the series see the group using the Interdimensional Train to reach a new world with each episode. In each of the episodes they would emerge to view a new world, confront the inherent dangers of the world, and stave off the latest assault by either the Gaudium Lords, or Omega.

Meanwhile, the story from the antagonist's view is periodically revealed with Earl Tyrant's discussion with his lords. Earl is the embodiment of Chaos, and is seeking the children as they were spawned of Chaos also, and the pieces of a powerful creature known as Omega. Omega is the ultimate destructive force, with its power only rivaled by that of the Unlimiteds; immortal beings of immense power. If he is able to collect these and adsorb them into his body, he will be able to rule Wonderland unchallenged.

The second half of the series see the protagonists join up with the rebel faction, the Comodeen, and board the submarine, Jane, which is bound for Telos, the only place in Wonderland that has a natural deposit of the gravity defying flight water. This substance will allow the airship Silvia to fly, allowing them to reach the Earl's flying fortress.

The series climaxes when the Earl himself makes a move on the Comodeen, destroying Jane and capturing the protagonists. Confronted with Chaos himself, Kaze and Makenshi, the only two surviving Unlimiteds, join forces and destroy it, thus ending its reign of terror over Wonderland.

Characters

Main article: List of characters in Final Fantasy: Unlimited

Episodes

	Title	Original airdate	English airdate
1	"Wonderland: Journey into the Darkness" "Ikai: Yami e no Tabidachi" (異界 -やみへのたびだち-)	October 02, 2001
2	"Magun: Man of the Black Wind" "Magan: Kuroki Kaze no Otoko" (魔銃 -くろきかぜのおとこ-)
3	"Fruit: The Town of Sweet Scent" "Kajitsu: Amai Kaori no Machi" (果実 -あまいかおりのまち-)
4	"Makenshi: The White Etude" "Makenshi: Shiroki Echūdo" (魔剣士 -しろきエチュード-)
5	"Cid: The Adventure of the Underground Waterway" "Shido: Chikasuimyaku no Bousen" (シド -ちかすいみゃくのぼうけん-)
6	"Kigen Arts: The Saviour of Souls" "Kigenjutsu: Inochi Mamorumono" (氣現術 -いのちまもるもの-)
7	"Subway: Enemy of the Dimensional Tunnel" "Chikatetsu: Jigen Tonneru no Teki" (地下鉄 -じげんトンネルのてき-)
8	"Soil: The Heart of the Magun" "Soiru: Magan no Shinzō" (ソイル -マガンのしんぞう-)
9	"Oscha: The Endless Project" "Osukā: Owarinaki Shigoto" (オスカー -おわりなきしごと-)
10	"Mansion: The Memory of Sagiso" "Yashiki: Sagisō no Omoide" (屋敷 -サギソウのおもいで-)
11	"Ciel: The Departure of Chocobo" "Shieru: Chokobo to no Wakare" (シエル -チョコボとのわかれ-)
12	"Fungus: Eternal Life" "Fungusu: Eien no Inochi" (フングス -えいえんのいのち-)
13	"Meteor: Abominable Memory" "Meteo: Imawashiki Kioku" (メテオ -いまわしききおく-)
14	"Omega: Reunion and Departure" "Omega: Saikai to Tabidachi" (オメガ -さいかいとたびだち-)
15	"Jane: The Moving Ocean Puzzle" "Jēn: Ugokidasu Umi Pazuru" (ジェーン -うごきだすうみパズル-)
16	"Kigen Dragon: Behind the Smile" "Kigenjū: Egao no Mukō ni" (氣現獣 -えがおのむこうに-)
17	"Frog: The Smallest Great Adventure" "Kaeru: Chicchana Daibōken" (カエル -ちっちゃなだいぼうけん-)
18	"Madoushi: The Battle of Kiri and Kumo" "Madōshi: Kiri to Kumo no Taiketsu" (魔道士 -きりとくものたいけつ-)
19	"Ai: Meeting with Clear" "Ai: Kuria to no Deai" (アイ -クリアとのであい-)
20	"Yu: The Secret of Gaudium" "Yū: Gaudiumu no Himitsu" (ユウ -ガウディウムのひみつ-)
21	"Cactus: The Wandering Sea" "Saboten: Samayoeru Umi" (サボテン -さまよえるうみ-)
22	"Moogle: Long Lost Memories" "Mōguri: Natsukashī Omoide" (モーグリ -なつかしいおもいで-)
23	"Teros: In Search of Flying Water" "Terosu: Tobimizu o Mezashite" (テロス -とびみずをめざして-)
24	"Chaos: The Earl Unveiled" "Konton: Hakushaku no Shōtai" (混沌 -はくしゃくのしょうたい-)
25	"Kaze: The Glory of Life" "Kaze: Inochi Kagayaku Toki" (風 -いのちかがやくとき-)	March 26, 2002

Boxset

The North American complete FF:U boxset re-arranges the series into five discs of five episodes each. The English complete FF:U boxset retains the seven disks as released singularly.

