An alleged pitch presentation for an animated series based on Square Enix’s classic role-playing game, Final Fantasy IX, has emerged on the internet.
According to the pitch presentation, the animated series is titled Final Fantasy IX: The Black Mages’ Legacy. It intended to deliver an original story for those new to the FFIX universe, and also satisfy fans of all ages who have made the game a success. The series was first brought up back in June, 2021, by author and producer Sylvain Dos Santos. He had mentioned that Cyber Group Studios and Square Enix had teamed up to work on the project, and that he was given the honor to write the worldbuilding and story arcs alongside Square Enix Creative team.
The presentation reveals the series’ plot tackles themes pertaining to legacy. It takes place about 10 years after the events of Final Fantasy IX. The aforementioned legacy is that of VIVI, one of the most iconic characters in the game and also of the Final Fantasy franchise. The series features 6 children of VIVI, created from the character’s magic and vital energy, namely Mel, Doc, Thea, Fala, Luciola, and Koln. With the exception of Koln, they have all inherited great magic powers from their father. The siblings live happily in the city of Alexandria, watched over by its friendly and sometimes curious inhabitants. However, their peaceful existence comes to an abrupt end, when Koln finds Mel frozen like a statue inside the inn where he works. They leave immediately in pursuit of a cure for their brother, leaving Alexandria for the first time to discover the vast world around them.
The leaked slides are apparently from private presentations held sometime during 2022 for the purpose of pitching new shows. There has not been much news about the series ever since. The French studio in charge of production faced financial issues and filed for bankruptcy in 2024. As such, it’s likely that the Final Fantasy IX animated series has either been canceled or is facing development hell.
