Final Fantasy VII Advent Children Interview - Conducted by Dengeki PS Magazine
Interview with: Tetsuya Nomura
Interview Conducted by: Dengeki PlayStation Magazine
Translated by: GameSpot
Dengeki PlayStation Magazine: Why was a movie sequel to Final Fantasy VII decided for
development, and when was it decided?
Tetsuya Nomura: About a year back, Visual Works (a company that has developed CG
movies for Square) picked FFVII as the theme for a presentation that they were
going to create. Our research and development department worked with them on its
launch, and I joined the crew after producer Kitase-san called me. It's going to
be released as a sequel, but it was planned to just be a visual presentation in
the beginning.
DPM: Why is Advent Children a movie instead of a game? Are there any
differences between making a game and making a full movie?
TN: First of all, we started off from the project that Visual Works
was handling, but they can't make a game on their own. We tried to see if we
could make it into a game, but it wasn't possible due to a number of factors. As
a result, we decided to stick with the original plan and work on it as a movie
production. The development isn't too different from the way we make movies that
get used in our games, but our schedule is a bit tight. We need to keep the cost
down since it's not a game, but [we still need to] maintain high quality.
DPM: Are there any differences between creating movies for games and
creating Advent Children?
TN: There are more efforts put into the textures and the atmosphere.
We usually need to balance [the movie graphics] with the game screen, but there
are no such limitations in Advent Children, so we're going all out on it.
DPM: What meaning does Final Fantasy VII have for you?
TN: It was the Final Fantasy game that I was most involved in, and it
is also my favorite. It's also where the series takes a radical change [from
past FF titles].
DPM: How is production going?
TN: We are at about 10 percent done. Not all the characters have been
created yet, but the scenario has already been completed.
DPM: Were there any things that you were especially careful about when
bringing back Cloud and Sephiroth to the screen?
TN: What you are seeing now is the result of numerous explorations.
Since it was impossible to bring the look [from FFVII] directly to the new
realistic look (in Advent Children), the characteristics that would allow
anybody to recognize Cloud and the others were left behind on them.
DPM: What kind of standing does the new character fighting with Cloud
have?
TN: He is an enemy.
DPM: Were the characters in Advent Children's promotional video
animated through motion capture?
TN: They were animated by motion capture, but that capture was
recently taken for promotional use. It isn't a part of the main movie.
DPM: Are the battle scenes also created through motion capture?
TN: Many are, but parts that aren't humanly possible are done by hand.
DPM: Will the characters have voices? And will it be in English or
Japanese?
TN: The characters will have voices, but I can't answer more.
DPM: What is the theme of Advent Children?
TN: Nojima, who handles the scenario, says that it won't be something
soft, like healing. It will be about survival.
DPM: Where, specifically, will Advent Children take place? Will it be
somewhere from the original Final Fantasy VII?
TN: It's hidden in the logo.
DPM: How long will Advent Children be?
TN: It is planned to run for 60 minutes.
DPM: Are there any chances for a FFVII sequel to be developed as a
game after the release of Advent Children?
TN: I hope that this project may lead to something, since we woke up
something that was sleeping. |
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