Phase	Episodes
Phase 1	01-05
Phase 2	06-10
Phase 3	11-15
Phase 4	16-20
Phase 5	21-25

Audio

The theme songs of the series are:

Opening theme

• "Over the FANTASY"

Lyrics: Yuko Ebine

Composition: Nobuo Uematsu

Arrangement: Takahiro Ando

Vocals: Kana Ueda

Ending themes

• "VIVID" (Episodes 1-12)

Lyrics and composition by: Takashi Genouzono

Arrangement by: FAIRY FORE & Masao Akashi

Song by: FAIRY FORE

• "Romancing Train" (Episodes 13-24)

Lyrics: motsu

Composition and arrangement: t-kimura

Vocals: move

• "Over the FANTASY" (Episode 25)

Lyrics by: Yuko Ebine

Composition by: Nobuo Uematsu

Arrangement by: Takahiro Ando

Song by: Kana Ueda

Final Fantasy: Unlimited Music Adventure Verse 1 was composed by Nobuo Uematsu and Shirō Hamaguchi. It was released on December 19, 2001 on the label Geneon. Final Fantasy: Unlimited Music Adventure Verse 2 was composed by Uematsu, Hamaguchi, and Akifumi Tada. It was released on April 17, 2002.

Final Fantasy: Unlimited Music Adventure Verse 1 and 2 listing
Final Fantasy: Unlimited Music Adventure Verse 1	Final Fantasy: Unlimited Music Adventure Verse 2
Top Title Ai's Theme Mysterious Boy, Fungo Yu’s Theme A little courage The endless road... Subtitle Enter Kaze Difficult battle Silent wind Departing wind The Magun has Thawed Firing of the Magun Preview Enter monster Trampled by the monster Colossal Fortress Gaudium Tyrant's dinner table Unseen anxiety Strange feeling Subway Fabula's mansion The absurd world Chocobo will walk, no matter how far Get out of here ~ Emergence of an alternate world Summoning the beast's return City of fruit Nihilistic world Cid the genius scientist The hearts that touch Recollections of Lisa Over the FANTASY Over the FANTASY (Luckspin Remix) Over the FANTASY (EXOTIC Remix)	Prayer: Lisa Home Town: Kaze Recollection: Kaze Over the FANTASY (TV Size) Underwater Voyage The Ocean Puzzle Reminiscence: Ai and Yu Peace~Hard Fight: Ai and Yu Hard Fight: Lisa Kigen Dragon Comodeen Miles Cid Cactuar Lou Transformation: Lou Moogle Chocobo Ciel Chocobo VIVID (TV Size) Fungus Herba Pist Oscha Formidable Enemy Run! Omega Shotgun Kaze Makenshi Sword Dragon Demon Sword Death Battle to the Death Phoenix Victory Airborne Assault Romancing Train (TV Size)

Reception

Allen Divers of Anime News Network ranked the series an overall score "B".^[1] Carlos Ross of T.H.E.M. ranked the series three stars stating that "The style is firmly entrenched in Saturday morning, but at least it's better than FF Legend of the Crystals."^[2]

Legacy

Sequels

The story of Final Fantasy: Unlimited, left incomplete by the television series, was continued in several other media and released only in Japan. These are listed below, ordered by the chronology of the events they cover.

• The Bonds of Two (双の絆, Sou no Kizuna^?) is a novel. It explores a side-story that is set in the time of the television series (somewhere before episode 12).
• Final Fantasy: Unlimited Before is a drama CD that features a flashback to the destruction of Kaze and Makenshi's worlds. FF:U Before was awarded to competition winners in Japan.
• Final Fantasy: Unlimited After is a book containing a 32 page manga and 120 page script. It was released in 2002 by DigiCube. It covers the twins' return to their own world, revelation of Lisa's past and introduces a new villain under Gaudium: Soljashy.
• The After Spiral is a series of web novels published on the official Japanese FF:U website (which has been taken down). The first of these short stories takes a quick plunge into Makenshi's past, while the rest describe an encounter between the show's heroes and Soljashy on the twins' childhood home of Sado Island, where Ai and Yu are briefly reunited with their old friend Touya Satomi.
• Final Fantasy: Unlimited After 2 is another radio drama. It deals with Comodeen's final attack on Gaudium and brings a conclusion to the conflict between Lisa and Soljashy, however it leaves many questions yet unanswered.

Video games

• Final Fantasy: Unlimited with U is a mobile phone (iPhone) game set in the Final Fantasy: Unlimited universe. It was released in August 2002.^[3]

• Final Fantasy: Unlimited on PC Adventure - Labyrinth is a personal computer game set in the Final Fantasy: Unlimited universe. Published by Amada Printing, it was released May 16, 2003.^[4]

References

1. ^ Divers, Allen (December 8, 2003). "Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex: Solid State Society DVD – Review". Anime News Network. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/ghost-in-the-shell-stand-alone-complex-solid-state-society/dvd. Retrieved August 9, 2011. 
2. ^ Ross, Carlos. "Final Fantasy: Unlimited". T.H.E.M.. http://www.themanime.org/viewreview.php?id=33. Retrieved August 9, 2011. 
3. ^ impress.co.jp staff (2002-08-20). "インデックス、iモードサイト「FF:U with U」提供開始" (in Japanese). http://k-tai.impress.co.jp/cda/article/news_toppage/10621.html. Retrieved 2007-10-22. 
4. ^ "FF:U on PC" (in Japanese). 2003. Archived from the original on 2003-08-02. http://web.archive.org/web/20030802150338/http://www.amada-printing.co.jp/ffu-on-pc/products.html. Retrieved 2010-04-12. 

External links

• Final Fantasy: Unlimited at the Internet Movie Database
• Final Fantasy: Unlimited at the Final Fantasy Compendium
• Final Fantasy: Unlimited character database at the Final Fantasy Wikia
• Fan Translation of Final Fantasy: Unlimited continuations